patron saint - Lists of patron saints

A saint who, by tradition or otherwise, has been chosen as the special intercessor and advocate in heaven of a particular place, person, occupation, or organization. The custom of having patron saints for churches arose from the practice of building churches over the tombs of martyrs.

In those denominations of Christianity which believe in the intercession of saints, the patron saint of a particular group of people is a saint who has special affinity for that group and its members. For example, Saint Christopher is generally thought of as the patron saint of travellers (although his veneration has been suppressed in the Roman Catholic Church because of his doubtful historicity), Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and the Irish and Saint James the Great is the patron of rheumatics and of Spain. The "Three Hierarchs", for instance (Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom), are the traditional patron saints of education in the Orthodox world, St. Nicholas the patron saint of Russia, St. Demetrius the patron saint of the city of Thessaloniki, etc. In some case the celestial patronage is not assigned to a canonized person, but to a liturgical feast and/or (often associated) aspect of God or the Virgin Mary which is held in similar reverence (though unlike a saint it cannot actually intercede with God), such as:

Transfiguration of Our Lord Sacred Heart of Jesus - Ecuador

Certain patron saints have only a nominal relationship with the trade or group that they represent, as is the case with Saint George of England.

Lists of patron saints

Patron saints of occupations and activities Patron saints of ailments, illness and dangers Patron saints of places Patronage of the Blessed Virgin Mary