About Saints...
In Orthodox Christian countries, individuals
traditionally celebrate their nameday instead of their birthday. Since
Orthodox Christians are usually named after a saint or feast day of the
Church, all those having the same name celebrate together on that
saint's feast or the particular feast of the Church.
It must be stated at the beginning that the only true
"saint" or holy one (Hagios) is God Himself. The Bible states "For I am
the Lord your God; you shall name yourselves holy and keep yourselves
holy, because I am holy ... " (Levit. 11:44; 19:2 and 20:7). Man becomes
holy and "sainted" by participation in the holiness of God.
Send your wishes :
http://www.iconograms.org/
Holiness or sainthood is a gift (charisma) given by God to man, through
the Holy Spirit. Man's effort to become a participant in the life of
divine holiness is indispensable, but sanctification itself is the work
of the Holy Trinity, especially through the sanctifying power of Jesus
Christ, who was incarnate, suffered crucifixion, and rose from the dead,
in order to lead us to the life of holiness, through the communion with
the Holy Spirit. In the Second Letter to the Thessalonians St. Paul
suggests: "But we are bound to thank God always for you, brothers
beloved by the Lord, because from the beginning of time God chose you to
find salvation in the Spirit that consecrates you, (en agiasmo Pneumatos)
and in the truth that you believe. It was for this that He called you
through the Gospel we brought, so that you might possess for your own
the splendor of our Lord Jesus Christ" (2: 13–14).
source:
www.goarch.org
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