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

Comparative historical/source study. The original author's or church's reception is retained; inclusion does not make every claim Oriental Orthodox teaching.

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