Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States
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Why do we pray to the blessed Mary or other Saints in heaven for help? We can pray to the Holy Spirit but we can't pray to the departed saints. We are not told by the Lord himself or through his apostles or through the Holy Bible to pray to the saints in heaven.

We don't pray to the departed saints but we ask their intercession i.e. we ask them to pray for us.  The request for prayer is countless in the Holy Bible. "Pray for one another" (James 5:16); praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints; and for me (Eph 6:18-19). If we truly believe that the departed are not dead but alive, why shouldn’t we ask them to pray for us.

If we ask the living to pray for us though they are still struggling and ‘with a nature like ours’; ought we not to seek the prayers of the saints who had perfected their struggle and departed to Paradise to live with the Lord Christ? We ask the prayers of those who fought the good fight, finished the race and kept the faith (2 Tim 4:7).

If the Lord’s prayer is all that we need in our prayers, why do we need to pray for one another on the pretext that the relationship between God and man is a direct relationship and  does not need any prayer from anyone!

Saints have favor with God, for we hear Moses interceding for the people saying, "Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You swore by Your own self" (Ex 32:13).
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