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THE SAINTS PORTAL

Showcased saint-related content

St. Teresa of Ávila. In traditional Christian iconography, saints are often depicted with halos as a symbol of holiness.

A saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness or likeness or closeness to God. However, the use of the term "saint" depends on the context and denomination. In Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican, Oriental Orthodox, and Lutheran doctrine, all of their faithful deceased in Heaven are considered to be saints, but some are considered worthy of greater honor or emulation; official ecclesiastical recognition, and consequently veneration, is given to some saints through the process of canonization in the Catholic Church or glorification in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

While the English word saint originated in Christianity, historians of religion now use the appellation "in a more general way to refer to the state of special holiness that many religions attribute to certain people", with the Jewish tzadik, the Islamic wal?, the Hindu rishi or Sikh guru, the Shintoist kami, and the Buddhist arhat or bodhisattva also being referred to as saints. Depending on the religion, saints are recognized either by official ecclesiastical declaration, as in the Catholic faith, or by popular acclamation (see folk saint).

Selected images

St. Teresa of Ávila. In traditional Christian iconography, saints are often depicted with halos as a symbol of holiness.
"Scripture does not teach calling on the saints or pleading for help from them. For it sets before us Christ alone as mediator, atoning sacrifice, high priest, and intercessor."--A.C. Article XXI.
A portrait depicting Saint Francis of Assisi by the Italian artist Cimabue (1240-1302)

Did you know...

...that Albinus of Angers, who as bishop reportedly used diocesan funds to ransom people captured by pirates, thereafter became the patron saint against pirate attack and of coastal communities as far away as Poland and New Jersey?
...that Dominican Anthony Neyrot renounced Christianity after being captured by Moorish pirates, but publicly reconverted and was stoned to death at Tunis?
...that legend has it that Benjamin I of Alexandria was escorted to heaven by Athanasius of Alexandria, Severus of Antioch, and Theodosius I?

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Selected saint days

2 January St Basil the Great
2 January Gregory of Nazianzus
2 January St Seraphim
7 January St Raymond of Peñafort
10 January William Laud
11 January Mary Slessor
12 January St Aelred of Hexham
12 January Benedict Biscop
13 January St Hilary
13 January Kentigern
17 January St Antony of Egypt
17 January Charles Gore
19 January Wulfstan
20 January Richard Rolle of Hampole
20 January St Fabian
21 January St Agnes
22 January Vincent of Saragossa
24 January Francis de Sales
25 January The Conversion of Paul
26 January Timothy and St Titus
27 January Saint Angela Merici
28 January Thomas Aquinas
30 January Charles I of England
30 January St Hyacintha Mariscotti
31 January John Bosco

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Selected biography

Dunstan in The Little Lives of the Saints, illustrated by Charles Robinson in 1904

Dunstan (c.909–19 May 988) was an abbot of Glastonbury, a bishop of Worcester, a bishop of London, and an archbishop of Canterbury who was later canonized as a saint. His work restored monastic life in England and reformed the English Church. His 11th century biographer, Osbern, himself an artist and scribe, states that Dunstan was skilled in "making a picture and forming letters", as were other clergy of his age who reached senior rank.

Dunstan served as an important minister of state to several English kings. He was the most popular saint in England for nearly two centuries, having gained fame for the many stories of his greatness. Adding to Dunstan's myth was his legendary cunning in dealing with the Devil. One story relates how Dunstan nailed a horseshoe to the Devil's hoof when he was asked to re-shoe the Devil's horse. This caused the Devil great pain, and Dunstan only agreed to remove the shoe and release the Devil after he promised never to enter a place where a horseshoe is over the door. This is claimed as the origin of the lucky horseshoe. The Eastern Orthodox Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Anglican Communion mark his feast day on May 19.

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WikiProjects

Religion
- Christianity

The Saints Wikiproject aims primarily at standardizing the articles about people venerated by some Christians as saints or the blessed and ensuring quality articles. If there is an interest in including saints from religions other than Christianity, please propose those changes on our talk page.