A saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness or likeness to God. However, the use of the term “saint” depends on the context and denomination. In the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Anglican and Lutheran doctrine, all of their faithful deceased in Heaven are considered to be saints, but some are considered worthy of greater honor or emulation; official ecclesiastical recognition, and consequently veneration, is given to some saints through the process of canonization in the Catholic Church or glorification in the Eastern Orthodox Church.

                                        


     Based on Christianity.

 Jesus and his disciples did not speak of saints. But during the period (1st to early 4th century) in which they were persecuted, Christians began to venerate the martyrs as saints. They believed that the martyrs, being sufferers “unto death” for Christ, were received directly into heaven and could therefore be effective as intercessors for the living. By the 3rd century the veneration of martyr saints was already common.
In the Nicene Creed (325 CE) the early church called itself the “communion of saints.” Here, however, the word saint has the broader meaning of “believer” rather than being applied strictly to a holy person or numinous personality worthy of veneration. In the 10th century a procedure of canonization (official recognition of a public cult of a saint) was initiated by Pope John XV. Gradually, a fixed process was developed for canonization by the pope, requiring that the person must have led a life of heroic sanctity and performed at least two miracles.
 Saints in the Roman Catholic Church are venerated but not worshiped because of their spiritual and religious significance and are believed to be the bearers of special powers. Because of a belief in the powers of the saints, their relics are regarded as efficacious. In the Eastern Orthodox Church saints also are venerated, but the process of canonization is less juridical and not always ecumenical. In some Protestant churches (Lutheran and Anglican) saints are recognized, but they are not venerated as in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox.

Research and edited by self.