just back from cypus and visiting all the wonderful churches and monasteries. I was wondering whether the lists of saints in Greek Orthodoxy are fixed, or continually expanding like the Catholics? Who decided the original list?
The list of Greek Orthodox saints does seem to be expanding. The latest, apparently, was canonised in 2000 (St. Raphael of Brooklyn).
I don’t know who decided the original list, but looking at the classification of Orthodox saints here, I’d say the process started back as far as the religion has been in existence.
thanks ice wolf. The second link was very useful. It appears that there is no formal canonisation procedure, and that evidence of miracles etc are not needed as they are in catholic procedures. I am still a little unsure about who decides, but there is probably some committee somewhere.
We have no fixed “list of saints”. Indeed, we have no central “list of saints” at all. There are some saints who are honored by all Orthodox, some who are honored only within some jurisdictions, some honored only within a single jurisdiction, and some honored only by a handful of people.
We have no committee devoted to the subject, either. That sort of legalism is antithetical to Ortodoxy. Here is roughly how the process tends to run:
Some time after the death of a person of saintly repute, some Orthodox Christians begin to pray to that person as we pray to the other saints.
Miracles might or might not be attributed to this person in response to these prayers. Likewise, spontaneous miracles might or might not occur.
If enough Orthodox over time come to the opinion that the person is a saint, then the local Bishop will look into the matter. If he agrees, then he has the option of including the person in his Diocese’s calendar as a saint or moving the matter “up” to his synod. The synod then can look into the matter and make a determination.
In each case, determinations can be a complete glorification, simply reserving judgment, or (in rare instances) prohibiting further veneration. However, at no time does any Church official “make” somebody into a saint. There is only recognition of an extant status. Likewise, Orthodoxy recognizes that there may be many saints who are not “officially” recognized.
If a synod glorifies a saint, then other synods may take notice as well, or they may not–it’s up to them.