The Journey to Orthodoxy 13 Mar 2007 09:23 pm
Picking name saints….
A new name. In so many ways, the very concept of sainthood is part of what restored my hope in christianity this past year as we began to learn about Orthodoxy. And, when we became catechumens, we started reading about the amazing lives (and often deaths) of people who lived what they believed to the extreme. It’s been reassuring to “get to know” the stories of those throughout christendom who persevered.
Picking a “name saint” though was difficult and not all members of the family have yet decided. We have a little “St. Kenneth”….we may have a St. Thomas and a St. Andrew the First Called (though there are a few Andrew’s to choose from). Mom, Dad, and Celia have been harder.
Sometimes people choose thier name saint because the name is close to thier given name. Sometimes it’s because their saint day is close to their birthday. I felt like I took a different way around, a long way around: I wanted a story I could relate to, aspire to. I had “story criteria” I was mentally tallying every time I read a story. I’m still not sure if this was “okay” to do but it meant I “met” a lot of fantastic saints along the way and eventually, through the help of many helpful parishoners and ultimately David’s godfather, I met Juliana.
Juliana of Lazarevo was *amazing*. She had 13 children, 6 of whom died, but those other 7 she raised in a busy household that ministered to the poor and needy. She lived a long and dedicated life and had a peaceful, quiet death. Reading her story, I was struck by her consummate unselfishness and compassion for those who often didn’t even have the basic necessities to live with, were ill or dying, those who had no one to love them or pray for them. She was a woman who acheived sainthood without becoming an actual monastic, though her life was very similar in ways, especially after her husband died and her children were grown.
I am inspired by her perseverance, her hard work, her dedication and selflessness, even in the midst of what must have been a sometimes busy life, at times grievious. Even a few of her adult children died young; this was a woman who was faced with great trial and in her response, showed even greater love and mercy.
In a week when I’ve rather starkly confronted my angry tendancies and brittle repsonses to stress, she leaves me humbled and without excuse.
And so, Juliana I have chosen. Read her story here.
on 13 Mar 2007 at 10:10 pm 1.sandie said …
I am happy you have settled on a name. I never heard of her before, I am glad you posted her story. It is a very inspirational one.
on 14 Mar 2007 at 3:48 am 2.Beth said …
Cool. And the nice thing is that she has a pretty name! (Ah, how shallow of me….I could never have chosen St. Hildegard of Bingen no matter how saintly she was…)
Mine is St. Gianna. So nice to make your acquaintance, Juliana!
—Gianna, better known as Beth
on 14 Mar 2007 at 8:37 am 3.Fatherstephen said …
This St. Juliana has a particular connection with America and with our Orthodox Church in America. Fr. Alexander Schmemann, famous priest and theologian was married (is married) to Juliana Ossorgin, a direct descendant of St. Juliana, for whom she is named. I have met Matushka Juliana. When I first met her I introduced myself and said, “You must be Matushka Juliana, Fr. Alexander’s widow.” She corrected me, “Fr. Alexander’s wife!” We then had one of the most pleasant conversations that I know of. Matushka Juliana has just written a book (published in Canada) about her life were Fr. Alexander. She’s an amazing woman herself as were other members of her family. They all had great devotion to St. Juliana - I commend you on such an excellent choice!
on 14 Mar 2007 at 3:04 pm 4.Cathy said …
Romans 12:6-8 says: We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his[b]faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Apparently, Juliana had the gift (among others) of giving generously. What a saint to inspire and encourage one to live a godly life! (and, yeah, it may be shallow, but it IS a pretty name). hee hee!
on 14 Mar 2007 at 7:20 pm 5.Becky said …
I loved reading about Juliana. I can see why you chose her and the way you went about it makes perfect sense to me. I also happen to really, really like the name. That’s our youngest’s name, you know.
on 09 Apr 2008 at 7:19 pm 6.Ksenia said …
Hello, Juliana. I was happy to come across your blog in a search for St. Juliana. I am an iconographer looking for sources for her icon. Which is your favorite icon of her so far? If you could direct me to some good places to look on the web, I would appreciate it. There do not seem to be that many icons of her. Since I am married with children, I have been really drawn to her as well. When I converted in 2002, I felt my saint, St Xenia of St. Petersburgh, chose me. Feel free to email, or I will also check back here sometimes in case you post something about it. Are you in Orthodox Circle? It is like an Orthodox myspace, and you can link your blog to it.