How could a saint know a request?

Objection to invocation of saints

Even if saints pray in heaven, what warrants confidence that a particular saint perceives each spoken or silent request? Avoiding the word omniscience does not explain the basis for that confidence.

Perspective note

The Orthodox response is presented affirmatively. Named Lutheran, Reformed, and ancient objections retain their own attribution; analytic questions are labeled as such.

Sources and further reading

Apology XXI: hearing petitions (primary)
Lutheran epistemic objection; not a claim that saints never pray.
Knowledge disclosed (primary)
Knowledge withheld (primary)

Related records

2 Maccabees 15: Onias and Jeremiah pray for the people (Intercession source · Departed righteous praying)
Revelation 5 and 8: prayers represented in heavenly liturgy (Intercession source · Heavenly liturgy)
Modern Orthodox explanation (Intercession source · Modern interpretation)
Elisha: knowledge disclosed and withheld (Scripture comparison · prophetic knowledge)
2 Kings 6:8–12: knowledge disclosed (Intercession source · Knowledge disclosed)
2 Kings 4:27: knowledge withheld (Intercession source · Knowledge withheld)
John of Damascus, Exposition of the Orthodox Faith II.3–4 (Intercession source · Service and limits)

Open Intercession of the Saints in the interactive atlas

All records