Adobe photos, by Tutye
It’s 1965 in Soviet Russia, and the communists have continued their conquest, destroying churches and imprisoning Christians. They started to build statues of their own leaders and remove any trace of Christian imagery in the public square. On May 1, 1965, the communists had a demonstration in the Georgian SSR, revering soviet leader Lenin as almost a God with a massive statue. Yet something interesting starts to happen: the statue starts to burn; someone has set it on fire. A monk appeared to the crowd, preaching about Jesus Christ; he was the one who set the statue on fire. The authorities grab and beat the monk, almost to death, and then take him to prison. That monk was St Gabriel Urgebadze, who never abandoned God even after all the trials he was put through and is revered by Russian Christians to this day.
https://orthodoxgladness.blogspot.com/2020/04/st-gabriel-urgebadze-during-holy-week.html
As Christians who try to live out our faith in the world, we employ many resources to grow and learn. Christians can read the Bible, fellowship in church, or watch videos on theology to help them with the trials in their own lives. One particular method of study is reading about the lives of the saints, although this is more common in some traditions (Catholics and Orthodox) than others. These saints can teach believers by how they lived their lives for Jesus Christ, “Studying the lives and teachings of saints from the Bible and church history can be a meaningful practice for many Christians. Whether or not one should do so depends on personal preferences and theological perspectives. Many individuals find value in exploring the lives of these saints, drawing inspiration from their exceptional faith, devotion, and service to God. The stories of these saints can serve as a source of encouragement for one's own spiritual journey. They offer insights into the profound aspects of faith, such as theology, prayer, and Christian virtues, contributing to personal spiritual growth.” Explains Jeanne Johnston, a minister and professor at SEU.
“Moreover, saints have played significant roles in the history and development of the Christian Church. Their stories offer a window into the cultural and historical context of Christianity. This historical and cultural understanding can deepen one's appreciation for the tradition. Saints often serve as role models for those seeking to lead Christ-centered lives. Their examples can provide guidance in navigating the challenges of faith and the complexities of life.” Johnston notes that their lives play a crucial role in church history; early Christians lived in a time when many heretical ideas ran rampant. Ideas such as Nestorianism, Arianism, and Paganism threatened the church and proper theology. Many saints wrote books during this time refuting these heresies, and they can give Christians today good arguments against the modern ideas that subvert the church. Many of these are hardly new but are different forms of ancient schools of thought where the debates were already held throughout history. In that sense, the saints are an excellent way to study theology and apologetics.
“I think as one discovers the giftedness and strengths of the different Saints, one could try to emulate their characteristics in one’s own life,” said Ron Beck, a theology teacher at SEU. It’s important to note that the reading does not matter without the application; Christianity is meant to be lived out in the world, not merely something we learn about. These amazing stories of faith and virtue amid suffering still happen today, and every Christian can live it out. Of course, studying saints should be used to supplement learning about Christ, Johnston said in an interview. “Although studying the saints can benefit those who find it spiritually enriching, it should be secondary to studying the life of Christ, who is the ultimate example of how God calls us to live as Christians. The study of saints should be approached with an open heart and discernment, with the ultimate goal of deepening one's faith and relationship with God.” Every method we use to grow in our spiritual life should always be a means to strengthen our relationship with Jesus Christ and to help us follow him.
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