saint

Holy man or woman respected for his or her wisdom, spirituality, and dedication to their faith. Within the Roman Catholic Church the pope officially recognizes a saint through canonization. Many saints are associated with miracles, and canonization usually occurs after a thorough investigation of their lives and the miracles attributed to them. A patron saint is regarded as the patron of a particular group or country. For individual saints, see under forename; for example, Paul, St.

In the Orthodox Church, saints are recognized by the patriarch and Holy Synod after recommendation by local churches. The term ‘saint’ is also used in Buddhism for individuals who have led a virtuous and holy life, such as Kukai (774–835), also known as Kobo Daishi, founder of the Japanese Shingon school of Buddhism.