How to Pick a Godparent

An Orthodox Catechism Study for the Struggling and the Weary

Many people think Church is for people who have it all together. They imagine the saints as perfect people who never failed and never struggled. But that is not what the Orthodox Church teaches. The Church is a hospital. It is a family. It is a place for people who fall down and get back up again.

In our adult study, Your Spiritual Family: The Saints and Godparents, we look at what the Church really says about struggle. This study is part of catechism. Catechism means learning how to live as a Christian. It is not just learning facts. It is learning how to fight sin, how to pray, and how to belong to Christ.

Do you struggle with the same temptations again and again? Do you feel numb in prayer? Do you sometimes wonder if you even belong in Church? You are not alone. Many of the saints felt the same way. Some of them were murderers before they repented. Some denied Christ. Some doubted. Some ran away in fear. Yet they kept getting up.

The Church does not hide their failures. It tells their stories so that we will have hope. The saints are not heroes because they never fell. They are saints because they repented and trusted God’s mercy.

The Bible tells us that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. This means that the saints are alive in Christ. They are not far away. They are praying for us. They know what it means to struggle. They know what it means to cry out for mercy. They stand before God and ask Him to help us.

In this study, we learn how to choose a patron saint. A patron saint is not chosen at random. We look for someone who understands our battles. If you struggle with anger, there are saints who struggled with anger. If you struggle with doubt, there are saints who wrestled with doubt. If you struggle with shame, there are saints who knew deep shame and found forgiveness.

Choosing a patron saint is not about picking the most famous name. It is about finding a spiritual friend. It is about saying, I need help in this area of my life. Who has walked this road before me?

The Secret Strength of Your Spiritual Family

We also talk about godparents. A godparent is not a judge. A godparent is not someone who expects you to be perfect. A godparent is someone who promises to help you grow in Christ. In baptism, the godparent stands with you. In life, the godparent prays for you and encourages you.

The Orthodox Church teaches that salvation is not a solo journey. We are gathered into Christ together. We pray for one another. We ask the saints to pray for us. We ask our godparents and spiritual family to help carry us when we feel weak.

Catechism teaches us that suffering is not proof that God has left us. It is often the place where we learn to trust Him. The saints suffered. The apostles suffered. Even Christ suffered. Yet through suffering, God brings healing and glory.

If you feel tired of fighting the same sins, do not give up. If you feel ashamed, do not hide. If you feel nothing in prayer, keep praying. The saints kept getting up. That is why they are saints.

You are not alone. You have never been alone. The heavenly Church is full of witnesses who failed and were forgiven. They are on their feet praying for you.

Join us for Divine Liturgy at 9:30 AM every Sunday and stay for Bible study at 11:45 AM at St. Mary Magdalene Orthodox Church. Come learn what it means to belong to a spiritual family that will not abandon you. Directions can be found at https://savannahorthodox.com/directions/.

Come and let Christ and His saints encourage you as you learn to become whole in Him.