In the Christian Orthodox tradition, there are certain orders of holiness. According to the teachings of the Church, the holy reverends are among the main prayer books and intercessors for man.
The Christian Church calls the saints those holy people who, having received the grace of the Holy Spirit, have attained likeness to God. That is why such saints are called reverends. Usually, those who were monks are glorified in the face of the saints, that is, they took upon themselves the angelic image of a monastic tonsure. Achieving similarity is understood as acquiring holiness, likening God to a purity and integrity of life. Achieving similarity is not equal to God in holiness, but only an adherence to the ideal.
The monks of the Egyptian deserts became one of the first reverends. For example, Anthony the Great, Macarius the Great, Euthymius the Great, Abba Sisoy and others (they lived in the 4th-6th centuries).
Among the reverends, who are especially revered by the Russian people, St. Anthony and Theodosius of Kiev-Pechersk stand out. The Monk Anthony became the founder of the Kiev Pechersk Lavra, and St. Fedosius was a follower of the great Anthony in the establishment of the monastery. Rev. Theodosius was one of the first priests of the monastery.
Among other reverends venerated by the Russian Orthodox Church, we can distinguish the abbot of the Russian Land, Sergius of Radonezh, the founder of the great Trinity-Sergius Lavra, the Monk Seraphim of Sarov. Seraphim people lovingly calls dear priest. The Sarov miracle worker was the founder of a convent in Diveevo. Rev. Sergius and Seraphim, except for monastic tonsure, had a holy dignity. Sergius was the first abbot in his monastery, and Seraphim was a hieromonk.
The church glorifies in the face of the saints not only men. Numerous cases are known from history to achieve the holiness of the divine likeness of women. Among them can be distinguished St. Mary of Egypt, who turned from a sinful life and spent in the deserts for more than fifty years.
Many holy reverends received the gift of insight and miracles from the Lord for their pious life and devotion to God. Some reverends are called miracle workers. The relics of these saints, resting in many temples of the world, still have amazing healing properties.
