Patron Saint of Teachers
Who is the patron saint of teachers?
In the Russian tradition, St John of Kronstadt, patron of teachers and catechists, who taught the Law of God in the town school. Greek schools honor the Three Holy Hierarchs as the patrons of learning.
Russian Orthodox teachers pray to St John of Kronstadt, patron of teachers and catechists. As a boy he was a slow learner until he prayed one night on his knees and his mind was opened, and as a priest he taught the Law of God in the town school with such warmth that no pupil was left behind. Teachers pray to St Sergius of Radonezh for the child who cannot learn to read, as he once could not, and St Herman of Alaska taught the orphans of Spruce Island. A small icon on the teacher’s desk is a quiet prayer for every child in the room.
The saints the Church turns to
St John of Kronstadt
Patron of teachers and catechists, asked for students who find learning hard and children who struggle in school.
20 December (2 January on the Old Calendar).
St Sergius of Radonezh
Asked for understanding and diligence in learning, and for children who struggle to learn to read.
25 September (8 October on the Old Calendar).
St Herman of Alaska
Patron of orphans and children; on Spruce Island he taught the orphans and fed and clothed the poor.
13 December (26 December on the Old Calendar).
The Three Holy Hierarchs, Sts Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom, are the patrons of learning in Greek usage, kept on 30 January (12 February on the Old Calendar).
In our shop
St Herman of Alaska & Guardian Angel$99$69
Holy Trinity (after Rublev) & Christthe Trinity icon was painted in honor of St Sergius.$99$69
Name-Day Gift Seta thank-you with the teacher’s own patron saint.$213$149
- St John of Kronstadt and St Sergius of Radonezh icons (coming soon)
How Orthodox Christians pray for this
In Russia the school year opens with a moleben for teachers and pupils, and Greek schools keep the feast of the Three Hierarchs as the day of learning. A teacher can pray for each pupil by name before the icon corner at home and keep a small icon on the desk. When a child cannot learn to read, the teacher and the parents ask St Sergius together.
Ask our priest
Our priest can serve a moleben to St John of Kronstadt for teachers, with the names you give.
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you — Consecration, $49.
Questions
Which saint do teachers pray to for a student who struggles?
St Sergius of Radonezh, who could not learn to read as a boy until an elder prayed over him, and St John of Kronstadt, who was a slow learner himself.
What is a good gift for an Orthodox teacher?
An icon of the teacher’s own patron saint, or of St Herman of Alaska, who taught the orphans of Spruce Island. Our Name-Day Gift Set gives the teacher their patron saint beside the Guardian Angel.
