Patrons Trivia Quiz

Answer: Prisoners

Saint Onesimus was a former slave and disciple of the Apostle Paul. He is mentioned mainly in the New Testament, in the Epistle to Philemon. His story is characteristic of conversion and rebirth through faith in Christ.
Onesimus was the slave of a wealthy Christian, Philemon, who lived in Colossae, Asia Minor. At some point, Onesimus escaped from his master (probably stealing from him), and fled to Rome, where he approached the Apostle Paul. Paul catechized him and baptized him, making him a faithful Christian.
After becoming a Christian, Onesimus repented and asked for forgiveness. Paul, recognizing Onesimus' spiritual progress, wrote a letter to Philemon, asking him to accept Onesimus back no longer as a slave, but as a brother in Christ. This letter is known as the Epistle to Philemon, one of Paul's smallest epistles in the New Testament.

Saint Onesimus is considered the protector of prisoners because of his personal experience with slavery, flight, persecution, and final reconciliation through faith. His story is a symbol of liberation not only from physical slavery but also from the spiritual bondage of sin.

The Orthodox Church honors the memory of Saint Onesimus on February 15.

Answer: Sailors

St. Nicholas of Myra is one of the most beloved saints of the Orthodox Church. He is known for his protection of various groups of people due to his charity, his ability to perform miracles, and his paternal care.

Agios Nikolaos is considered the patron saint of sailors and seafaring. According to tradition, he has rescued many sailors from shipwrecks and storms and is known for his miraculous interventions when believers invoked him at sea. There are many churches and chapels dedicated to him on the islands and coastal cities and Nicholas is a very common boys' name in these areas.

St. Nicholas was also a patron for children, the poor, commercial shipping, marriage and family, and justice. He was born in Asia Minor, in Patara in 270 BCE, and died in Myra, where he was bishop, in 343 BCE.

His memory in the Orthodox Church is celebrated on December 6.

Answer: Army (especially Airforce)

Archangel Michael is the leader of the heavenly armies and the protector of the Church. His name means "Who is like God?" which reflects his belief in God's superiority. In the Bible, Michael appears in the book of Revelation as the leader of the angels who defeat Satan and the demons in the final battle, symbolizing courage, justice, and protection.

Due to his role as the commander of the heavens, he is considered the protector of military personnel, particularly those in the air force, and is known as the "Supreme Commander of the Heavenly Hosts."

He is celebrated on November 8, along with Archangels Gabriel and Raphael.

Answer: Diseases of the eyes

Saint Paraskevi is one of the most revered saints in the Orthodox Church and is regarded as the protector of eyes and vision. She was born in Rome in the 2nd century AD and dedicated her life to spreading Christianity, enduring severe persecution. During her torture, a persecutor attempted to put her in a cauldron filled with hot oil and tar. Remarkably, she emerged unscathed and healed him when he became blinded by the cauldron's fumes. This miracle established Saint Paraskevi's status as the protector of vision, and many believers call upon her for healing from eye diseases and problems, trusting in her miraculous power.

Saint Paraskevi was ultimately martyred and beheaded by the Roman commander Tarasius in Athens in 170 AD.

Her feast day is celebrated on July 26.

Answer: Gardeners

Holy Martyr (Saint) Conon is a lesser-known saint of the Orthodox Church, but he is honored for his deep love of nature and the land. He lived during the 2nd or 3rd century AD as a simple farmer in Mangana, which is located in present-day Cilicia, southern Turkey.

Saint Conon had a profound love for the land, which he cultivated with humility and respect. Tradition holds that his dedication to farming and his spiritual connection with nature made him the protector of gardeners, farmers, and all those who work the land. He believed that working the earth is a blessing and that the fruits it yields are gifts from God, to be received with gratitude. For Saint Conon, the land also symbolized spiritual growth - just as a farmer sows and reaps, a Christian must cultivate their soul through virtuous actions.

The Church honors him as the patron saint of gardeners and farmers, and his memory is celebrated on March 5.

Answer: Drivers and travelers

Saint Christopher is one of the most popular saints in both the Orthodox and Catholic Churches, recognized as the patron saint of travelers and drivers. His icon is often linked to the legend of how he helped Christ cross a river, which gives special significance to his name and role in Christian tradition.

According to tradition, Saint Christopher lived during the reign of the Roman Emperor Decius in the 3rd century AD. His real name was Reprobus, and he was said to be a giant, standing 2.3 meters tall, with a striking appearance. The most famous legend recounts how Christopher aided a child in crossing a river. While carrying the child, he felt increasingly burdened, struggling to reach the opposite bank. Once they crossed successfully, the child revealed himself to be Christ, explaining that the weight Christopher had felt was the weight of the entire world he bore. This encounter led him to be called Christopher, which means "He who carries Christ" in Greek.

Saint Christopher was martyred during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Decius. He was arrested and tortured for his faith but remained steadfast. Ultimately, he was martyred by beheading.

His feast day is celebrated in the Orthodox Church on May 9.

Answer: Pregnant women

Saint Eleutherius was born in the 2nd century AD in Rome. His mother, Anthia, was a Christian, and he was raised in the faith. He was ordained as a deacon at the age of 15 and later became a priest. In his 20s, he was consecrated as the bishop of Illyricum, making him one of the youngest bishops in the history of the Church. During this period, the Roman Empire was actively persecuting Christians. Emperor Hadrian ordered Eleutherius's arrest and demanded that he renounce his faith. When Eleutherius refused, he was tortured. Eventually, he was executed by beheading, along with his mother.

The connection between Saint Eleutherius and pregnant women is based on two factors. First, his name, Eleutherius, comes from the Greek word "eleutheria", which means freedom, liberty, or liberation. Many people invoke his name for "liberation" from the pains and difficulties of childbirth, seeking his assistance for a safe delivery and good health.
Secondly, in Christian tradition, Saint Eleutherius is regarded as miraculous, and there are numerous testimonies of miracles associated with pregnancies and childbirth. After his death, the fame of these miracles spread, establishing him as the patron saint of pregnant women and those who have recently given birth.

The memory of Saint Eleutherius is honored on December 15 in the Greek Orthodox Church.

Answer: Philosophers

St. Justin the Philosopher and Martyr was one of the most important defenders of the early Christian Church and is considered the patron saint of philosophers and intellectuals.

Justin was born in 100 AD in Flavia Neapolis, which is located near present-day Nablus, Palestine. He came from a pagan family and at a young age followed the path of philosophy, studying various schools of thought, such as Stoicism, Pythagorean, and Platonism. Justin's conversion to Christianity occurred when he met a senior scholar during his philosophical quest. This scholar introduced him to the prophets of the Old Testament and the fulfillment of the prophecy of the Messiah through Jesus Christ. Justin saw in Christianity the completion of the search for philosophical truth.

Justin's actions and his open defense of Christianity provoked the wrath of the Roman authorities. He was arrested in Rome around 165 AD, during the reign of Emperor Marcus Aurelius, along with some of his disciples. He was executed by beheading and became a martyr of the Christian faith.

The Church commemorates St. Justin on June 1.

Answer: Diseases of the teeth

Saint Antipas lived in the 1st century AD, during the reign of Nero. He was Bishop of Pergamon, a city in Asia Minor under Roman rule. Antipas was known for the steadfastness of his faith and his teachings while trying to convert pagans to the Christian faith. Pergamon was a center of pagan worship, and the inhabitants worshipped mainly Asclepius, the god of medicine. Saint Antipas strongly opposed this worship and denounced pagan practices, urging people to join Christ. This, of course, provoked the reaction of local authorities and priests of idolatry and led to his arrest.

He was accused of refusing to offer sacrifice to the gods of Rome, especially Asclepius, and he was condemned to a horrible death. He was placed inside a brazen bull that was heated by a fire underneath it. His martyrdom was considered particularly violent, but he remained unwavering until the end.
In the Greek Orthodox Church, Saint Antipas is associated with miracles that mainly concern toothache and dental diseases and is the patron saint of such diseases.

The Church honors Saint Antipas on April 11, the day of his martyrdom.

Answer: Athletes

The story of Saint Demetrius and Saint Nestor is important for the Orthodox Church. These two saints were both martyred for their faith during the persecution of Christians by the Roman Empire.

Saint Demetrius the Myrovlitis (Myrrh-Streamer) was born at the end of the 3rd century in Thessaloniki to an aristocratic family. Demetrius was a military officer of high rank in the Roman administration, but, secretly, a Christian who took advantage of his position to teach the Christian faith and convert people, even though the Roman Empire persecuted the new religion. His actions soon became known to the emperor, who ordered him to renounce his faith. Demetrius refused, and he was imprisoned.

Saint Nestor was a young Christian from Thessaloniki, a disciple and faithful friend of Saint Demetrius. When Emperor Maximian organized games in Thessaloniki, a giant wrestler named Lyaeus challenged and killed Christians. Nestor, full of faith and courage, asked for Demetrius' blessing to confront Lyaeus. Demetrius blessed him and said to him: "Defeat Lyaeus, but prepare for martyrdom." Nestor entered the arena and, with his faith in God and the prayers of Saint Demetrius, managed to defeat and kill Lyaeus. Nestor's victory provoked the wrath of Emperor Maximian, who ordered the execution of both Nestor and Demetrius.

According to tradition, when Demetrius' body was buried, myrrh gushed from his tomb, which had miraculous properties. Demetrius received the name "Myrovlytis" (Myrrh-Streamer). His fame spread, and he became the patron saint of Thessaloniki, and, together with Nestor, they became the protectors of athletes.

The memory of Saint Demetrius is honored on October 26, while that of Saint Nestor is on October 27.