Patron Saints (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

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You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery;' but I tell you that everyone who gazes at a woman to lust after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. If your right eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. If your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off, and throw it away from you. For it is more profitable for you that one of your members should perish, than for your whole body to be cast into Gehenna. 'It was also said, 'Whoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorce,' but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries her when she is put away commits adultery. 'Again you have heard that it was said to them of old time, 'You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the Lord your vows,' but I tell you, don't swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is the throne of God; nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can't make one hair white or black. But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes' and your 'No' be 'No.' Whatever is more than these is of the evil one. 'You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'* But I tell you, don't resist him who is evil; but whoever strikes you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also. If anyone sues you to take away your coat, let him have your cloak also. Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two. Give to him who asks you, and don't turn away him who desires to borrow from you. 'You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor,* and hate your enemy.*' But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven.

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	Patron Saints (Teachings of the Orthodox Church)

QUESTION:

Who would be the patron of Firefighters and Emergency Medical Response personnel?

ANSWER:

Generally it is not the custom in the Orthodox Church to have patron saints of various vocations and trades, even though there are a few saints designated as such. To my knowledge, the Orthodox Church does not look to any particular saint as the patron of firefighters and emergency medical response personnel.

Probably the Roman Catholic Church, which does cherish this custom, has such a patron.

Sorry I could not be of more assistance.

From one of our readers:

In response to the question and answer on the patron of fire-fighters and medical response people, St Florian, an early Christian Martyr, is the Catholic designate for these professions.

During the Crusades when the Knights Templar were mounting the walls of Jerusalem, the Saracens began pouring petrol (or whatever flammable substance they had then) on the knights. Then, a burning torch was shot over the wall at the Knights and many caught fire and died.

The Knights then introduced a category of soldiers whose job it would be to watch their comrades in battle to ensure they would be protected from firy hazards such as that. This brigade even wore a special version of the Templar Cross, which, to this day, continues to be the Cross of the fire-fighters and their units continue to be called "brigades." St Florianwas then appointed their patron.

In some areas of Eastern Europe, the icon of St Michael is carried by "pozhezhniky" or fire-fighters who are Orthodox Christians as their protector.

Published in January 2011.

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