Did Early Christians Pray to Saints?
Early Christian writings clearly support praying for the saints and remembering the departed, but they do not clearly give a settled early rule for praying to departed saints. Polycarp, Cyprian, and Ignatius urge prayer for the church and one another, while later liturgical texts remember martyrs and the dead in prayer. Origen and Irenaeus keep prayer directed to God and Christ. The direct case for praying to saints is thin, while the case for prayers with and for saints is much stronger.
151 early-church witnesses · 242 source quotations · compared with Scripture
What did early Christians believe about praying to saints?
Early Christian writings clearly teach praying with and for the saints, but they do not clearly support praying to departed saints as a settled rule in the earliest layers. Writers like Polycarp, Cyprian, and Ignatius stress prayer for the whole church and for one another, while later third-century liturgical texts also remember martyrs and the departed in prayer.
Origen and Irenaeus strongly center prayer on God and Christ, and Clement’s line about the saints “standing with” a pray-er is suggestive but still indirect. The strongest evidence is for prayer involving the communion of saints and prayers for the dead; the case for direct address to saints is thinner and mostly later or liturgical rather than explicit instruction.
Many more early Christian quotations, Bible passages, and source links are gathered below so you can study the evidence for yourself.
Key Takeaways
- The earliest Christian writers clearly tell believers to pray for one another and for all the saints.
- Later liturgical texts remember martyrs and the departed in prayer, showing a developing practice of commemoration.
- The strongest early witness is for prayer to God, with saints included in the church's prayer life, not clearly as direct addressees.
Questions Answered by the Sources
Did early Christians pray for the saints and the whole church?
Yes. Early Christian writings plainly urge believers to pray for all the saints, for rulers, and for the whole church. Polycarp is especially direct, and Cyprian and Ignatius also stress shared prayer for the body of believers.
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Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians Direct teaching
...ence, long-suffering, forbearance, and purity; and may He bestow on you a lot and portion among His saints, and on us with you, and on all that are under heaven, who shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in His Father, who “raised Him from the dead.” Pray for all the saints. Pray also for kings, and rulers, and princes, and for those that persecute and hate you, and for the enemies of the cross, that your fruit may be manifest to all, and that you may be perfect in Him.
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Polycarp, Epistle to the Philippians Supporting witness
and may He bestow on you a lot and portion among His saints, and on us with you, and on all that are under heaven, who shall believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, and in His Father, who “raised Him from the dead.” Pray for all the saints.
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
Thus also we find that the apostles, with the disciples, prayed after the Lord's ascension: They all, says the Scripture, continued with one accord in prayer, with the women, and Mary who was the mother of Jesus, and with His brethren.
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
...ay only for himself. For we do not say, "My Father, who art in heaven," or, "Give me today my daily bread." Nor does each person ask that only his own debt should be forgiven. Nor does he ask for himself alone that he may not be led into temptation and delivered from evil. Our prayer is public and shared. And when we pray, we do not pray for one person, but for the whole people, because we, the whole people, are one. The God of peace and the Teacher of harmony, who taught unity, willed that each one should pray in this way for all, just as He Himself bore us all in one. The three children kept this rule of prayer when they were shut up in the fiery furnace. They prayed together and were of one heart in the agreement of the spirit. Sacred Scripture assures us of this. And by telling us how such people prayed, it gives an example that we ought to follow in our prayers, so that we may be as they were: "Then these three," it says, "as if from one mouth sang a hymn and blessed the Lord." They spoke as if from one mouth, although Christ had not yet taught them how to pray. Therefore, as they prayed, their words were effective and powerful, because a peaceful, sincere, and spiritual pr
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Ignatius, The Epistle of Ignatius to the Ephesians (Long Version) Supporting witness
For if the prayer of one or two possesses such power that Christ stands in the midst of them, how much more will the prayer of the bishop and of the whole Church, ascending up in harmony to God, prevail for the granting of all their petitions in Christ!
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Ignatius, Epistle to the Trallians (LongVersion) Supporting witness
...in every way, both physically and spiritually. My bonds, which I bear for the sake of Jesus Christ (praying that I may reach God), encourage you. Maintain harmony among yourselves, and keep praying; for it is fitting for each of you, and especially the presbyters, to support the bishop, to the honor of the Father, and to the honor of Jesus Christ and the apostles. I appeal to you in love to listen to me, so that my writing may not stand as a testimony against you. And also pray for me, who needs your love, along with the mercy of God, that I may be found worthy to achieve the destiny I am now intended for, and that I may not be found unworthy.
More related quotations from this section 9 shown
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Cyprian, Treatises Supporting witness
and this the faith of the sacred Scripture assures us, and in telling us how such as these prayed, gives an example which we ought to follow in our prayers, in order that we may be such as they were: Then these three, it says, as if from one mouth sang an hymn, and blessed the Lord.
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Hermas, The Shepherd (Pastor) Supporting witness
But pray to God, and He will heal your sins, and the sins of your whole house, and of all the saints.
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Polycarp, The Martyrdom of Polycarp Supporting witness
...y house not far from the city. There, he stayed with a few friends, doing nothing day and night but praying for all people and for the Churches throughout the world, as was his usual practice. And while he was praying, a vision appeared to him three days before he was captured; and, behold, the pillow under his head seemed to be on fire. At this, he turned to those who were with him and said prophetically, “I must be burnt alive.”
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...r modesty, prayed to God night and day for Israel, so also the widow who is like her will offer her intercession to God for the Church without ceasing. And He will hear her, because her mind is fixed on this one thing alone, and is not inclined to be insatiable, covetous, or wasteful. Her eye is pure, her hearing clean, her hands undefiled, her feet quiet, and her mouth prepared neither for gluttony nor for foolish talk, but for speaking what is fitting, and for taking only such things as are necessary for her support. So, being serious and giving no disturbance, she will be pleasing to God. And as soon as she asks for anything, the gift will come to her, as He says, "While you are speaking, I will say, Behold, I am here." Let such a woman also be free from the love of money, free from arrogance, not greedy for shameful gain, not insatiable, not gluttonous, but self-controlled, meek, troubling nobody, pious, modest, staying at home, singing, praying, reading, watching, and fasting, speaking to God continually in songs and hymns. And let her work with wool, and rather help others than be in need of help from them. Let her remember that widow who is honored in the Gospel by the Lo
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Romans 15:30 Supporting witness
I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,
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2 Corinthians 1:11 Supporting witness
you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.
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John 17:20 Supporting witness
Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word;
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Luke 11:1 Background
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
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Acts 2:42 Background
And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Did early Christians pray for the dead and remember martyrs?
Yes, later early Christian texts clearly remember the departed in prayer and funeral worship. The strongest examples come from third-century liturgical and church texts that speak of prayers for those who have fallen asleep in Christ and memorial days for the dead.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Direct teaching
Let the third day after the departed person be observed with psalms, readings, and prayers, because of Him who rose within three days. And let the ninth day be observed in remembrance of the living and of the departed. And let the fortieth day be observed according to the ancient pattern, for in this way the people mourned Moses, and also the yearly day in memory of him. And let alms be given to the poor from his goods as a memorial for him.
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Early Liturgies, Divine Liturgy of St. Mark Supporting witness
O Lord our God, give peace to the souls of our fathers and brethren who have fallen asleep in Jesus, remembering our forefathers of old, our fathers, patriarchs, prophets, apostles, martyrs, confessors, bishops, and the souls of all the holy and just men who have died in the Lord.
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Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris Supporting witness
O Lord God Almighty, accept this oblation for the whole Holy Catholic Church, and for all the pious and righteous fathers who have been pleasing to You, and for all the prophets and apostles, and for all the martyrs and confessors, and for all that mourn, that are in straits, and are sick, and for all that are under difficulties and trials, and for all the weak and the oppressed, and for all the dead that have gone from among us;
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
Let us pray for those that are departed in the faith.
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Apostolic Constitutions, Apostolic Constitutions Supporting witness
...n of the royal body of Christ, both in your churches and in the dormitories. At the funerals of the departed, go with them while singing, if they were faithful in Christ. For "precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints." And again, "O my soul, return to your rest, for the Lord has done you good." And elsewhere, "The memory of the just is with praises." Proverbs 10:7 And, "The souls of the righteous are in the hands of God." Wisdom 3:1 For those who have believed in God, although they are asleep, are not dead. For our Savior says to the Sadducees, "But concerning the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what is written, 'I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? God, therefore, is not the God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to Him." Exodus 3:6; Luke 20:38 Therefore, among those who live with God, even their very relics are not without honor. For even Elisha the prophet, after he had fallen asleep, raised a dead man who had been killed by the Syrian raiders. For his body touched the bones of Elisha, and he rose and came back to life. Now this would not have happened unless the body of Elisha had been holy. And chast
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Dionysius of Alexandria, Epistles and Epistolary Fragments Supporting witness
5. They took the bodies of the saints into their arms and held them against their chests. They closed their eyes and shut their mouths. They carried them together and laid them out properly. They stayed close to them, embraced them, and prepared them as was fitting, with washing and clothing. Then, a little while later, they received the same services themselves, because those who survived were always following those who had departed before them. But among the heathen, everything was the exact opposite. They pushed away anyone who began to get sick, and kept away even from their dearest friends. They threw the sufferers out onto the public roads, half dead, and left them unburied. When they died, they treated them with complete contempt, always avoiding any contact or association with death. Yet it was not easy for them to escape it completely, in spite of the many precautions they used.
Did early Christians directly pray to saints?
The clearest early writings here do not plainly command believers to pray to departed saints. Some later texts and liturgical phrases speak of martyrs, saints, or holy ones in ways that sound close to the practice, but most of the strongest early witnesses still direct prayer to God.
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Clement of Alexandria, The Stromata (Miscellanies) Supporting witness
and though he pray alone, he has the choir of the saints standing with him.
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Peter of Alexandria, Canonical Epistle Supporting witness
For communion is sufficient for them, that the faithful should communicate with them, and pray with them, and that they should participate in the sacred mysteries.
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Early Liturgies, Liturgy of Adaeus and Maris Supporting witness
...t from my weak and sinful hands this sacrifice which my weakness offers on this altar, through your intercession for me, O holy mother.
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Dionysius of Alexandria, Epistles and Epistolary Fragments Supporting witness
10. Those sainted martyrs, accordingly, who were once with us, and who now are seated with Christ, and are sharers in His kingdom, and partakers with Him in His judgment, and who act as His judicial assessors, received there certain of the brethren who had fallen away, and who had become chargeable with sacrificing to the idols.
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Arnobius, Against the Heathen Supporting witness
Him we adore in joint prayers; from Him we beg things just and honourable, and worthy of His ear.
What role do saints have in heaven?
The Bible passages in this set show saints in heaven as part of God’s worship and intercession, with prayers rising before God. Revelation presents the prayers of the saints before the throne, and related passages speak of the saints with God and with Christ.
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Revelation 5:8 Direct teaching
Now when He had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each having a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints.
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Revelation 8:4 Direct teaching
and the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, rose before God from the hand of the angel.
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Revelation 8:3 Supporting witness
And another angel came and stood at the altar with a golden censer, and he was given much incense to offer with the prayers of all the saints on the golden altar before the throne,
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Romans 8:27 Supporting witness
Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
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1 Thessalonians 3:13 Supporting witness
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
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Revelation 14:13 Supporting witness
And I heard a voice from heaven saying, “Write this: Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.” “Blessed indeed,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, for their deeds follow them!”
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Matthew 27:52 Supporting witness
and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;
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Ephesians 6:18 Supporting witness
Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
More related quotations from this section 3 shown
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Hebrews 7:25 Background
Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
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Origen, Against Celsus Background
And to the Word Himself shall we also pray and make intercessions, and offer thanksgivings and supplications to Him, if we have the capacity of distinguishing between the proper use and abuse of prayer.
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Origen, De Principiis (On First Principles) Background
for He is said to intercede with the Father because of our sins.
Common Questions
Did the early Christians pray to saints?
They clearly prayed for saints and remembered the departed, but the earliest writings do not clearly give a direct rule to pray to departed saints.
Did early Christians ask saints for help?
Some later texts sound close to that, but the clearest early writings mostly show prayer to God and prayer for other believers.
What Bible passages are most relevant?
Ephesians 6:18, Revelation 5:8, and Revelation 8:3-4 are the main passages here, along with texts about prayer for one another.
Source Index for Praying to saints
The guided sections above show the strongest quotations. This compact index highlights 160 ranked source links from 242 compiled sources for deeper study.
Source index 160 ranked links shown
Early Christian Writings 80 shown of 151
Primary-source quotations from early Christian writers and church documents.
Bible Passages 80 shown of 91
Related Bible passages saved for comparison with the early Christian quotations.
Related Resources
Course Lesson
Images and Prayers to Saints
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