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A little while ago, there was [[User_talkImage:FrJohn/archived_discussion_1#Patron_SaintJohn of Damascus.jpg|some discussionframe|right|St. John of Damasus:<br>OrthodoxWiki's Patron Saint]] We've had some talk recently about nominating a [[patron saint]] . I would like to go ahead and ask St. John of Damascus to fulfill this role for us. As a great apologist and compiler of Orthodox teaching, he offers an inspiring example for OrthodoxWiki. He is recognized as a teacher and revealed as a saint throughout the Orthodox world. Please join me in asking him to be present with us, and to guide and inspire our humble project by his prayers.

[[User:Uncreatedlight]] keenly felt this need, and [[User:Joe Rodgers]] also commented: "So, in a bigger picture, is there a saint, common to all Orthodox Christans who we could pick as a patron saint? For those so inclined, requests See the discussion page for intercession from this Saint could be made for God's help in our endeavorssome history. Your thoughts?"

I think it's time to move this discussion forward a little bit. The saints are alive and well. It would be fully proper if we asked one or two especially for their heavenly intercessions. With this in mind, I'd like to open up the floor for nominations. I think we're looking for an Orthodox saint who was known as an historian, writer, or compiler of information -- someone who modelled in their life the values and virtues we are striving for in the OrthodoxWiki project.  ==Nominations==Please post your suggestions, along with an explanation, here. I'd like to work this through pretty quickly and I value your imput. All suggestions are valued! * The [[Three Holy Hierarchs]] (Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom)* The Holy Apostle and Evangelist [[Apostle Luke|Luke]] [he was most certainly an historian, complier of information and helped to preserve the Gospel for all generations]* St. Peter of Damascus [a 12th century monastic who loved to read... he would borrow books from different monasteries and would write down important ideas. He would later write his own take on theology and it will comprise a large section of the ''[[Philokalia]]'', third volume according to the English translation]* Saint Dimitri because no one wrote an article about him. But St Constantine or St Nicholas would also be great.(These are the three "typical" Orthodox Saints.) [[User:Fadymm|Fadymm]] 06:59, November 9, 2005 (CST)* The Venerable [[Bede]] is our sort. His work covered much the same sort of scope as ours.* St. Nikodemos of the Holy Mountain. In another time and place he surely would have been an editor of an encyclopedia. His work on the Rudder, the Synaxarion (and not simply translation, but attempts to unravel the historicity of some accounts that had suffered conflation or other confusion), the Philokalia; his commentaries on liturgical texts, etc., all indicate an encyclopedic mind that loves the orderly presentation of valuable knowledge. :I'm going to suggest Saint [[John of Damascus]]. a great synthesizer, compiler, apologist, and martyr. <br>His feast day is '''Dec. 4th'''. You can look up his life, troparion and kontakion at [http://www.oca.org/FSlives.asp on OCA.org] or view his Wikipedia article Links: [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_of_Damascus here].  :The Ven. Bede is a great choice. I thought about him, but I'm worried that he's not identifiably Orthodox enough. Of course, we can always ask for his intercessions in any case! :I like the idea of St. Nikodemos too. He would certainly be an appropriate choice, although I'm worried about the connotations people have with him being a canonist. It might be seen as too polemical by some. [[User:FrJohn|Fr. John]] 13:50, November 12, 2005 (CST) ::''O champion of Orthodoxy, teacher of purity and of true worship,The enlightener of the universe and the adornment of the hierarchs:O all-wise father John, your teachings have gleamed with light upon all things.Intercede before Christ our God to save our souls!'' <br> - (Troparion to St. John of Damascus)