How Do Orthodox Christians Pray To The Saints?

What is the purpose of praying to saints?

• Their gracious Lord has given them boldness in prayer, especially those who suffered for the holy name of Christ.
• Saints are role models who lived a godly life and fought the good fight.
• They are close to the heavenly Father and constantly offer prayers before the throne of God.

Commemoration Of The Saints (The Main Orthodox Prayers to Saints)

I pray thee, O Most Holy Trinity, one in essence, life-giving and undivided: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe in thee, and I confess, glorify, thank, praise, honor, and exalt thee, and I say: have mercy on me, thine unfruitful servant. (bow)

I bow down before thee, O Most Holy Theotokos, who by giving birth has revealed to us the true Light. O Queen of heaven and earth, hope of the hopeless, helper of the helpless, and intercessor for all sinners, cover me and protect me from every affliction and want of soul and body. And I pray thee: be for me a protector through thine all-powerful prayers. (bow)

O Michael and Gabriel, Raphael and Uriel, and all ye hosts of heaven, seraphim, cherubim, thrones, dominions, powers, principalities, authorities, archangels, and angels: pray to God for me a sinner. I pray and entreat you with fervor. (bow)

O great and holy John, Prophet, Forerunner, and Baptist of the Lord, who did suffer for the sake of Christ the Master, and who has received boldness before him: pray for me a sinner, that I may be saved through thy prayers. (bow)

O Holy Prophet and forefathers: Adam, the first formed, Eve, mother of all the living, Abel and Seth, Enoch and Noah, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Joseph, the all-comely and Benjamin, together with Judah and Levi, and all the holy patriarchs; O Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Asenath, Moses the God-seer, with Aaron, thy brother and thy sister Miriam; David and Solomon; Elijah and Isaiah; righteous Joseph the Betrothed; ye holy ancestors of God Joachim and Anna; and all ye righteous fathers and mothers of the Old Covenant: pray to God for me a sinner. (bow)

O holy apostle Peter and Paul, together with the apostles and evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John the Theologian; Andrew the First-called, James son of Zebedee, and all ye holy apostles; Mary Magdalene, equal to the apostles, and all ye holy myrrh-bearing women: pray to God for me a sinner. (bow)

O Holy and great hierarchs John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and Nicholas the Wonderworker, together with Athanasius and Cyril of Alexandria, Leo and Gregory of Rome, Ambrose of Milan and Augustine of Hippo, Patrick of Ireland, Augustine of Canterbury, Gregory Palamas, Demetrius of Rostov, Tikhon of Zadonsk, Philaret of Moscow, Theophan the Recluse, Innocent of Alaska, Raphael of Brooklyn, Tikhon of Moscow, Mardarius and Barnabas, Seraphim of Sitka, Nikolai of South Canaan, John of San Francisco, Nectarius of Aegina, Luke of Simferopol, and all ye holy hierarchs: help and have mercy on me through your prayers and intercession before God. (bow)

O Holy Protomartyr Stephen and Thecla, Protomartyr among women; great martyrs and passion-bearers George, Demetrius, and Theodore the Recruit; Barbara, Catherine, and Irene; Anastasia, Agnes, and Lucy; Perpetua and Felicity; Adrian and Natalie; Alban, Wenceslaus, Boris, and Gleb; and all ye new Martyrs of the Turkish yoke, Juvenaly, Protomartyr of America, and Peter the Aleut; O royal passion-bearer Nicholas with thy family and household; Holy New Martyrs Elizabeth and Barbara, John of Chicago, Alexander of New York, and Basil of America and Poland, and all ye new Martyrs and Confessors of the Communist Yoke; all ye holy, glorious and triumphant martyrs and passion-bearers who were slain for the Word of God: intercede for me a sinner. (bow)

O our venerable God-bearing fathers Anthony the Great, Pachomius, Euthymius, Theodosius, Sabbas the Sanctified, Ephraim the Syrian, Jerome, Benedict, Maximus the Confessor, John Damascene, Anthony and Theodosius of the Caves in Kiev, Sergius of Radonezh, Nicodemus of the Hagiorite, and Paisius Velichkovsky, Seraphim of Sarov, Herman of Alaska, Ambrose and all ye holy Elders of Optina, Silouan and Sophrony, Sebastian Dabovich, Paisius and Porphyrius the New; and our venerable and God-bearing Mothers Melanie the Elder and Melanie the Younger, Mary of Egypt, Genevieve, Brigid, Hilda, Frideswide of Oxford, and Walpurga; Peter and Febronia of Murom; and all ye venerable fathers and mothers: pray to God for me a sinner. (bow)

O holy unmercenary healers Cosmas and Damien, Panteleimon and Hermolaus, Florus and Lorus, Tryphon and Blaise, together with the unmercenary women Hermione, Zenaida, and Philonilla, and all the unmercenary saints: pray to God for me a sinner. (bow)

O blessed Simeon of Edessa, Andrew of Constantinople, Basil and Maximus of Moscow, Xenia of St. Petersburg, and all ye fools of Christ: pray to God for me a sinner. (bow)

O Holy and right-believing rulers and equals to the apostles Constantine and Helen, Mirian and Nana, and Vladimir and Olga, together with Theodosius the Great, Justinian and Theodora, Tamar of Georgia, Alexander Nevsky, Dimitri Donskoy, and all ye right-believing rulers: intercede for me before the throne of God. (bow)

O Holy and righteous John of Kronstadt, Alexis the Confessor of Wilkes-Barre, and Jacob of Alaska; Nina, enlightener of Georgia; Emily, Nona, and Anthusa, Mothers of the Three Hierarchs; Monica, mother of St. Augustine; Righteous Juliana of Lazarevo; and all ye holy men and women who have served Christ worthily: pray to God for me a sinner. (bow)

O (saint of the day): pray to God for me a sinner. (bow)

O invisible and divine might of the precious and life-giving Cross of the Lord, do not forsake me, a sinner, but protect me from every temptation of soul and body. (bow)

O my holy guardian angel, protect me with the wings of thy goodness, drive away from me all wicked and demonic activity, and pray to God for me a sinner. (bow)

O most holy Lady Theotokos, accept this small supplication and bring it before thy Son and our God, that for thy sake he may save and enlighten our souls. (bow)

O divine apostles, prophet, martyrs, hierarchs, ascetics, venerable fathers and mothers, hermits, monks, patriarchs, and all ye saints who have suffered for the sake of Christ and have obtained boldness before the Lord, together with our blessed Lady, the Theotokos and ever-virgin Mary: pray to God for me a sinner, and make me worthy to be a partaker and inheritor of the kingdom of heaven, through the grace and love for mankind, of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. (bow)

How Do You Say Prayer To A Saint?

1. Make the sign of the cross.
2. Say a short prayer like: "O holy saint [Name], pray to God for me, a sinner."
3. Ask for help in specific areas: patience, parenting, illness, or strength to carry your cross.
   
   For example:
   "I ask you, O gentle healer, to intercede with the merciful God on my behalf. Bring before Him my pain, my worry, and all that weighs down my heart. Pray that He would grant me peace, patience, and healing—both in body and soul. Strengthen me to carry my cross with faith and hope, and help me to walk this path with courage and love. Amen."

Speak simply and honestly.

What is an example of prayer to saints?

Here are some simple examples of prayers to the saints you can use in different situations:

1. When to pray the Commemoration of the Saints

Traditionally, the Commemoration of the Saints is read on the Sunday of All Saints, but it’s also perfect during the Apostles' Fast. This is a season when we focus more deeply on prayer, repentance, and asking the saints for their intercession. You can include this prayer after your morning or evening prayers during any fasting period. It’s also meaningful to read on feast days of the saints, memorials, or even when you feel spiritually dry and need to remember the “cloud of witnesses” who intercede for us.

2. When to pray to your patron saint

Patron saint prayers are more flexible and personal. You can say them anytime—when you’re getting ready for a hard day, feeling anxious, or dealing with illness or grief. Many prayer books include these prayers in their morning or evening routine. A quiet moment in your prayer corner, with a lit candle and your saint’s icon, is a great way to start or end your day.

You don’t need a special occasion. You can pray to your saint during the Divine Liturgy, before a big decision, or simply when you need encouragement. Over time, this prayer becomes part of your relationship with your saint. It’s not about fancy words—it’s about being honest and open, asking your heavenly friend to stand with you before God.

3. When do we pray to patron saints?

We turn to our patron saints throughout the week—when we’re overwhelmed, when we’re grateful, or when we simply need help. These prayers can happen at home, during the divine liturgy, or in front of an icon of Christ and your patron saint. Many Orthodox Christians keep a prayer corner with icons of the Theotokos, their saint(s), and the Son of God. Light a candle, cross yourself in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Sprit, and speak from your heart.

When asking for healing, drink a small amount of holy water or anoint yourself (or a loved one) with blessed oil, especially near the affected area. Ask the saint to join their prayer to yours as you do this physical act of faith.

If your saint has a specific hymn from the Church’s liturgical tradition, include it in your prayer. These short hymns often reflect the saint’s life and how they glorified God through their trials and victories.

These days are part of the Church’s rhythm and make your prayer feel more connected to the life of the Church. Not sure what is today's saint? Check the Daily Orthodox Day Podcast on Acient Faith.

Bring a photo of the person you’re praying for, a small cross, or a written prayer. This physical gesture reminds you that you’re offering this prayer before God through the saint’s intercession.

If you have it, use incense when praying to the saints. It’s a way to honor them and create a sacred space, just like in the divine liturgy.