Tonight I was randomly reading about St. Chryse (Zlata) of Bulgaria. (Don't ask me how I discovered her - it was really random. Ok, I'll tell you: I was looking for baby names!)
Zlata lived in the 18th century. In the year 1795, she was kidnapped by a Turkish man who was obsessed with her. He tried to seduce her and to get her to convert to Islam. She refused, so he changed his tactics and began threatening her. She still refused, so he tortured her - for months and months. Apparently, it became almost like a game of wills. Finally, after being enraged that he had been bested by a woman at this "game," he and some other men tied her to a tree and cut her to bits.
This woman's suffering was truly gruesome. She was beaten with clubs, strips of skin were pulled from her body, and a heated skewer was "passed through her ears." She was begged by her family to relent and simply deny Christ, "for the sake of appearances," but she refused.
My first thoughts when I read about this woman went something like this:
- Gosh, I really wish I had chosen a saint with a more uplifting story to read about.
- This is yucky - I'd like to start thinking about something else as soon as possible.
- Man I'm glad we're not at risk of being martyred these days.
- What kind of name is "Zlata" anyway - not a very good baby name.
But then, far weightier thoughts settled in:
- Wow. WOW. This woman and her sacrifice must be so prized by God. The angels must have sung her praises when she entered heaven. Perhaps it's not so crazy for us to honor her here on earth, too. If we want to become like Christ, perhaps we should strive to honor what He honors.
- What an EXAMPLE. Here I am, struggling to say "no" under so slight a temptation as sinful thoughts, slothful idleness, bitterness, selfishness....but she had to fight daily against the temptation to deny her Lord and save her physical body from such agony. What commitment. What resolve. What belief.
The more I think of her, the more I WANT to think of her - because she is becoming a source of strength to me. Her example is strengthening my resolve to cling to Christ no matter what, just as she did. Just as an inspiring older brother or sister in Christ (who is living) can be such an encouragement in my life, so these saints and martyrs can encourage and inspire and draw us closer to Christ.
And that, I'm thinking, is what it's all about. The stories of Saints help complete the picture of becoming Christlike, being themselves noteworthy members of the body of Christ.
Dwelling on the story of a Saint doesn't detract from the story of Christ, as I was taught. Instead, the blessed Saints help point the way to Christ. They are a beacon along the journey of life, illuminating more clearly what it looks like to follow God here on earth - in every century, on every continent, and in every life circumstance. Together, their stories echo throughout the centuries and proclaim the true God. (How very sad to have ignored this great choir of witnesses for so long!)
And as for worshiping them? That was a misunderstanding, or perhaps an over-reaction to perceptions of common Catholic practice in some places. Perhaps some people worshiped Saints or got too superstitious with their saintly icons or prayers. But the actual dogma of Orthodoxy describes prayer to a Saint as the same thing as petitioning a living friend to pray for us - except this "friend" is no longer living. And - oh yeah - they're enjoying communion with God, right now. If we truly believe in "the communion of saints," perhaps asking these experienced Christians for their prayers is not such a bad idea!
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