Table of Contents Categories
  Encyclosphere.org ENCYCLOREADER
  supported by EncyclosphereKSF

List of Eastern Orthodox saint titles

Topic: Religion

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 13 min

Short description: none
Part of a series on the
Eastern Orthodox Church
Christ Pantocrator (Deesis mosaic detail)
Mosaic of Christ Pantocrator, Hagia Sophia
Overview
Background
Organization
Autocephalous jurisdictions
Autocephalous Churches who are officially part of the communion:

Autocephaly recognized universally de facto, by some Autocephalous Churches de jure:

Autocephaly recognized by Constantinople and 3 other Autocephalous Churches:

Noncanonical jurisdictions
Ecumenical councils
  • Other Ecumenical Councils:
  • Other important councils:
History
Theology
Liturgy and worship
Liturgical calendar
  • The four fasting periods:
Major figures
Other topics
This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

The saints of the Eastern Orthodox Church (and of the Eastern Catholic Churches of the Byzantine Rite) have various customary saint titles with which they are commemorated on the liturgical calendar and in Divine Services.

Many of the titles can overlap with each other (e.g. apostle and disciple) or are at least not mutually exclusive. Some of them are, however, mutually exclusive (e.g. prophet and righteous). Some titles are only given to one saint, very often the Virgin Mary, and some titles are also no longer given to saints (e.g. apostle).

It is not rare that certain titles, such as Venerable, Prophet or Hieromartyr, are placed in front of a saint's name instead of the standard Saint (e.g. Venerable Bede, Prophet Jonah or Hieromartyr Maximus Sandovic).

List

The following list explains the titles and gives an exemplary saint for each title:

  • Archangel: an angel of the second lowest rank, whose purpose is to act as a messenger of God to humans; this rank of angel is the only one to have known names[1][2] (e.g. Michael the Archangel)[3]
  • Apostle: one of the twelve men who followed Jesus and who were sent out on the Great Commission in Matthew 28:16-20 to spread the Gospel to all nations;[4] they may also be simultaneously be called Disciples (although Judas Iscariot was one of the original twelve Apostles, he is never called as such in the Orthodox Church, since his position was filled in by St. Matthias after his suicide)[5]
  • Blessed: a title very often given to Fools for Christ (see below) as well as rulers and monastics known for their great piety and asceticism. It is also rarely used in its literal sense for certain early saints (e.g. Basil the Blessed, Peter I of Bulgaria and Blessed Augustine respectively)[6]
  • Child Martyr: a martyr who was martyred at a young age, typically below the age of 20 (e.g. Gabriel of Białystok)[7]
  • Confessor of the Faith or Confessor: one who suffered for the faith but was not martyred outright[8] (e.g. Maximus the Confessor)[9]
  • Coryphaeus or Coryphe: a Latin term borrowed from Ancient Greek, originally referring to a leader of a Greek chorus, this title is exclusively used for Saints Peter and Paul, in reference to their leadership of the other Apostles[10][11]
  • Disciple: one of the seventy or seventy-two men who were sent by Jesus in pairs to spread the Gospel in Luke 10:1-21; they may also simultaneously be called Apostles[12] (e.g. Timothy of Ephesus)[13]
  • Enlightener or Illuminator: a saint who first brought the faith to a people or region, or who did major work of evangelisation there[14] (e.g. Sava I of Serbia)[15]
  • Ethnomartyr: a martyr who was martyred due to their ethnicity (e.g. Gregory V of Constantinople)[16]
  • Equal-to-the-Apostles: one whose work greatly built up the Church, whether through direct missionary work or through assisting the Church's place in society, but was not one of the twelve Apostles[17][18] (e.g. Constantine the Great)[19]
  • Evangelist: one of the four men who wrote the four Gospels, as well as any saint who preached the Gospel (e.g. Luke the Evangelist)[20]
  • Fool for Christ: one known for his apparent yet holy foolishness or insanity[21] (e.g. Gabriel of Georgia)[22]
  • Great Hierarch: one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, which includes Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom[23]
  • God-bearing or Theophoros: title given to Ignatius of Antioch, who according to holy tradition, was one of the children who went to Jesus in Matthew 19:13-14[17][24]
  • Healer: a saint who used the power of God to heal maladies and injuries (e.g. Tryphon of Campsada)[25]
  • Hesychast: a monastic saint who prayed using hesychasm (e.g. Joseph the Hesychast)[26]
  • Hieroconfessor: a confessor who is also a clergyman (e.g. Martin the Confessor)[27]
  • Hieromartyr or priestmartyr: a martyr who is also a clergyman (e.g. Charalambos)[28]
  • Iconographer: a saint who creates, or writes, icons (e.g. Andrew the Iconographer)[29]
  • Intercessor: a saint who prays, or intercedes, on behalf of the living and the dead.[30] All saints bear this title, although they are rarely ever formally titled as such (e.g. Seraphim of Sarov)
  • Martyr: ultimately from Ancient Greek: μάρτυς, lit. 'witness';[31] one who has died for the faith[32] (e.g. Sebastian of Rome)[33]
  • Merciful: one known for almsgiving, especially towards the poor (e.g. John the Merciful)[34]
  • Myrrhbearer: the first witnesses of the Resurrection of Jesus[17][35] (e.g. Mary Magdalene)[36]
  • Myroblyte, Myrrh-gusher or Myrrh-streaming: the relics of the saint exude holy and sweet-smelling —and often miraculous—oil (e.g. Simeon the Myrrh-streaming)[37][38]
  • New or Younger: title of a saint who shares a name with an earlier saint (e.g. Stephen the Younger)[39]
  • New Confessor: a confessor, often but not always sharing a name with an earlier one, who suffered for the faith during or after the Ottoman persecutions[40] or onwards[41] (e.g. Barnabas the New Confessor)
  • New Martyr or Neomartyr: a martyr, often but not always sharing a name with an earlier one, who was martyred during the Ottoman persecutions[40] or onwards[41] (e.g. Maria of Paris)[42]
  • Newly-Revealed: a saint whose veneration was either forgotten within the Church or previously unknown, but was later revived through miraculous means (e.g. Phanourios the Newly-Revealed)[43]
  • Panagia: from Greek: Παναγία, romanized: Panagia, lit. 'All-holy';[44] the title is only given to the Virgin Mary, referring to her position as the holiest of all saints[45]
  • Passion Bearer: one who was killed not for the faith but faced death in a Christ-like manner[46][47] (e.g. Nicholas II of Russia)[48]
  • Pillar of Orthodoxy: Photius the Great, Gregory Palamas, and Mark of Ephesus are each known by this title, for their defenses of Orthodox doctrine[49][50]
  • Prophet: a saint under the Old Covenant who anticipated and prophesied Christ and who spoke the word of God[8][51] (e.g. Elijah)[52]
  • Protomartyr: the first martyr in a given region or time period (in the case of Stephen the Protomartyr, the first martyr of the whole Church)[53]
  • Right-Believing: a monarch or ruler who treated the Church and the people well (e.g. Vladimir of Novgorod)[54]
  • Righteous: a saint under the Old Covenant who is not a prophet but also a married saint of the New Covenant (e.g. Job[55] and Fevronia of Murom[56] respectively)
  • Saint: ultimately from Latin: sanctus, lit. 'holy one';[57] a human or angel who is in heaven; one who has been saved, whom the Church on earth has recognised and glorified.[58][59] All saints bear this title (e.g. Publius of Malta)[60]
  • Stylite: a monastic saint who lived an ascetic life on top of a pillar, often not coming down for long periods of time[61] (e.g. Daniel the Stylite)[62]
  • Taxiarch: an archangel who leads the Heavenly Host; only Archangels Michael and Gabriel are given this title.[63]
  • Theologian: a saint whose writings have introduced new theological doctrines; only three saints are given the title Theologian: John the Theologian,[64] Gregory the Theologian,[65] and Symeon the New Theologian.[66]
  • Theotokos, Bogorodica or Mother of God: ultimately from Greek: Θεοτόκος, romanized: Theotókos, lit. 'She who gave birth to God', the title given only to the Virgin Mary, since she gave birth to Jesus, who Orthodox Christians believe is the Second Person of the Holy Trinity, and thus God[67][68][69]
  • Unmercenary Healer: a saint who used the power of God to heal maladies and injuries without payment[70] (e.g. Pantaleon of Nicomedia)[71]
  • Venerable: a monastic saint; a saint who is a monk or nun[72] (e.g. Paisios of Mount Athos)[73]
  • Venerable martyr, hosiomartyr, monk-martyr or nun-martyr: a martyred monastic (e.g. Zeno of Gaza)
  • Virgin: a female saint who consecrated her life to Christ and made a vow of chastity (e.g. Agatha of Palermo)[74]
  • Virgin Martyr: a celibate female martyr (e.g. Lucy of Syracuse)[75]
  • Wonderworker or thaumaturge: a saint known for performing miracles during his/her lifetime[76] (e.g. Nicholas of Myra)[77]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Orthodox Belief On Angels" (in en). https://www.stgeorgegreenville.org/our-faith/angels/. 
  2. ↑ Church, Saint John (2023-08-22). "The Orthodox Church's Teachings Concerning Angels" (in en-US). https://www.saintjohnchurch.org/the-orthodox-churchs-teachings-on-angels/. 
  3. ↑ "Synaxis of the Archangel Michael and the Other Bodiless Powers". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/11/08/103244-synaxis-of-the-archangel-michael-and-the-other-bodiless-powers. 
  4. ↑ "The Twelve Apostles - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Orthodox Church" (in en-US). https://www.goarch.org/-/the-basic-sources-of-the-teachings-of-the-eastern-orthodox-chur-1. 
  5. ↑ "The Orthodox Faith - Volume III - Church History - First Century - Christ and the Apostles". https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/church-history/first-century/christ-and-the-apostles. 
  6. ↑ "Feasts and saints with names like "Blessed"". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives?q=Blessed. 
  7. ↑ "Childmartyr Gabriel of Bialystok". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2014/04/20/101158-childmartyr-gabriel-of-bialystok. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "The North American Saints". https://www.oca.org//fs/north-american-saints. 
  9. ↑ "The Orthodox Faith - Volume III - Church History - Seventh Century - Saint Maximus the Confessor and Saint Martin of Rome". https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/church-history/seventh-century/saint-maximus-the-confessor-and-saint-martin-of-rome. 
  10. ↑ "The Holy Glorious and All-Praised Leader of the Apostles, Peter". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/06/29/101841-the-holy-glorious-and-all-praised-leader-of-the-apostles-peter. 
  11. ↑ "Saint Peter". https://www.truechristianity.info/en/articles/saint_peter.php. 
  12. ↑ "Synaxis of the Seventy Apostles". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/01/04/100017-synaxis-of-the-seventy-apostles. 
  13. ↑ "Apostle Timothy of the Seventy". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2014/01/22/100262-apostle-timothy-of-the-seventy. 
  14. ↑ "Saint Kosmas the Aitolos, as an Enlightener of Orthodoxy (Metropolitan Hierotheos of Nafpaktos)" (in en-US). 2020-08-24. https://saintkosmas.org/august-24/met-hierotheos-vlachos-saint-kosmas-enlightener-of-orthodoxy. 
  15. ↑ "Saint Savva I, first Archbishop of Serbia". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/01/14/100156-saint-savva-i-first-archbishop-of-serbia. 
  16. ↑ "The Life and Legacy of Hieromartyr Gregory V, Patriarch of Constantinople | Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Canada" (in en-US). https://goarchdiocese.ca/the-life-and-legacy-of-hieromartyr-gregory-v-patriarch-of-constantinople/. 
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 "Orthodox Holiness :: The Titles Of The Saints". http://orthodoxengland.org.uk/titles.htm. 
  18. ↑ "Saints "Equal-to-the-Apostles"" (in en). https://www.easternorthodoxchristian.com/2-saints-equal-to-the-apostles. 
  19. ↑ "Equal of the Apostles and Emperor Constantine with his Mother Helen". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/05/21/101452-equal-of-the-apostles-and-emperor-constantine-with-his-mother-he. 
  20. ↑ "Apostle and Evangelist Luke". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/10/18/102993-apostle-and-evangelist-luke. 
  21. ↑ "Bev Cooke. Holy Fools". http://orthochristian.com/82170.html. 
  22. ↑ Christ, Saint Gabriel of Georgia Confessor of. "Saint Gabriel of Georgia - Confessor of Christ" (in en). https://monkgabriel.ge/eng/. 
  23. ↑ "Feast of the Three Holy Fathers, Great Hierarchs and Ecumenical Teachers, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Orthodox Church" (in en-US). https://www.goarch.org/-/feast-of-the-three-holy-fathers-great-hierarchs-and-ecumenical-teachers-basil-the-great-gregory-the-theologian-and-john-chrysostom. 
  24. ↑ "Hieromartyr Ignatius the God-Bearer, Bishop of Antioch". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/12/20/103594-hieromartyr-ignatius-the-god-bearer-bishop-of-antioch. 
  25. ↑ "Martyr Tryphon of Lampsacus Near Apamea in Syria". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/02/01/100397-martyr-tryphon-of-lampsacus-near-apamea-in-syria. 
  26. ↑ "Saint Joseph the Hesychast | Orthodox Lives of the Saints" (in en). https://www.livesofthesaintscalendar.com/saints/saint-joseph-the-hesychast. 
  27. ↑ "Saint Martin the Confessor, Pope of Rome". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2022/04/14/101075-saint-martin-the-confessor-pope-of-rome. 
  28. ↑ "Hieromartyr Haralambos, Bishop of Magnesia in Thessaly, the Martyrs Porphyrius and Baptus, and three women Martyrs". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2025/02/10/100475-hieromartyr-haralambos-bishop-of-magnesia-in-thessaly-the-martyr. 
  29. ↑ "Venerable Andrew Rublev the Iconographer". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/0215/07/04/101893-venerable-andrew-rublev-the-iconographer. 
  30. ↑ "The Orthodox Faith - Volume IV - Spirituality - Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving - Intercessory Prayer". https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/spirituality/prayer-fasting-and-almsgiving/intercessory-prayer. 
  31. ↑ Sysoyev, Daniel (13 February 2024). "On martyrdom┃RUSSIAN ORTHODOX CATHEDRAL OF ST.JOHN THE BAPTIST". https://stjohndc.org/en/orthodoxy-foundation/lessons/martyrdom. 
  32. ↑ "Etymology of "martyr" by etymonline" (in en-US). https://www.etymonline.com/word/martyr. 
  33. ↑ "The Orthodox Veneration of Saint Sebastian the Martyr" (in en). https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2013/12/the-orthodox-veneration-of-saint.html. 
  34. ↑ "Saint John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/11/12/103286-saint-john-the-merciful-patriarch-of-alexandria. 
  35. ↑ "The Myrrh-Bearers. Metropolitan Paul Yazigi". https://orthochristian.com/70408.html. 
  36. ↑ "Myrrhbearer and Equal of the Apostles Mary Magdalene". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/07/22/102070-myrrhbearer-and-equal-of-the-apostles-mary-magdalene. 
  37. ↑ "Venerable Simon the Myrrh-gusher of Mount Athos". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/12/28/103680-venerable-simon-the-myrrh-gusher-of-mount-athos. 
  38. ↑ "Saint Simon the Myrrhgusher, Founder of Simonopetra Monastery" (in en). https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2010/12/saint-simon-myrrh-gusher-of-mount-athos.html. 
  39. ↑ "Monastic Martyr and Confessor Stephen the New | Orthodox Times (en)" (in en-US). https://orthodoxtimes.com/monastic-martyr-and-confessor-stephen-the-new/. 
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 "Greek New Martyrs Under Ottoman Rule: A Case Study" (in en). https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2009/06/greek-new-martyrs-under-ottoman-rule.html. 
  41. ↑ 41.0 41.1 "New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/01/28/205310-new-martyrs-and-confessors-of-russia. 
  42. ↑ "Righteous Martyr Maria (Skobtsova)". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2008/07/20/108892-righteous-martyr-maria-skobtsova. 
  43. ↑ "Saint Phanourius". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2022/08/27/108969-saint-phanourius. 
  44. ↑ Kimel, Fr Aidan (2018-11-25). "Panagia: The Immaculate and Predestined Mother of God" (in en). https://afkimel.wordpress.com/2018/11/25/panagia-the-immaculate-and-predestined-mother-of-god/. 
  45. ↑ "Archimandrite Cleopa (Ilie). The Veneration of the Theotokos According to the Bible". http://orthochristian.com/88363.html. 
  46. ↑ "Priest Valery Dukhanin, Priest Dimitry Shishkin, Archpriest Artemy Vladimirov. What is the Meaning of Passion-bearing?". http://orthochristian.com/105599.html. 
  47. ↑ "Royal Passion-Bearers Tsar Nicholas II and His Family | A Russian Orthodox Church Website" (in en-US). https://www.pravmir.com/royal-passion-bearers-tsar-nicholas-ii-and-his-family/. 
  48. ↑ "Royal Passionbearers Tsar Nicholas (Nikolai), Tsaritsa Alexandra, Tsarevich Aleksy, Grand Duchesses Olga, Tatiana, Maria, Anastasia". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/07/17/103789-royal-passionbearers-tsar-nicholas-nikolai-tsaritsa-alexandra-ts. 
  49. ↑ "The Orthodox Faith - Volume III - Church History - Ninth Century - Saint Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople". https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/church-history/ninth-century/saint-photius-patriarch-of-constantinople. "She honors him with exceptional regard as Saint Photius the Great, one of the Three Pillars of Orthodoxy (along with Saint Gregory Palamas and Saint Mark of Ephesus)" 
  50. ↑ "Pillars of Orthodoxy Church" (in en). https://www.thepillarsoforthodoxy.org/. "St Photios the Great, St Gregory Palamas, and St Mark of Ephesus were strong defenders of the Orthodox faith in the face of doctrinal errors and innovations in the West...As a consequence of their labors and orthodox witness, they have become known as the Pillars of Orthodoxy" 
  51. ↑ "The Orthodox Faith - Volume I - Doctrine and Scripture - Old Testament - Prophets". https://www.oca.org/orthodoxy/the-orthodox-faith/doctrine-scripture/old-testament/prophets. 
  52. ↑ "Holy, Glorious Prophet Elijah". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2022/07/20/102060-holy-glorious-prophet-elijah. 
  53. ↑ "Protomartyr and Archdeacon Stephen. Commemorated on December 27". http://orthochristian.com/100022.html. 
  54. ↑ "Right-believing Prince Vladimir Yaroslavich of Novgorod". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2021/10/04/102853-right-believing-prince-vladimir-yaroslavich-of-novgorod. 
  55. ↑ "Righteous Job the Long-Suffering". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2014/05/06/101301-righteous-job-the-long-suffering. 
  56. ↑ "Annual Celebration of the Memory of Holy Right-believing Prince Peter and Princess Febronia of Murom". https://wadiocese.com/news_140910_1.html. 
  57. ↑ "saint | Etymology of saint by etymonline" (in en). https://www.etymonline.com/word/saint. 
  58. ↑ Boston, Greek (2019-07-08). "Why Are There Saints in the Orthodox Church?" (in en-US). https://www.greekboston.com/religion/orthodox-saints/. 
  59. ↑ "Saints" (in en-US). https://holyapostles.org/saints. 
  60. ↑ "Holy Hieromartyr Publius, Bishop of Athens" (in en). https://www.johnsanidopoulos.com/2017/03/holy-hieromartyr-publius-bishop-of.html. 
  61. ↑ "Stylite | Definition, History, & Facts | Britannica" (in en). https://www.britannica.com/topic/stylite. 
  62. ↑ "Venerable Daniel the Stylite of Constantinople". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/1999/12/11/103520-venerable-daniel-the-stylite-of-constantinople. 
  63. ↑ Team, G. C. T. (2019-11-08). "Synaxis Of The Taxiarchs And Archangels Michael And Gabriel" (in en-GB). https://greekcitytimes.com/2024/11/08/taxiarch-archangels-michael-gabriel-2-2/. 
  64. ↑ "Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/05/08/101327-apostle-and-evangelist-john-the-theologian. 
  65. ↑ "Saint Gregory the Theologian, Archbishop of Constantinople". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/01/25/100298-saint-gregory-the-theologian-archbishop-of-constantinople. 
  66. ↑ "Venerable Simeon the New Theologian". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2015/03/12/100790-venerable-simeon-the-new-theologian. 
  67. ↑ Peoples, Mother of All (2019-01-28). "The Mother of God in the Orthodox Church" (in en). https://www.motherofallpeoples.com/post/the-mother-of-god-in-the-orthodox-church. 
  68. ↑ Berzonsky, Fr Vladimir (2005-03-20). "Theotokos and the Mother of God". https://www.oca.org/reflections/berzonsky/theotokos-and-the-mother-of-god. 
  69. ↑ Church, Saint John (2022-08-16). "Why We Call The Virgin Mary "Theotokos"" (in en-US). https://www.saintjohnchurch.org/why-call-virgin-mary-theotokos/. 
  70. ↑ Serviam (2022-05-13). "Unmercenary Healers." (in en). https://www.allisgift.org/post/unmercenary-healers. 
  71. ↑ "Greatmartyr and Healer Panteleimon". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/07/27/102099-greatmartyr-and-healer-panteleimon. 
  72. ↑ "[Projekat Rastko Sveto Sava: Sabrani spisi"]. 2016-06-19. http://rastko.org.rs/knjizevnost/liturgicka/svsava-sabrana/svsava-sabrana_12.html. 
  73. ↑ "Life and Miracles of St. Paisios of the Holy Mountain" (in en). https://obitel-minsk.org/en/life-and-miracles-of-st-paisios. 
  74. ↑ "Martyr Agatha of Palermo in Sicily". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2024/02/05/100431-martyr-agatha-of-palermo-in-sicily. 
  75. ↑ "Virgin Martyr Lucy of Syracuse". https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2010/12/13/103536-virgin-martyr-lucy-of-syracuse. 
  76. ↑ "Wonderworker" (in en-us). https://www.stnicholascenter.org/who-is-st-nicholas/wonderworker. 
  77. ↑ "Feast of our Father Among the Saints, Nicholas, the Wonderworker and Archbishop of Myra - Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America - Orthodox Church" (in en-US). https://www.goarch.org/-/stnicholas. 

Sources



Retrieved from "https://handwiki.org/wiki/index.php?title=Religion:List_of_Eastern_Orthodox_saint_titles&oldid=4354573"
Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 | Source: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Religion:List_of_Eastern_Orthodox_saint_titles
1 | Status: cached on May 27 2026 18:06:54
↧ Download this article as ZWI file
Encyclosphere.org EncycloReader is supported by the EncyclosphereKSF