VENERABLE

'Venerable' is an official epithet in several Christian churches.

Contents

Roman Catholic

Eastern Orthodox

Anglican

Roman Catholic

In the Catholic Church's Latin rite, ''venerable'' is the title of a person who has been posthumously declared "heroic in virtue" during the investigation and process leading to canonization as a saint. Before one is considered ''venerable'', he or she must be declared as such by a proclamation approved by the pope of having lived lives that were "heroic in virtue" -- the virtues being the Theological Virtues of faith, hope and charity and the Cardinal Virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. The next step is beatification, at which point the person is referred to as ''Blessed'', and then finally canonization, at which point the person is referred to as ''Saint''.
The 7th century English monk St Bede was given the title venerable soon after his death; he was the first person to be recorded as Venerable.

Eastern Orthodox

In the Eastern Orthodox Church, ''venerable'' (Greek: "Όσιος" for men and "Οσία" for women) is a title attributed to saints who had lived a monastic or eremitic life, and it is considered equal or sometimes superior to the usual "Saint".

Anglican

In the Anglican Communion, ''venerable'' is the title given to an Archdeacon.