Saint

A saint is a very holy person with a special anointing from God. The word "saint" comes from the Greek "hagio" which means holy ones.  Christians are holy because of the work of Christ.  In the New Testament the word occurs numerous times (Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:2; 2 Cor. 1:1; Eph. 1:1, etc) and is a designation of Christians.

The Bible speaks of saints in both the Old and New Testaments.  In the Old Testament it is found such verses as Psalm 16:3, 132:9.  Sometimes it is translated as "godly ones."

In Roman Catholicism it is someone who has been dead for many years and has been canonized by the Catholic Church. Saints do not have to pass through purgatory.