Called to be Saints

This coming Sunday is the Sunday of All Saints. The Church commemorates “all the Righteous, the Prophets, Apostles, Martyrs, Confessors, Shepherds, Teachers, and Holy Monastics, both men and women alike, known and unknown, who have been added to the choirs of the Saints and shall be added, from the time of Adam until the end of the world, who have been perfected in piety and have glorified God by their holy lives.”

 

In Orthodox Christianity, the call to sainthood is not reserved for a select few but is extended to all believers. This profound truth springs from the very heart of Orthodox Christianity: to be a saint is to participate fully in the life of God, to become united with Him in holiness and love. It is not an extraordinary vocation but the fulfillment of being created in the image and likeness of God – in short, it is God’s call and ultimate purpose for each and every Christian.

 

The path to sainthood is one of synergy—where divine grace meets human effort. Holiness is not achieved through heroic acts but through a life of repentance, prayer, humility, and self-giving love. Saints are not born perfect; they are those who rise again after falling, relying on God's mercy and striving to conform their lives to Christ.

 

Also, sainthood is not lived in isolation but within the community of the Church. The sacraments, the prayers of the faithful, and the guidance of spiritual fathers and mothers all serve as a support system for our journey. The lives of the saints themselves witness to what is possible for every Christian, inspiring us by their example, and interceding for us with their prayers.

 

Ultimately, the call to be saints is a call to love—love for God and for neighbor. It is a call to bring the light of Christ into a world shadowed by sin and suffering. As Saint Seraphim of Sarov so beautifully expressed, "Acquire a peaceful spirit, and thousands around you will be saved."

 

To be a saint, then, is the destiny of every Orthodox Christian. It is a journey marked not by perfection but by perseverance, not by fame or popularity, but by the quiet, steady pursuit of God’s will. It is a journey we are all called to undertake, with the assurance that Christ walks with us every step of the way.

 

Blessings,

Fr. David