In the Orthodox Church there are various categories, so to speak, that belong to one general concept of the face of holiness. For an ordinary person who has only recently come to the Church, it will be a little incomprehensible why one is a holy martyr, the other is a martyr, and so on. Assignment to the Face of Saints occurs during canonization or depending on the work during life. The existing sanctity master list can help resolve this issue.
Images of the Saints in the Russian Orthodox Church
Christians have venerated their saints since very ancient times. Initially, this cult extended to the apostles and martyrs, the holy Old Testament prophets and forefathers. In the same period, the veneration of the primates of the local churches as saints first developed, and then a general church cult was formed. Historical development further leads to the formation of other ranks of saints, the veneration of which has become organically part of the common cult.
Apostles
It all started with the closest disciples of Jesus Christ - the apostles whom Hesent to preach the Christian faith after the Holy Spirit descended on them. At first there were twelve, but then Jesus chose seventy more. The two apostles Peter and Paul worked harder than others for the faith, and therefore they began to be called the supreme ones. But the four apostles Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are called Evangelists, as they wrote the Holy Gospel.
Forefathers
The Old Testament Faces of the Saints, revered by the Church as executors of God's will before the New Testament era, are called forefathers. These include the parents of the Theotokos, the righteous Joachim and Anna of God, and the betrothed of the Theotokos, the righteous Joseph.
Prophets
The Old Testament Faces of the Saints, who predicted the coming of Jesus Christ and heralds of God's will, are called prophets. These include the Old Testament patriarch Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Moses and John the Baptist - the last prophet.
Equal to the Apostles
The faces of Saints who converted to the true faith through the gospel of the gospel are called Equal-to-the-Apostles. This is how they address Mary Magdalene, the holy emperor Constantine and his mother Helena, the Slavic enlighteners Cyril and Methodius, the holy princess Olga, the holy prince Vladimir, who baptized Russia.
Saints
Saints who have acquired holiness in the hierarchal service, worthily carried out the Providence of God in achieving the Kingdom of Heaven, glorified by a blameless life and a righteous death, are called saints. Among them are Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, Gregory of Nyssa, John Chrysostom and Nicholas the Wonderworker. The third bishop became the first Russian saintRostov St. Leonty (1077).
The Apostle Paul wrote that with the help of the Holy Spirit, a word of wisdom is given to another, a word of knowledge to another, faith to another, miracles to another, prophecy to another, gifts of healings to another, discernment of spirits to another, different tongues to another, and interpretation of tongues to another, dividing to each his own.
Martyrs
In the modern world, the Faces of Saints who shed their blood for the true Christian faith are called martyrs. The first martyr in the highest sense of the word was Jesus Christ, who offered himself as a sacrifice for human sins. The second martyr of the Christian faith was the apostle from 70, Archdeacon Stephen (33-36).
Great Martyrs
Martyrs who endured especially cruel tortures and punishments, but showed firmness in faith, are called great martyrs. These include George the Victorious, Panteleimon the Healer, Dmitry Thessalonica and Anastasia the Patterner.
Priestmartyrs
Holy martyrs who have a sacred rank are called holy martyrs. Among them are Bishop of Antioch Ignatius the God-bearer, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Hermogen, Kuksha Pechersky, Demetrius Apansky (Nerovetsky).
Reverendmartyrs
Martyrs belonging to the number of monastics are called reverend martyrs, among which are the Faces of Russian Saints, for example, Gregory of the Caves, who rests in the Near Anthony Caves.
Martyrs
Christians who were martyred not in the name of the Lord, but because of human malice and deceit, are called passion-bearers. Passion-bearers in Russia were considered the holy princes Borisand Gleb, as well as the last Russian Tsar Nicholas II and his family.
Confessors
Christians who, after torment and torture for the open glorification of faith in Christ during the persecution, remained alive, began to be called confessors. In Russia, these were Maxim the Confessor and St. Luke (Voyno-Yasenetsky).
Unmercenaries
The saint who gave up his we alth for the sake of faith was called unmercenary. And this is above all Cosmas and Damian, blood brothers who suffered as martyrs in the 3rd century.
The Faithful
Princes and kings, who became famous for their righteous and pious life, who cared about strengthening faith in Christ, were counted among the Saints of the Blessed. These include Prince Alexander Nevsky and Prince Vladimir of Kyiv.
Blessed
Representatives of holy ascetics who have chosen a special feat of foolishness - images of external madness in order to achieve internal humility. In the 19th century in Russia they began to apply the epithet "blessed", a synonym for the word "holy fool" to the saints. Augustine is glorified in the Face of the Blessed Saints. Basil the Blessed was in Ancient Russia.
Reverends
Christians who acquired holiness in monastic asceticism were called reverend.
The founders of laurels and monasteries have this special rank, these are Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves, Sergius of Radonezh and Seraphim of Sarov.
In the Christian Church, St. Anthony the Great and Ephraim the Syrian began to be called reverend.
The Righteous Ones
People who achieved sainthood intheir ordinary family and social life are called righteous. In the Old Testament it was Noah and Job, in the New Testament it was Joachim and Anna, Joseph the Betrothed, from the Russian saints it was John of Kronstadt.
Stylites
The holy reverends, who have chosen for themselves a special feat - concentrating on prayer and standing on a pillar, are called pillars. These include St. Simeon, Nikita Pereyaslavsky and Savva Vishersky.
Wonderworkers
Saints, famous for the gift of performing miracles, are called miracle workers. Attested miracles are the main condition for the canonization of a saint.
Among the wonderworkers, St. Nicholas of Lycia and St. Anthony the Roman are especially revered.
The holy fools
Ascetics who take on the feat of insanity are called holy fools. This kind of asceticism is a radical means for destroying pride in oneself. The most famous holy fools are Procopius of Ustyug and St. Basil the Blessed.
Who is numbered among the Saints
Today, all the righteous, saints, confessors, martyrs, noble princes, holy fools for the sake of Christ, prophets, saints, apostles and evangelists have the face of holiness.
As well as people ranked among the Saints, who, not worthy of martyrdom, became famous for their pious labors (hermits and monks). The process of forming new forms of holiness is still ongoing.
In any Orthodox church there are Faces of the Saints. Icons with their images givean opportunity for a person to focus on divine prayer, which helps him find complete harmony not only with himself, but also with the outside world.
