Holy patron. Which saints are patronized by

Since the fourth century, in the Christian tradition appears the patron saint. Hoping for the favor and protection of the latter, parents called the child's similar name. Subsequently, many spheres of life acquired such holy patronage.

Who is the patron

The easiest way is to determine personal patron saints by the date of birth. How to do this, we'll look at the end of the article.

It is also interesting to know that during the formation of Christianity, the lives of saints and professions were studied, similar to their occupations or abilities, received them as patrons.

So Levi Matvey, being in his lifetime as a tax collector, became a defender of employees of financial departments. Clara Asizskaya had the gift to see and hear the Christmas Mass in the temple, even lying sick in bed. Therefore, she is assigned the role of patron of television.

On occasion, look at the icons, pictures. Guardian angel, holy saint, martyrs usually hold in their hands the attributes that show their belonging to some kind of activity.

Patrons of professions

You will be amazed when you learn how many saints sponsor certain kinds of activities. Most of these names refer to Catholicism, but there are many Orthodox. Let's look at this in more detail.

All the professions that are associated with movement on land transport, whether it is a bicycle, a car or a bus, are protected by the prophet Ilya. He is portrayed in the Holy Scriptures on a fiery chariot after being taken alive to heaven.

The physicians are protected by the archangels Raphael and Gabriel, as well as the Evangelist Luke. All of them in one way or another were associated with treatment.

Even housewives have their own patrons. They are Martha, the disciple of Jesus Christ, and Anna, the mother of Mary, the Virgin.

Evangelist Mark patronizes all kinds of activities related to animals. Zoologists, biologists, veterinarians and other specialists can ask for help from him.

Archangel Gabriel, being a messenger in the Christian tradition, helps diplomats, couriers, ambassadors, postmen and other figures connected with the delivery of something or establishing relations. In Orthodoxy, this also includes media workers.

The patron saint of journalists in Catholicism is Francis of Salsk, and the publishers, booksellers, writers and composers are John the Theologian.

A patron of sailors and singers is called Andrew the First-Called. It is not without reason that his cross is depicted on the flag of the Russian Navy.

Archangel Michael is associated with professions that deal with military affairs, law, and administration. This includes, in fact, soldiers, police officers and other employees of the law enforcement agencies.

You will laugh, but the Vatican has identified even the patron of Internet users. The patron saint of this activity is Isidore from Seville. During his lifetime he was an encyclopedist and, after faith, placed knowledge first.

Patrons of countries and cities

Holy patrons by the name of the settlement are not determined. But, proceeding from different Christian directions, every city and country has a patron. Some even have a few. Prefix to the name of the saint means the place of his birth, and not the point to which he favors.

Let's look at this in more detail. Since the missionaries tried to identify the defenders of most settlements, we will stop at the most famous and significant cities and states.

The patron saint of Belarus is Euphrosyne of Polotsk.

Russia has several patrons, if we talk about different faiths. The Orthodox consider the patrons of St. George the Victorious and St. Andrew the First-Called, the Catholics - Prince Vladimir, Basil the Great and Joseph the Betrothed.

Ukraine in Orthodoxy is patronized by the Apostle Andrew, and in Catholicism - by Joseph Polotsky.

The United States of America as its defender consider the Virgin of the Immaculate Conception.

France relies on the help of two patronesses. This is Anna, mother of Mary the Virgin, and Joan of Arc.

Britain, according to Catholic priests, is under the auspices of the archangel Michael.

We listed only a few countries from America, Western Europe and the near abroad. Next, the patrons of some Russian cities and regions will be presented.

The icons of the holy patrons sometimes reflect the place they favor. But this can not always be determined by images. Let's see who defends which city in the Orthodox tradition.

Moscow is pleased with George the Victorious, he is even depicted on the coat of arms.

St. Petersburg is defended by the apostles Peter and Paul, as well as Alexander Nevsky.

The latter is also the patron of Transbaikalia, and the apostles Peter and Paul are also the whole of the Kamchatka region.

This topic is very extensive, the volume of the same article allows you to touch it only briefly. Next, we'll talk about the holy helpers in different life's misfortunes.

Patrons of patients and assistants in treatment

In Christianity there is not only the protector of the dead, but also protectors from various ailments, and also saints who help doctors in healing.

Let's get acquainted with the help of doctors.

So, with alcoholism, as Orthodox believers believe, the martyr Boniface of Tarsus and John of Kronstadt are helping to cope. Catholics in this regard turn to Urban from Langr.

Pregnant women pray to the great martyr Anastasia or Sylvia of Rome, depending on the confession.

Simeon Verkhotursky will help you to cure diseases of the feet, and in case of any ailments connected with the hands, the believers turn to the icon "Troeruchitsa", on which the Virgin is depicted.

In principle, the patron of all patients in Catholicism is Mavr Glanfei.
With the eyes, they say, the archangel Gabriel helps, and Francis of Silesia is considered to be the patron of problems related to hearing.

Job Long-suffering in Catholicism "responsible" for the cure of depression.

As it turns out, the patron of the dead is not alone. They are divided by age. Cartridges of infant mortality - Jadwiga Silesian or Matilda of Saxony, and untimely death - Archangel Michael.

If a person is difficult to understand the nature of the pain or the origin of the disease, there are saints who help, it is believed, with healing in general. This is the great martyr Panteleimon in Orthodoxy and Juliana of Nicomedia in Catholicism.

Assistants in difficult situations

As the proverb says, from sumka and prison it is not necessary to renounce. Let's see what kind of saints help people who have met misfortunes on the path of life.
In such situations, a patron is not determined by the date of birth, but a candle is put to someone who helps in such a misfortune.

So, it is believed that Catholics help to find a new job, Kaztan of Tien, and Orthodox - Ksenia from St. Petersburg.

Agnell in Catholicism, in Orthodoxy - Boris and Gleb, Alexander Nevsky, Neil Sorsky and Theotokos support and help recover the victims of the war.

The captives are patronized by Peter from Athos and Simeon the God-bearer.
If nostalgia crept into my soul and my heart yearned for family and friends, I prayed to John the Crow.

From the perdition on the water protect the Virgin (the icon "Savior of the drowning") and Iakinf from Krakow. Rescue in a shipwreck patronizes Yudok.

The patron saint of children is Sergius of Radonezh. He is prayed if the offspring are unsuccessful in their studies.

If you feel desperate, they say, the put candle will help John Chrysostom.
Of course, this is a matter of faith, especially in our enlightened age, but there are situations when this remains the only way out. As they say, "there are no atheists in the trenches."

Protection against natural disasters

Natural disasters come suddenly, and the power of the elements frightens and delights.

Christianity believes that some saints help people, protect them from the anger of nature and divert destructions to the side.

Let's find out who is praying in different confessions in similar situations.

During an earthquake, it's unlikely to be time to determine who your patron saints are by the date of birth. Therefore, the holy fathers recommend to address in this case to Gregory the Wonder-worker.

When a volcano erupts nearby, you should leave as quickly as possible. But later it will not hurt to put the candle of Agafia Sicilia, so that this does not happen again.

In the Middle Ages, with a violent storm, Yudok, Valburg, Urban Langrusky or Erasmus Formian prayed.

To avoid a lightning strike, they turned to Wirth of Rome and Magnus of Fussen.

Ermengild is considered a defender in thunderstorms, droughts and floods.

It is noteworthy that in general, patrons-saviors from various disasters are in Catholicism. Orthodox addressed to the defenders only in two cases. In severe frosts - to the holy fool Procopius from Ustyug, and during the fire - to the recluse Nikita of Novgorod or to the icon "Burning bush". Apparently, the rest of the cataclysms were not disturbed by our people.

Patrons of educational institutions

Often the name of a large educational institution, especially in the Middle Ages, crowned the name of the patron saint. By the name of the patron they judged the status of the school or university.
Separately, all schools in Catholicism are patronized by Thomas Aquinas, and to universities - Contardo Ferrin.

And here more supporters of the Catholic faith were noted. The Orthodox recognize mainly only that the Apostle Andrew is the patron of Patra University in Greece.

In Western Europe, many universities have acquired holy defenders.

In the Bologna Academy of Arts - Catherine Bologna.

The patroness of Cambridge is considered to be Edeltrude, and in Oxford to Fredeswind.

The University of Paris for greater success considers its patrons the four saints. This is Catherine of Alexandria, Nicholas of Mirlikia, Ursula of Cologne and Charlemagne.

Thus, some of the oldest educational institutions have cartridges. The problem is that, according to the canons, they protect the universities themselves, and do not help students in their studies. So in the exams you still have to rely only on your intelligence or friendly cheat sheet.

Defenders of the ruling dynasties

As usual, here we will mainly talk about the Catholic faith.

Apparently, the desire to become a universal church and the love of wealth and luxury have influenced the fact that almost every social, natural and other phenomenon, as well as various spheres of life, has its patron saints. After all, only in this case one can influence tithing, offerings and gifts to temples.
So, which of the saints became the monarch's defender?

Ferdinand of Castile is considered the patron of all heads of state, regardless of region or continent.

Next comes a specific feature. The patrons have every ruling house, in particular, French, English and German. And also separately from people who have different titles, such as the king, the princess and others.

So, the monarchs are patronized by Louis, Edward the Confessor and Henry of Bavaria respectively.

Kings help to withstand the burden imposed on them by Edgar Mirny and Dagobert.

To the queen - Jadwiga the Polish, Isabella of Portugal and Matilda of Saxony.

The Empress is protected by the Equal-to-the-Apostles Elena.

Adelaide of Burgundy favors princesses, and the Counts are protected by Karl Dobry.

The patron saints of the family of the ruling monarchs of Great Britain are Edward the Confessor and Archangel Michael, as the defender of England.

The German dynasty of the Habsburgs favored Maximilian, and the Dauphines of France - Petronilla.

Thus, many ruling families had not only their spiritual leaders and counselors from the clergy, but also patron saints.

Animal patrons

Cattle breeding has long been one of the most important occupation of man. It was this activity that helped to move from accidental luck on the hunt to planned sustenance. Therefore, people constantly cared about the health and productivity of their pets.

Here we will mention the Orthodox and Catholic patrons of animals.

So, let's start with the birds. Domestic ducks, geese and other flying living creatures have a defender in the person of the great martyr Nikita from the Orthodox and Martin from Tours in Catholicism.

Pigeons are patronized by David from Wales, and to swans is Hugo Lincolsky.

Next, livestock. In Orthodoxy, his defenders consider Georgii Pobedonosets and Paraskeva Pyatnitsa. Catholics are the same name for Pope Cornelius, hermit Onuphrius and Perpetua of Carthage.

All the horned animals are patronized by Guido from Anderlecht.

In Orthodoxy the patron of goats and sheep is considered to be Mamant of Caesarea, Catholics do not believe that goats can have a patron. Therefore, George the Victorious, by their tradition, protects only sheep.

How to know your patron saint

Today, most people are again looking for faith. Some return to Christianity. In this religion it is customary to celebrate the Day of the Angel, that is, the date when one or another saint is honored.

The easiest way to determine the name of the patron saint is by the name of the child. First, when baptism is given a new name (if the given at birth does not belong to the Christian tradition, or the parents wanted to give the second one), but the old one can also be preserved.

How to act? Mostly, holy patrons are identified by their name and date of birth. Even if you do not remember the name you were baptized with (not preserved), find the closest Christian. If there are more than one, select the one that is nicer to you.

So, now open the calendar and look for what you are suitable patron by date of birth. This is not the exact number when you were born, but the closest day in which a saint is revered with that name.

For example, you celebrate your birthday on September 2, and the nearest date, when a patron with the same name is mentioned, on December 11th. It turns out that you have two celebrations. In September - Birthday, in December - Angel Day.

On such days it is traditionally customary to give children images and pictures. The Guardian Angel does not have to be there, but it will not be superfluous.

So, we have learned to define our patron, and also learned the holy defenders in different spheres of life.