ANSWER:
Orthodox Christians believe that the prayers of the righteous has much power, as indicated in James 5:16. It was always known in sacred Jewish history that the saint of old interceded, along with the angels (Zechariah 1:12, 13; Tobit 12:12; 2 Macc. 15:14). It is believed that this the way that God desires that things should be, that the love among his creatures would prompt them to pray for each other, and that such prayer ("love overcomes a multitude of sins") would be effectual. In an ultimate sense, the greatest intercessor is the Lord of Glory himself who offer his sacrifice of love and intercession to the God and Father (Liturgy of St Basil). |
