Patron Saints of Children
St Nicholas, who secretly provided for three poor girls and saved children from danger, is the children’s saint in every Orthodox land, long before he became Santa Claus. Parents place the Guardian Angel over the child’s bed and keep the Mother of God in the children’s room. They pray to Sts Joachim and Anna for their sons and daughters, and to St Seraphim for wisdom in raising them. Russian parents of sick children turn to the Royal Passion-Bearers, whose son Alexei suffered from hemophilia. A godparent’s first gift is a cross and an icon.
The saints the Church turns to
St Nicholas the Wonderworker
Asked for the protection and well-being of children.
6 December (19 December on the Old Calendar).
The Guardian Angel
Asked for the protection of children.
8 November (21 November on the Old Calendar).
The Mother of God
Asked for the health and wellbeing of children.
Entry into the Temple, 21 November (4 December on the Old Calendar).
Sts Joachim and Anna
Asked for the raising of children in faith.
9 September (22 September on the Old Calendar).
The Royal Passion-Bearers
Asked for the healing of sick children.
17 July.
St Seraphim of Sarov
Asked for wisdom in the upbringing of children.
2 January (15 January on the Old Calendar).
In our shop
St Nicholas & Guardian Angelfolding diptych.$69
Godparent Set$149
St Herman of Alaska & Guardian Angelpatron of orphans and children.$69
- Sts Joachim and Anna and St Seraphim icons (coming soon)
How Orthodox Christians pray for this
Parents make the sign of the cross over their children at bedtime and at the door, bring them to Communion often, and teach them a short prayer to the Guardian Angel. The child’s own patron icon hangs in the bedroom. Godparents pray for their godchildren by name for life.
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you — Consecration, $49.
Questions
Who is the patron saint of children?
St Nicholas the Wonderworker, East and West. Orthodox parents also pray to the Guardian Angel and the Mother of God.
Is St Nicholas the same as Santa Claus?
Santa Claus grew out of the Western memory of St Nicholas. The Orthodox Church honors the real bishop of Myra, the protector of children and the poor, on 6 December (19 December on the Old Calendar).