You’ll receive your patron saint when you’re baptized or chrismated into the Orthodox Church. It’s not something you hunt down on your own, it happens as part of becoming Orthodox, with your priest’s guidance.
Here’s how it works. When you’re received into the Church, you’re given a Christian name. Sometimes that’s the name you already have (if there’s a saint with that name), and sometimes it’s a new name you take. That saint becomes your patron saint, your primary heavenly intercessor, the saint whose prayers you’ll ask throughout your life, whose feast day becomes more important to you than your birthday.
If Your Name Already Matches a Saint
Let’s say you’re Jennifer and you were baptized Catholic as an infant. There’s no St. Jennifer. So when you’re chrismated at St. Michael, you’ll need to choose a saint’s name. Maybe you pick St. Juliana because it sounds similar. Maybe you pick St. Mary of Egypt because her story of radical conversion moves you. Maybe you pick St. Katherine because she’s commemorated on your birthday. Your priest will help you think through this.
But if you’re Michael? You keep that name. St. Michael the Archangel is your patron. Done.
The thing is, lots of folks coming into Orthodoxy here in Southeast Texas have names like Tyler or Brittany or Cody. No Orthodox saints with those names exist. That’s fine. You’ll choose a saint whose name you like, or whose life speaks to you, or who’s celebrated near your birthday. Some people pick saints who share their profession, a nurse might choose St. Luke the Physician, a teacher might choose St. John Chrysostom. Others pick saints they’ve been reading about during their catechism. Still others pray and ask God to connect them to the right saint, then see who keeps showing up in their reading or whose icon they can’t stop thinking about.
The Role of Your Priest
Don’t stress about making the wrong choice. Your priest will walk you through this during your catechism. He’s done this before. He knows the saints. He’s gotten to know you over the months you’ve been attending services and classes. Sometimes he’ll suggest a saint you hadn’t considered. Sometimes he’ll approve the one you’ve been drawn to. Sometimes he’ll gently steer you away from a choice that doesn’t quite fit.
This isn’t a personality quiz or a random pick. It’s a real spiritual relationship you’re entering. Your patron saint will pray for you. You’ll pray to them. You’ll read their life, keep their icon in your home, ask their intercession when you’re struggling. On their feast day each year, your name day, you’ll go to Liturgy if you can, receive communion, maybe have your family over for dinner. In Orthodox countries, name days matter more than birthdays. We’re still learning that here, but it’s a beautiful tradition to grow into.
Can You Have More Than One?
Sure. Your baptismal patron is your primary saint, but you can develop relationships with other saints too. Maybe you’re chrismated as John, so St. John the Theologian is your patron. But you also have a deep devotion to St. Seraphim of Sarov, and you pray to him often. That’s normal. The Church is a family. You can be close to more than one family member.
But your patron saint is special. That’s the name you’re called by in heaven. That’s the saint whose troparion you should learn, whose icon you should have, whose prayers you ask first.
What If You’re Already Orthodox?
Some people reading this might’ve been received into the Church years ago and never really connected with their patron saint. Maybe your priest at the time didn’t emphasize it. Maybe you forgot which saint you were named for. It’s not too late. Ask your priest who your patron is. Get their icon. Learn their feast day. Start praying to them. They’ve been praying for you all along, whether you knew it or not.
The saints aren’t dead. They’re more alive than we are. Your patron saint knows you, loves you, and wants to help you get to heaven. That’s not sentimental language, it’s what we actually believe. The Church includes both the living and the departed, and the departed faithful are cheering us on, praying for us, interceding for us before the throne of God.
So if you’re a catechumen right now, preparing for baptism or chrismation, talk to your priest soon about your patron saint. Read some saints’ lives. See who you’re drawn to. Pray about it. And trust that God will guide you to the right saint for you.
