Week Two

What is Sainthood?

Sainthood (for humans) is a way of living that one separates himself from fleshly desires, carry the cross
and follow our Savior Jesus Christ. People who chose this life are called Saints. In our church we use
words like Holy, Saint and righteous interchangeably since in Amharic or Geez we use the word “Kidus”
which is derived from the verb “ kedese”. And this has a collective meaning of “being sanctified,
separated, honored, and glorified”

There are two different kinds of Holiness; one that is given to others as a gift of grace and another which
is an attribute of God.

Words such as Holy, Saint or righteous are used as adjectives and the words magnitude is
defined/determined by the subject that they are expressing.

The Holiness of God

The Holiness of God can’t be compared to anyone and shouldn’t be given to any creature. God’s holiness
is His nature, He didn’t get it from anyone or He had to work to get it but He is the source of it
(Holiness). 1st Sam 2:2, Ex 15:11

For Example if we compare the sun and the moon, the moon also gives light at night but it didn’t have
her own light rather it gets its light from another source which is sun. The sun on the other hand doesn’t
get light from another but gives to the moon. Saint John the apostles mentioned this comparison
between John the Baptist and Christ. John 1: 8, John 5:35

- God’s Honor, Glory or Holiness can’t be taken from Him but He can give it to others by His grace.
And when He gives His glory absolutely won’t be lessened for Him as He is where it all begotten.

Therefore the kind of Glory, honor, prostration and respect to our Creator God is completely different
and can’t be shared with any other creature even though the action and the wording would be the
same. ( Eg. Holy God Vs Holy Virgin Mary Vs Holy Cross; prostrating for God Vs prostrating for Saint
Angel Michael)

The Holiness and Sainthood of others

As we mentioned earlier the holiness of others is given to them based of their trials and the grace of
God. Since God is Holy anyone who followed Him and separated themselves from the world to be like
Him are also called Holy. Lev 19:2, 1 Peter 1:13

Their proper due of glory and honor is based on their closeness to God.

The word Holy could be prefixed for five things other than God.

1. Holy (saints) Angeles

 2. Saint humans
3. Holy places

Angels

Angels are spirits and ministers of fire and wind that are send to and from humans. Psalm 104:4. Their
life is praising, they don’t get married and they are battalions of ten thousand of then thousands. Rev
5:11

Angels are servants of God However that doesn’t mean God needs someone to do things for Him,
instead they are created to share His righteousness and the Joy in Him.

Holy Places

A Place that is chosen or sanctified for God’s miraculous work is also called Holy. For example a church is
a consecrated place for worship and delivering the flesh and blood of Christ. Ex 3:5, 2 Cron 7:16

Holy Humans (Saints, the righteous)

We also call humans Holy (Saints) as we saw above that dedicated their life for God. For the
purpose of this course we can also put saints again in four groups.

In the Old Testament

In the Old Testament there were peoples that lived a life that God liked and since our God is a
living God, even those that were in the Old Testament and were righteous are still alive and
honored as saints. Eg. The Patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob), Kings (David), Prophets ( Isaiah ,
Elijah, Jeremiah) Mat 23:35

Christ Himself justified that they are alive and that they will accept our prayers (heavenly duty)
in the story of Lazarus and the rich man. Luke 16:20

In the New Testament

In the New Testament we can classify those who are Holy in 4 major categories.

1. Apostles

These were the twelve disciples who literally learned the word of God from Christ. And preach
gospel in the four corners of the world. Most of them eventually became martyrs. One of many
rewards for their sacrifice is to judge the world sitting on twelve thrones at the end of the
world. (Mat 19:28)
 2. Martyrs

These are Saints who testified in front of unbelievers about Christ and became persecuted for
their belief. (Luke 12:8) The depth of their persecution is described in detail by Saint Paul in
Heb. 11:34 Eg. Saint Steven, Saint George, Saint Kirkos, Saint Arsema

3. The righteous ( ጻድቃን)

These are Saints who left this world and surrender their life to God in the wilderness and in the
desserts. Mat 16:26 These Saints died for the world fighting fleshly desires every day. Eg. Abuna
Tekle haymanot, Saint Anthony the Great, Saint Moses the black, Saint Kristos Semra, Abune
Gebre menfes Kidus

4. Apologetic Fathers

These Saints are the ones who elaborate and teach the faith for the people. Because of their
spiritual life they are gifted to reveal the mysteries of God spending their life teaching and
writing spiritual scholars for Christians. These are the ones responsible to answers heretical
questions raised by various individuals. Eg. Saint Cyril, Saint Basil, Saint John Chrysostom, Saint
Athanasius, Saint Yared

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit One God

Week Three

The calling of Saints

Contrary to Popular belief Saints are not preferred persons just because God chose them
without reason. That makes our Just God biased and unfair. However there are some verses in
the bible that seem to indicate otherwise. For Example Psalm 58:3, Jeremiah 1:5. But then we
see that God is not biased. Psalm 119:137, Deuteronomy 10:16 Prov. 15:11

The expression in the bible about God choosing the righteous from the womb or even before
created is showing God’s knowledge that is not limited by time. Which means He already know
that the person would persevere and will choose to live the righteous life. (Luke 2:30, Gen 3:22)
God is timeless therefore He doesn’t have to wait like us who are bounded by time to know if
things happen or not. We learn that to be chosen is not the ultimate goal of Christianity. John
6:70
Saints are the ones that chose to use God’s grace and His calling and changed their way of life with their
own free will. Deu 30:16

- God’s calling is also diverse which means He calls some to be saints from fishing others from
being a General. He called others from their wedding and kings from their palace.

Gifts of Saints
In charge of His (God’s) Creation
Saints are so much trusted in their faith that they are given the authority in the creation
(possession) of God. This shows the extent of His love and gift for their beloved.

On heaven and earth

Elijah was a prophet that prayed so that the sky (heaven) wouldn’t give rain for three years.
(james 5:17)

On the sun and the moon

When Joshua was fighting with the non-Israelites on mount Gibeon he said that let the sun
stood still until they win the war. (Jos 10:13)

On evil spirits

Christ used to cast out demons in the bible but not only Him but His disciples were given the
authority to cast our demons too. (Matthew 10:1)

Numbers 12:7 God testified for Moses that he is trusted in all God’s house. (Romans 8:32)

On human beings

Saints also are given the authority on us which means to bestow their blessing on us or not.
Even to take our life here on earth. (Acts 5:1) (Exodus 23:21)

Also Saints have the authority on death, illness, animals and all other things that are God’s

Zach. 3:7, Matt 24:45

To know the Mysteries of God

In addition to the authority on all God’s things, saints are also given the grace of knowing God’s
mysteries. They are like counselors of God in a way that they know God’s intention and His
miraculous work and His path way before it is revealed to others.
Gen 18:18 God told Abraham that He is going to destroy the city of Sodom before He do. And it
is mentioned clearly of the closeness and knowing God’s mystery in Amos 3:7. ( John 15:15)

To stand in front of God

This is a very important concept that we should understand in order to explain the intercession
of Saints. What is “to Stand” means in the bible? (Exodus 32) Psalm 106:23, 1 st Sam 19, Gen
18:22

So with this evidence the deeper meaning of “to Stand” in the bible is to beg or to intercede.

Luke 1:19, Dan 12, Job 1:6

And out of all other Saints, our Lady the Holy Virgin Mary Stands beside Her Son to pray for us.
(Psalm 45:9)

2nd Peter 1:13 Also mentions that how Saints would plead for us not only when they are on this
earth but after they passed. Rev 14:13

Why the gift of supplication (standing) for the saints?

1. Because the saints are righteous in their life they are closer to God and He will tend to
listen to them than the sinners. ( Gen 20:7) ( Job 42:7-10)
2. God also wants to reveal the Glory of the Saints and how close they are to Him as a
result we always promotes a supplication prayer. (James 5:16)
3. Out of God’s eternal love for everyone He wants each of us to be blessed by the
intercession of others. (Matt 10:14)

The intercession of Christ (God) Vs The intercession of Saints

Even though we believe in the intercession of the saints, the way of pleading is instituted first
by Christ Himself. If He wouldn’t intercede for us with His Father, The Holy Spirit and also with
Him; we wouldn’t be able to commune with God all together. His intercession and opening the
door of salvation ended on the cross that is why Christ said “it is finished” Now after
reconciliation, the grace of intercession is given to the Saints. 2 nd Cor 5

- The intercession of Christ couldn’t be done by any creature but by God himself through
His Son Christ.
- It is done once and for all
- It is a reconciliation with Himself
 Vs

- The intercession of Saints is a gift for all the righteous from God
- The Saints pray always until we receive our reward and be with them together to praise
our Lord.
- They will strive in prayer and reminding us to reconcile with Him (Jesus Christ)

Home work
While doing your daily prayer try to add “by the intercession of __________ forgive my sins.”

In the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit One God

WEEK FOUR
How do we Glorify Saints?

As we learned in previous classes now we know that Honoring and Venerating

Saints is a divine wish. But how are we Glorify or honor Saints. Gen 12:3

1. Building a Church under their name (Isaiah 56:1-5)

Based on this prophecy and God’s promise we build a church that will be
named after a Saint that we honor. Even though the house is God’s house the
name will be given to a respective Saint. Now the meaning of the word
“Church” can be classified in three.

a. The building and the wall

b. We individually as the temple of God
c. Any congregation that is gathered in His name
However, all this three can be applied to the idea of naming the “church” by a
saint. The church as a building is already discussed but also as we get baptized we
are given a name of a saint or something related to a saint. Thirdly there are a lot of
congregations (groups or mahiber) by the name of a saint therefore naming a saint
in any of God’s house is one way that we glorify the saints.

2. Prostrating, bowing down, or venerating

Another appropriate way of glorifying Saints in our church is by prostrating in
front of their icons and venerate them. Even though the action would be the
same, it is a prostration of grace. Which means it is because God already
glorified them with His grace. For Angels (Gen 19:1) (Dan 8:15)

For Human Saints Act. (10:25) Rev (3:9)

This prostrating is solely for honoring them and we don’t equate them with the
source of honor who is God.

3. Commemorating and naming a day after them

As our course’s title states, the remembrance of the saints is everlasting which
means we will remember them forever. There are days that we remember and
are very important to us such as our birthday. Similarly, our Father and Lord
wants to sanctify days that has a significance in our spiritual life. Exodus 12:14.
Therefore we remember the day that a specific saint revealed the glory of God.
For example, in Ethiopian Calendar we remember the 23 rd of every month the
perseverance that St. George showed in defending his faith. Even though the
day that he passed from this world to glory is in April (Miyaziya 23 rd), we
remember that God can do miracles in our life as Saint George’s life every 23 rd
day of the month by commemorating him. (Proverbs 10:7)

4. doing good deeds in their name

The purpose of praying to and remembering the saints is ultimately to be
spiritually giant like them and one of the ways that our lord Jesus Christ showed
us is to feed the poor under their name. (Matthew 10:42)

This verse explains that just by giving as little as a cup of water in the name of
the disciples will give the grace of the disciple which in turn shows the
mercifulness of our Lord.
 Believing in this our Church teaches us for example to commemorate the trials
of Abuna Teklehaymanot on the 24 th of December and at the same time to feed
the poor on this day to get the grace of the Saint.

5. Writing and reading their Acts ( Gedel)

The other way that we venerate the saints is by reading their acts and learn from
it and get a blessing form it. That is why the book of Acts is one of the books in
the bible. Reading how these Saints face trials and overcome that gives us
inspiration and sometimes we read this saints performing some unbelievable
miracles which convinces us to believe God’s boundless gift for those who give
up everything for the sake of His name. (John 14:12)

(2nd Tim 3:16)

By listening their work, we also get blessed (A blessing of happiness, hope).

(Acts15:31)

Some useful Verses about Saints

- For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto
their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.(1 st Peter
3:1)
- The LORD is far from the wicked: but he hears the prayer of the righteous.
(Proverbs 15:29)
- The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. (James 5:16)
- John Chapter 2