Why Do Orthodox Christians Honor the Saints?
Once someone is officially canonized, the Church in her worship services no longer prays for the well-being of his or her soul, but publicly asks for the saint’s prayers. Icons are made of the saint, hymns are written honoring and remembering good deeds done, and at least one day of the year is designate as a feast-day for that saint, when his or her icons are displayed, and hymns written to the saint are sung. The hymns, the icons, the feast-days are all important aspects of the veneration of the saint, indicating profound respect and love for the person, but in no. way do these things mean that the person is being worshipped. Worship, of course, is due only to God. And indeed, all the veneration expressed to a saint is entirely based upon that person’s closeness to Christ. Every saint has become holy only through the mercy and grace of God; it is He who is glorified when we honor His holy ones.
