One of the important aspects of our Theology is the veneration of saints. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches both recognize this veneration as an important part of our faith.

Saints have been honored since the early church. Special veneration was first given just to martyrs, but was extended in the fourth century to include confessors, those who suffered for their faith but not to the point of martyrdom. Bishops began to regulate the cults of various martyrs in their eparchies, although the veneration of various martyrs often extended beyond a single eparchy or country. Early church councils addressed the subject of the efficacy of the veneration of saints. An early source on the veneration of martyrs is the Martyrdom of Polycarp (c. 135 CE), which explains:

…it is neither possible for us ever to   forsake Christ … nor to worship any other. For we worship him indeed, as being the Son of God. However, as for the martyrs, as disciples and followers of the Lord, we worthily love them on account of their extraordinary affections towards their own King.

The Martyrdom of Polycarp also mentions that the relics of the martyrs were treated “as precious stones” and that the church celebrated the martyr’s day of death as their “birthday into heaven.” Similarly, around 250 CE St. Cyprian wrote:

Take note of their days on which they depart, so that we may celebrate their commemoration among the memorials of the martyrs… There are celebrated here by us oblations and sacrifices for their commemorations.

A writing called the Apostolic Constitutions (c. 390 CE) instructs: “Now, concerning the martyrs, we say to you that they are to be held in all honor with you.” The Seventh Ecumenical Council (787 CE) declared that “we adore and respect God our Lord; and those who have been genuine servants of our common Lord we honor and venerate because they have the power to make us friends with God the King of all.” The early Church seemed to know that the veneration of saints touches upon a number of beliefs, one being the immortality of the soul.

The veneration of the saints is rejected by most Protestant Christians, who regard the practice as idolatry. The Catholic and Orthodox Churches have a very succinct understanding, based on the early Church, of what is actually involved in the veneration of Saints.

(More to Follow)