Why Are Orthodox Christians Praying To Saints? ☦️☝️

[timfronimos]

I had a Greek orthodox father and an Irish Catholic mother. Praying to saints is the most natural part of my christian life.
Those who die in christ are more alive then during their earthly passage.

[craigsherman]

I can’t wait to be reunited with my Orthodox brothers and sisters.

[JulianGentry]

I may not agree about praying to saints, but how could I, as a Protestant, say "you're the bad guys"?? You are my fellow siblings in Christ. Maranatha!

[Eliyyahu-AK]

Being raised Protestant, I remember the shock of hearing that church tradition gave us so many details of the lives of saints post scripture, like St Photini, we get to hear how some of those mentioned in scripture continued on after meeting Christ. Holy tradition is so rich and precious in the church. I grieve for my Protestant friends, who by rejecting church tradition, miss out on the fullness of the revelation of Christ in his church. I am grateful for Orthodoxy every single day. Lord have mercy!

[hismajesty]

I, a Protestant, had this conversation with a Catholic friend of mine. His bless.

[ben-sidk]

The Bible certainly tells us to pray to God, but he didn’t give a verse where we are instructed to pray to those who are no longer on this earth. When Jesus taught His disciples to to pray He said ‘Our Father’ not dear Abraham. Further, the great cloud of witnesses as mentioned in his comments is taken completely out of context. This verse in Hebrews 12 has nothing to do with paintings in a church of past saints. It follows the context of Hebrews 11 where the writer goes through almost the entire Old Testament bringing out examples of faith in the face of adversity which is the general theme of the book of Hebrews. There is NOTHING in that passage, or the book of Hebrews, or anywhere else in the Bible that admonishes us to pray to anyone other than God. God being the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

[aKaButtons]

As a Southern black baptist, i feel that a lot of us yearn the order of the holy orthodox or Catholic Church, it’s represents the true holiness of our Lord and Savior ❤

[lancehiltbrand]

I grew up Methodist and switched when the weird stuff became too visable to ignore. Orthodoxy was waiting with open arms and provided some much needed context to issues that were left to subjectivity in protestantism.

[revcc]

So great to watch these videos. As a Protestant who has long courted an interest in Orthodoxy, it seems inaccessible as a cultural outsider without a connection to Eastern Europe. You make it engaging and relevant.

[turbo]

I didn’t even know the orthodox existed until I get a year ago😂I’m glad God is leading me to the Eastern Orthodox Church❤

[Juice_the_Guru]

My Catholic Mother explained it best: We are partitioning Mary or the Saints to pray for us. To pray to God on our behalf. For these people are great, canonized by the church and we must be humble.

[kerbalairforce]

The way I understand this is the way you say to your brother "pray for me", but not just to your living brothers.

[Eliyyahu-AK]

Most Protestants do not fully understand the Gospel. They speak only of the cross and sin. But to fully understand the Gospel is to understand that the Incarnation changed EVERYTHING. God entered creation and redeemed it down to the tiniest atom, so that by merely placing 2 pieces of wood together you can not only “symbolize” Christ’s glorious victory over death and sin but that object now “partakes” of the glory of the cross it shares likeness with. Redeemed objects can share in the glory of God. Mankind is now redeemed and can share in the glory of God here, now. Saints are those who participate more fully.
The Resurrection changed EVERYTHING. Christ defeated death… he emptied the graves, he led the captives free from Sheol. Those who are in Christ, who have died with him in baptism, who have partaken of eternal life in the Eucharist, who abide with him… shall NEVER die. He is the Resurrection and the Life. Saints are more alive now than they were while here with us. To be absent of the body is to be present with Christ. Present with God and interceding on our behalf. This is not some heresy or some new teaching, this is the way, this is the will of God this is the “good news”.
Christ has defeated death by his death!
Come partake in his resurrection. Partake in his life.
Then pray that ALL should do so.

[hudsonr]

I am Catholic my husband is Baptist, southern Baptist and the preacher has little or nothing to do with me. They all think im going to hell. I remain kind and respectful to them. At times its very hard. They profess to be christians but judge others with every breath they take.

[mebsteve]

What do you do with this verse?
Deuteronomy 18:10-12
10Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, a practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, 11casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. 12For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD.

I’m sure you interpret it different than many non Orthodox churches.

Isaiah 8:19
19When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

Exodus 20:4-5
4You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in the heavens above, on the earth below, or in the waters beneath. 5You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God,

I understand these verses to say I will not ask of a dead person or animal anything nor obey it. If I’m praying, I’m praying to God and no other. The pagans do such things.

I’m no longer a pagan. I was bought with a price. I am a true Jew, one that has had His heart transformed into a Son of God. Paul says a true is one that heart has been changed, circumcised.

[Faithalone-nmnx]

“O Lord, hear me as I pray; pay attention to my groaning. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for I pray to no one but you. Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord. Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭3‬ ‭

Listen to THE GREAT I AM over man.

Everything God has revealed to us in and through His Word, what HE says, prayers are ONLY addressed to who?

Just because some men, mere, fallible men, suggested praying to anyone other than God, my Savior, doesn’t make it true. I’d much rather place my trust in Christ, alone, and what He wants me to do. He desires a personal relationship with you. You have direct access to Him. Never once, does HE suggest praying to anyone else. He’s our example right? Who was Jesus addressing in His prayers?

Answer……. Our FATHER, who is in heaven!

[AlexCPauwels]

A serious question: Are the Saints omnipresent? omniscient? Are relics and icons powerful objects to bring about the spirit of the saints?

[savannahfan]

The Enemy wants Christians to be divided and to distrust each other

Deception and disinformation

Educate yourself, and put the focus back to our Lord, not how we differ

[t.n.]

I understand that Orthodox and Catholic believe it is intecession, not worship. But i have repeatedly heard from my catholic friends things that i can only interpret as worship...Am i wrong to interpret it these this way?

My one friend specifically said she prayed to St. Joseph (patron saint of husbands i believe?) and he brought her husband to her/granted her her husband (i dont remember her exact wording). So is this still the correct thing to do or is this beyond the bounds of intecession? She attributes her finding her husband to St. Joseph, not God....

Multiple other catholic women in my friend group said that they bought statuettes of St. Joseph and buried it upside down in the corner of their lawn to get their house sold faster? What...? Is this a true belief? If so, what does this fall under?

Also they speak about the Shroud of Turin, and St. Veronicas (?) Cloth.... What purpose do these serve to Jesus and why would He leave these physical items? How does that serve His Kingdom?

Genuinely trying to understand

[j]

I would rather that they give reasons why this doesn't break the 2nd Commandment and why this isn't against everything Scripture tells us about worshipping and praying to God.

If you want Protestants to understand (and maybe you don't) you need to use facts and logic that is in line with Scripture. Just complaining because we take Scripture at its word, won't clear this up.

Since Jewish people also don't have these kind of things in their synagogues, you have to explain what you think changed to make it okay.