WHAT IS A PATRON SAINT?
A person who has received salvation and resides in heaven and is in close communication with the Holy Trinity and all the other saints. Patron Saint can communicate with those yet alive and receives their personal prayers with much interest. Patron Saints intercede on behalf of those who pray to them for personal requests and needs. Therefore this relationship can continue for lifetime.
How does an icon help with this relationship?
The icon shows many aspects of the helping saint, in both a historical sense as well as a philosophical sense. The icon shows the patron saint always in an attitude of readiness. The icon is never simply as an illustration but depicts a preparedness to act and aid.
The icon always shows the deity or sanctified person as a historical entity and a philosophical concept.
The icon never attempts to entertain but shows an eternal presence which is always benign, profound and purposefully showing little emotion. But instead of emotion is acute
How is a patron saint chosen?
Patron saints can be chosen in a variety of ways. For example, some are chosen very early and represent an entire family, such as the Serbian SLAVA which is passed from generation to generation. Patron Saints can also be individually picked for a variety of reasons. Some choose a Saint’s name because of the day of the baby’s birth or date of baptism. Some patron saints are picked because of profounder spiritual events such as the Annunciation, Resurrection or even name after Holy angels for example: Angelica.
In the western world, it is customary to celebrate one’s birthday only. However, celebrating one’s name’s day is a more ancient and venerable tradition.
Honouring a Patron Saint is a celebration involving the entire Church: both the clergy and as well as lay persons.
Attributes
An icon shows the attributes of the patron saint, depicting both who the patron saint island what he or she did but more so what the Patron Saint continues to do. Patron Saint can be a warrior from ancient times or a bishop or deacon showing what his calling was. The icon can also could depict scenes from the Patron Saint’s life.
Stylization
Stylization is a way of introducing or posing the patron saint in a heroic manner and unless there exists a recent photograph of the patron Saint, there no attempt to depict the real image of the person. Traditionally, the icon and image of the Patron Saint is painted the same way for many many years. As an example, this is the reason we know that Saint Peter had a white beard and white hair. Consequently, this way he is always portrayed in the same way and therefore easily recognized in the church . Importantly, he stylization removes the error of making the face of the patron saint to look like someone you know which would erroneously create an associative relationship which lessens a personal relationship with the image. For example, it might be difficult to venerate the icon of the Virgin Mary if it looks like your aunt Matilda. General attributes such as a short white beard or long white beard are acceptable depictions.
In modern times, especially since the introduction of photography there may be real images available of the Patron Saint. For example Saint John of Shanghai. While stylization is acceptable , iit is important to maintain a generalization or Byzantine depiction
Patron icons can show a single figure or several events in the life of a patron saint such as his or her birth, mission and death.
The icon of the Feast day of “All Saints” is an icon of all unknown patron saints. This type of Feast icon is only given to churches.
A Feast day can be also used a patron. For example in the Orthodox Church no one is given the name ‘Jesus’ however with certain reservations certain Feast Days can be used. For example, the name Anastasios means Resurrection.
Many patronal icon consists often with the of the centre of the icon depicting the Holy Trinity, Christ, or The Virgin and Child. Traditionally the patron saints are placed around the centre and even sometimes on the border of the icon.
The space shown in the icon is very shallow so is not to destruct the intention that should be given to the image and not the background stuff unless absolutely necessary.
In byzantine style real prospection (the act of viewing) is speculative in order to create a supra image which tends to indicate a supra reality or a timelessness that is not subject to the rules and regulations of the real world but a world that is regulated and ruled by the supernatural.
Where one does find icons in the church?
When a church is properly decorated, one finds icons on the first level at the same level as the level of the worshipers. This engages the worshipper and gives the impression that the Saints are praying with the worshippers. The next level up is usually reserved for Festal events in the life of Christ and the Mother of God.
If the church has a dome and pendentives - the pendentives are reserved for the four evangelists, showing them writing holy scripture. Pendentives are kite shaped surfaces that physically support the dome. Above them can be the prophets or the order of angels. At the summit, that is: the whole area of an upper dome is reserved for Christ Almighty. This allows the worshiper at the lowest level to be in communion with Heaven and to become strengthened by engaging with this icon of Christ: never intimidated but but reinforced by divine power.
Patron Saints are those Christians whose eternal salvation has been accomplished. They therefore rest in “Abraham’s bosom” . Patron saints can be monastics or from the secular life. They can be married, parents, grandparents, godparents and persons who are known to have been “saved”. For example, Saint Maria of Paris.
Sainthood
All saints are known to be saints because they followed a Godly lifestyle. The majority of saints are unknown, however, some have been revealed to us by God. Revelation of a saint can be quick or it may take a very long time. A living person is never deemed a saint until after they demise. Many times, and in many cases there is public recognition before which the church moves to formal canonization. Some happen almost immediately, some take centuries. The laity usually are the first to recognize sanctity.
Traditional icon giving
Gifting a Patron icon is a very personal act and has always been encouraged no matter how many icons one may ultimately have. Some people find a great joy collecting multiple icons of their patron saint, however this is not a necessary endeavour. Most common are icons of a Patron saint depicted alone. However multiple feats performed by the patron saint may be painted in the patronal icon also. Sometimes the background of these icons are burnished with gold leaf which indicates the timelessness of the patrons eternal glory.
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