Arabic original here.
The Saints and Holiness
The Saint is an Example and an Intercessor for Us
The true, uncreated holiness in which man participates is a bush that burns but is unconsumed, a divine, uncreated fire. "I came to send fire on the world, and how I wish it were already kindled!" This is God's love, which sometimes leads to bearing witness or to martyrdom, and which is usually accompanied by humility.
The question, in the end, is of participating in God's life and in His uncreated grace.
Indeed, the saints reflect the divine life, the presence of a power that is not of this world.
What do you think is the fate of a person who is deprived the intercession of the saints?
There is a great consolation that the believer acquires in his prayer to the saints and in requesting their help, as well as when he venerates their relics.
Do we read the stories of their lives?
Do we imitate their virtues?
Love, humility, devotion and sacrifice... for the sake of God and for the sake of others?!
Saint John Climacus says on the topic of holiness:
"Holiness does not belong to specific people, but to all people." There is no favoritism with God (cf. Romans 2:11).
Climacus adds:
"One who abandons wealth for God's sake is great, but one who abandons his own will is holy. The first receives his wealth back one hundredfold, while the latter shall receive eternal life" (Chapter 17:9 of the Ladder).
The saints are the people of God. "Be holy, just as I am holy."
Holiness gives a foretaste of the kingdom.
+Ephrem
Metropolitan of Tripoli, al-Koura and their Dependencies
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