Poll - Favorite Figure in Eastern Orthodoxy?

[theidler]

Who is your favorite Eastern Orthodox figure in the list? Let’s see who wins out.
I picked the ones that are sort of the most famous, and post Schism, because the East and West share the same saints for the first 1000 years or so, with the exception of Isaac the Syrian.

In the interest of avoiding any controversy or arguing:slapfight:, I skipped out on Photius and Mark of Ephesus. I don’t want this post to descend into an East vs. West sort of thing, it’s just for fun

 

[ZDHayden]

I cannot decide between St Seraphim or St Gregory Palamas!

 

[theidler]

I forgot Theophan the Recluse…how could I forget him!:doh2:

 

[Nine_Two]

St. Innocent of Alaska.

 

[theidler]

St. Innocent of Alaska.

Never heard of him - I will look him up! I did think of adding Herman of Alaska actually. Maybe, Nine_Two, you should put up a poll of specifically Eastern Orthodox saints, as your knowledge is probably a lot better than mine.

 

[Nine_Two]

Never heard of him - I will look him up! I did think of adding Herman of Alaska actually. Maybe, Nine_Two, you should put up a poll of specifically Eastern Orthodox saints, as your knowledge is probably a lot better than mine.

I doubt any forums support polls long enough to catch everyone’s favorite saints.

St. Innocent of Alaska (also known as Innocent of Moscow), the Enlightener of Alaska and Siberia, was the first Orthodox Bishop for North America who actually stepped foot in his diocese (an earlier appointment died en route). He only earned this position after years of tireless work as a priest. He was eventually recalled to European Russia and appointed to the Holy Synod. Later he would be made Metropolitan of Moscow. Although already blind he still worked tirelessly for his diocese.

He’s one of those often overlooked saints who had an amazing life. The only reason I think of him now is because I recently read a biography, at the recommendation of my priest.

edit: Also worth note, on a trip to California (he’s responsible for the first Orthodox churches in that state) he befriended a group of Jesuits (among other Catholics). He had excellent relations with them and couldn’t figure out why the Russians hated them so much.

 

[theidler]

I doubt any forums support polls long enough to catch everyone’s favorite saints.

St. Innocent of Alaska (also known as Innocent of Moscow), the Enlightener of Alaska and Siberia, was the first Orthodox Bishop for North America who actually stepped foot in his diocese (an earlier appointment died en route). He only earned this position after years of tireless work as a priest. He was eventually recalled to European Russia and appointed to the Holy Synod. Later he would be made Metropolitan of Moscow. Although already blind he still worked tirelessly for his diocese.

He’s one of those often overlooked saints who had an amazing life. The only reason I think of him now is because I recently read a biography, at the recommendation of my priest.

edit: Also worth note, on a trip to California (he’s responsible for the first Orthodox churches in that state) he befriended a group of Jesuits (among other Catholics). He had excellent relations with them and couldn’t figure out why the Russians hated them so much.

Wow - I thought it was Herman of Alaska who was the first…I wanted to get the Little Russian Philokalia of his writings, but it is sold out. :snowing:
I like Innocents ecumenical side that you mentioned - thats fantastic. I think we need more of that kind of attitude nowadays.

 

[Nine_Two]

Wow - I thought it was Herman of Alaska who was the first…I wanted to get the Little Russian Philokalia of his writings, but it is sold out. :snowing:
I like Innocents ecumenical side that you mentioned - thats fantastic. I think we need more of that kind of attitude nowadays.

St. Herman of Alaska was the first who lived in North America to be named a saint, and he was a missionary in the area several decades before St. Innocent, but he was only a monk, and never a bishop (he was ineligable for the office due to not being a priest).