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I have a question about Orthodox saints ?
I was praying for me and I prayed to Russian and Orthodox saints to intercede to our lord God and heal me . I prayed to HAVE these RUSSIAN ORTHODOX AND GREEK ORTHODOX saints INTERCEDE ON MY BEHALF TO OUR LORD GOD for my healing of my flu. These are Russian and Greek Orthodox saints . Now I am curious are we Catholics allowed to pray and ask for intercession from GREEK AND RUSSIAN Orthodox saints ? For ex . Russian , Greek , Ukrainian Orthodox saints . Are these saints the same as Catholic saints ? For ex : St . Seraphim of Sarov and St. Nektarios etc . I am wondering ? Thanks, I posted this in the other forum and did not get many replies . Thank you , I am very curious .
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Dear mrniceguy,
You can pray to anyone you want to. It is God that chooses His saints, and if He decides to make someone into a saint, and has given that saint the ability to intercede for Him, then who are we to decide whether the saint is venerated within one Church or another..
That we choose to worship a saint only within our own known defined form and context, is because we are mere mortals, and as such are limited in the scope and space of our own specific culture. God is fully aware of this, and therefore He does not expect more of us. I personally, have not found a difference in the situations, opinions, etc. surrounding different saints, in whichever Church they exist in, and that would include 'saints' among highly spiritual Protestants...although they supposedly believe that everyone's a saint, and do not feel anyone should be differentuated.
So in that sense, pray to whomever you wish. There are some though, that are known to be highly miraculous. There is the Greek Orthodox Saint Nektarios, and the Catholic Saint Anthony, who never fails to find things for me.
Zenovia
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Most assuredly! They are saints arent they?
Stephanos I
I have a large collection of Russian Orthodox Saints Icons and I regularly pray before them.
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In one's private prayers, the only restriction on whom one may properly address is that of common sense. Many people knew someone of evident holiness who is now among the reposed and whom they will address in prayer (Father Eddie Doherty, his wife Catherine, and Archbishop Joseph of Galilee are examples who come to mind immediately).
One would probably do better not to address even one's private prayers to, say, Adolf Hitler, Julian the Apostate, Diocletian - I could continue that list but it would not be edifying.
Fr. Serge
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Dear Mr. Nice Guy,
Saint Seraphim of Sarov and Saint Gregory Palamas were canonizated by the Pope John Paul II.
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Thanks for the great answers !
Hi everyone I do find it interesting that the Protestants do not pray to Saints at all .I want to clarify and I need to explain that Protestant churches , for ex: Lutheran , Methodist , Presbyterian etc . do not have anyone praying to Saints and do not acknowledge Saints interceding for us . They accept Saints for their holiness , but do not believe in praying to them to help us . I do not agree with that idea .I feel the Catholics and Orthodox are correct . Ok first of all , I want to thank all of you for your kind and informative answers . Thank you ZENOVIA, STEPHANOS 1 , SERGE KELEHER, PHILIPPE GEBARA . You all had wonderful explanations . GOD BLESS YOU ALL , John
Last edited by Alice; 01/27/07 08:15 PM. Reason: mispelled name
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Hi everyone I do find it interesting that the Protestants do not pray to Saints at all .
Dear mrniceguy,
Martin Luther and all the first dissidents did believe in Saints. They believed in Mary as being All Holy, the sacraments, etc. etc. They were raised in the Catholic Church. Later on members of these denominations began their 'oppositional' theology. A theology based on the premise that if the Catholics are doing something, it must be wrong.
So, the moral of this is that we should never form our beliefs by being in opposition to the faith of another. 
Zenovia
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Rev Fr Serge,
Most assuredly, it is absurd to think that anyone could ask interecession from such people as you mention.
I would not even go so far as to say that we are to ask for intercession from those outside the Catholic-Orthodox Christian Faith. We see so much absurdity as in the potrayal of icons of Ghandi and Harvey milk.
Kissing your right hand, with all admiration and respect.
Stephanos I
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