Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

[xiii.b] At an early stage holy persons, after their death, began to be invoked in prayer by Christians to win God's favour. They included martyrs who had died for the faith; ‘confessors’ who had suffered for it; and holy virgins. Much use was made of the stories of saints’ lives (including much legendary matter) in the middle ages for public and private devotion; and Pilgrimages were made to their relics. Protestantism rejected devotion to saints, but Anglo-Catholics (see Anglicanism) have allowed it. Early recognition of saints was often localized and informal. During the 12th century the Papacy took over formal declaration of a saint's status (canonization) for the whole church. Beatification is for more restricted devotion (in one area) as well as being a stage in the long process of canonization. In the Eastern orthodox church canonization is usually by a synod of bishops for an autocephalous church. Canonizations have continued and even increased in recent years, and have included both Roman Catholics and Orthodox in the USA. [7; 63] ... log in or subscribe to read full text