About Praying to the Saints

 In Orthodox theology, the Church is seen as a single, united body that includes not only the faithful on earth but also the saints in heaven. The saints are not "dead" in the sense of being cut off from the living; rather, they are alive in Christ, who is "not the God of the dead, but of the living" (Matthew 22:32). Since Christ has conquered death, those who are in Christ, including the saints, are also alive in Him.

The communion of saints means that all members of the Church, whether on earth or in heaven, are connected through Christ. Praying to saints is thus understood not as necromancy or invoking the dead, but as asking for the intercession of those who are fully alive in the presence of God.

A key distinction in Orthodox practice is that praying to saints is not the same as worshiping them. Worship is due to God alone, but asking the saints for their prayers is akin to asking a fellow Christian on earth to pray for you. It’s an acknowledgment that the saints, being close to God, can intercede on our behalf.

The saints are seen as elder brothers and sisters in faith who, because of their holiness and closeness to God, are powerful intercessors. This practice is supported by the understanding that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective (James 5:16).

The practice of asking saints to pray for us is rooted in the biblical concept of intercession. In the Book of Revelation, the saints in heaven are depicted as offering the prayers of the faithful to God (Revelation 5:8). This imagery supports the idea that the saints are actively involved in the spiritual lives of those on earth.

Additionally, the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-3) provides a picture of the living presence of Moses and Elijah, who appear and speak with Christ. This event illustrates that those who have passed from earthly life continue to live and have a role in the divine economy.

Necromancy, as condemned in Scripture (e.g., Deuteronomy 18:10-12), involves attempting to conjure or manipulate the dead through occult practices. This is fundamentally different from the Orthodox practice of asking saints to intercede for us. Necromancy is about seeking forbidden knowledge or power through communication with the dead, often bypassing God’s will.

In contrast, praying to saints is about seeking their intercession before God, in humility and within the context of the Church’s life. It is done in faith that the saints, being alive in Christ, hear our requests and pray for us in accordance with God’s will.

The Orthodox Church places significant emphasis on the lived experience of the Church throughout history. The veneration of saints and the practice of asking for their intercessions have been part of Christian practice since the early Church. This tradition is seen as a continuation of the apostolic faith and is supported by the consistent witness of the Church Fathers and the lived experience of countless Orthodox Christians throughout the centuries.

From an Orthodox perspective, praying to saints is not about invoking the dead in the sense of necromancy, but rather about participating in the communion of the Church, which includes both the living and those who have passed into eternal life with God. The saints are viewed as alive in Christ and capable of interceding for us. This practice is deeply rooted in the Church’s understanding of the body of Christ and the intercessory role of the saints, which has biblical support and is a longstanding tradition within the Christian faith.