All Saints’ Day, also known as All Hallows’ Day, the Feast of All Saints, the Feast of All Hallows, the Solemnity of All Saints, and Hallowmas, is a Christian solemnity celebrated in honor of all the saints of the church, whether they are known or unknown, and is celebrated in the Western Church on November 1.
The Christian celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day stems from a belief that there is a powerful spiritual bond between those in heaven (the “Church triumphant”), the living (the “Church militant”, and the “Church penitent” which includes the faithful departed. In Catholic theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. In Methodist theology, All Saints Day revolves around “giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of his saints”, including those who are “famous or obscure”. As such, individuals throughout the Church Universal are honoured, such as Paul the Apostle, Augustine of Hippo and John Wesley, in addition to individuals who have personally led one to faith in Jesus, such as one’s grandmother or friend.
The Saints Inspire Us
“Paying homage to religious heroes and heroines is nothing new. The veneration of and supplication to sacred ancestors exist in almost every culture, in every hemisphere.” Richard Vosko; Faith & Forum
According to the catechism of the Catholic Church “What is the Church if not the Communion of the Saints.”
Early Church Fathers
The Christian celebration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day stems from a belief that there is a powerful spiritual bond between those in heaven (the “Church triumphant”), the living (the “Church militant”, and the “Church penitent” which includes the faithful departed. In Catholic theology, the day commemorates all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven. In Methodist theology, All Saints Day revolves around “giving God solemn thanks for the lives and deaths of his saints”, including those who are “famous or obscure”. As such, individuals throughout the Church Universal are honoured, such as Paul the Apostle, Augustine of Hippo and John Wesley, in addition to individuals who have personally led one to faith in Jesus, such as one’s grandmother or friend.
An early Serbian Christian saint, Saint Sava, is a good example of a humble yet powerful saint during his own lifetime as well as centuries after his death, who inspired and led many people to faith in God.
Saint Sava (1173-1236)
Well loved Serbian saint, dedicated his life to his people and his church, His life was shaped by prayer and concern for others, he modeled the characteristics of being meek yet strong, a man of great compassion and great leadership skills. His importance extends far beyond his own lifetime, and Christians and Muslims alike venerated him and attributed miraculous power to him. Through his efforts, they emerged as a spiritually unified entity.
Even though he lived in violent times, he refused to endorse the persecution of heretics and unbelievers. He powerfully influenced his church to use peaceful means against its opponents.
St Sava is known for deep meditation as well as action. His tomb in Milesevo became the source of grace, health, and consolation for all Serbian generations to come.
At the end of St. Sava’s life, disappointed with the struggle within the ruling body of the young Serbian Kingdom, Sava withdrew to his House of Silence in Studenica and offered a prayer to God, “ to let him die in a foreign country.” This was in protest against political disorder at home, his appeal to the conscience of his people, and his conviction that he would work for their salvation from outside.”
“St Sava heard mysterious voices commanding him to build something for his people that can serve as a harbor of salvation. And thus he started the renovation of Hilandar Monastery at Mt. Athos in Greece. A biography, “The Life of Saint Sava”, by Nicholai Velimirovich, is an excellent source of more history and stories of the miracles he performed and experienced.
Here is a quote from that book that aptly applies to our study of saints:
“Innumerable saints remain unknown to men and are known to God alone. Christ’s heavenly Kingdom would be pitifully small if it consisted only of those saints whose names are recorded in our calendar. God does not reveal to the world all the saints, and only a very few according to the religious need of a time or a nation. Through the miracles of those few revealed saints, God seeks to revive, strengthen or justify the faith of men of different countries or places.”
So let us, as we write the icons of Holy saints, remember to choose well the models and patterns that will help to heal and inspire the people of our time.
May God bless and inspire you as you paint His holy Icons.
Until next month,
Christine Simoneau Hales, Christinehales.com
Founder, American Association of Iconographers
American Association of Iconographers 