We, the inhabitants of the age of nanotechnology, are accustomed to relying on ourselves in difficult situations and on the technical perfection of machines, instruments, the skill of doctors, engineers and many other specialists from various fields of knowledge. However, sometimes there may come a moment when only a miracle can help us. And then we remember other powers - the higher ones, and those who, with their holiness, faith and humility, deserve special mercy - to bring help and comfort to people.
Our patron saints
It is known that when a person is born, a guardian angel is given to help him. He must support his ward throughout his life, keep him from rash and frankly bad actions, support him in illnesses and other sorrows. But, besides this, if a person accepts Baptism, he also receives a new name - in honor of one of the saints. And he can turn to this saint, always counting on his patronage. However, the question may arise: how to recognize your saint, to whom to pray?
The subtleties of namesake
We've all heard the word“name day”, but we do not always correctly interpret its meaning, mistakenly confusing it with a birthday. In fact, this is the day of our saint, this is a holiday celebrated on his day. For example, on January 19, John the Baptist or, in the popular way, "Ivan", is celebrated, and on January 13 - St. Basil, i.e. "Vasil". In the official church, name days are called more complicated - namesake. They do not always coincide with a person's real birthday.
Who is your saint?
To figure out how to recognize your saint, you need to acquire calendars and a church calendar. And also learn some features of the baptism ceremony. If a baby is baptized, parents can choose for him as an official name the name that the priest is going to call him. However, this is optional. Parents have the right to name the baby according to their taste - then he will have two names - secular, worldly and church. The patron is appointed by the one whose name day according to the calendar is closer to the birthday of the new little man. Therefore, to the question of how to recognize your saint, the answer is simple: check the church calendar! A similar principle also corresponds to the case if an adult is baptized or if a person has forgotten who exactly was assigned to him as an assistant.
Angel Days
Another name for the name day is the day of the angel. Even at the beginning of the 19th century in Russia, it was celebrated instead of a birthday and was considered the main holiday in life. With the abolition of the leading role of the church in people's lives, it was gradually replaced by a secular holiday. However, the traditions of the paststill deeply revered in many families. In this regard, a problem may arise: how to recognize your saint if his own name is not in the calendar? For example, Arthur or Victoria is clearly not of Slavic origin. What to do? Talk to the priest - what he will advise. Or study the holy scripture yourself. If you can pick up a name in the holy calendar that is close in meaning to yours in translation, take it. But if there is no analogue, then the choice is up to those who organize or conduct baptism. The same choice is also made when there are several saints with the same name. So, there is Saint Dmitry of Thessalonica, there is Dmitry Donskoy, Prilutsky and others. Their name days are celebrated on different days: October 26, May 19, June 1, etc. Who exactly to take as patrons and when to celebrate the day of the angel depends on the desire of the people themselves. The main thing is that a person visits a church on his name day, defends the service, or simply prays from the bottom of his heart. It would be nice to confess and take communion. And it would be absolutely right to order a prayer service for the priest to his saint.
