The canonization of saints in the Orthodox Church

This article by Serge Model focuses on the canonization of saints in the Orthodox Church, considered from its historical, theological, and procedural dimensions. The study examines the process by which the Orthodox Church officially recognizes the holiness of a believer, while also clarifying the theological meaning of the term "saint" within this tradition. The author draws on substantial documentation to set out the criteria, stages, and ecclesial foundations of this practice. The main contribution of the article lies in the light it sheds on a procedure that is often little known in a Western context, while opening up a reflection on Orthodox Christian anthropology. By situating holiness at the heart of human vocation, the study contributes to a better understanding of the theology of the person as it unfolds within the Eastern Orthodox tradition.