Prayer and reading guides · English

The Saints: Why We Ask for Their Prayers

Walk into a Coptic church and you will see icons of saints, hear their names in prayers, and meet people who feel close to them. For someone new, this can raise a fair question: why do Christians pray to saints? Here is a simple way in.

Who are the saints?

The saints are men and women who loved Christ and followed Him, many to the point of giving their lives. The Church believes that death does not break the family of God. Those who have fallen asleep in Christ are alive in Him, and they are still part of our family.

Asking for prayers, not replacing God

When we ask a friend, "Please pray for me," we are not replacing God. We are asking a friend to stand with us. The Church asks the saints the same way, to pray for us to God. All prayer, all power, and all worship belongs to God alone.

Tip: A simple way to begin is to say, "Holy saint, pray for me," and then talk to God yourself.

The Virgin Mary and the angels

St. Mary, the Mother of God, is honoured above all the saints, because she bore Christ. The Church also honours the holy angels and archangels, such as Michael, Gabriel and Raphael. Egypt's long history of martyrs is remembered every year at Nayrouz, the Coptic New Year.

Get to know them

You do not need to learn them all at once. Each day, the Church remembers saints in the Synaxarium. Reading one story a day is a lovely habit. In Doxali, you can open today's saints in a minute.

Try this: Read one story, then pause. What did the saint love? Where did they struggle? Ask them to pray for you with that.

Choosing a patron

Many people have a favourite saint, whose name they carry or whose story moves them. You are welcome to ask your priest for suggestions.

Quick questions

Is it worship?

No. Worship belongs to God alone. Honouring the saints is a way of loving the family of Christ.

Do I have to pray to saints?

It is a gift, not a requirement. Many people grow into it slowly.

Where can I learn more?

Ask your priest, and read the Synaxarium a little at a time.