The righteous are those Holy people who have led a righteous, pleasing life to the Lord God, who have been family people and who have lived in the world.

The monks are those Holy righteous people who have retired from worldly life in society and have pleased the Lord God, staying in virginity (not marrying), fasting and prayer, living in deserts and monasteries.

The saints are those Holy bishops and bishops who have pleased the Lord God with their righteous Lives.

The Confessors, the saints are those Christians who, during his life endured suffering, but died peacefully.

The martyrs, those Holy Christians who for their faith received a severe chastisement and even death. Holy martyrs are depicted on icons with a cross in their hands.

The Holy martyrs are the saints who suffered torments for Christ.

The names of the Holy martyrs, as well as other saints, are recorded in Orthodox calendars. Orthodox Christians remember their saints, study their lives, take their names for themselves and their children, glorify the days dedicated to them, are inspired by their examples and try to imitate them in every way, and pray to them that they pray for them to the Lord God.

The persecution of the Church not only did not destroy it, but on the contrary helped its spread. This happened for several reasons:
1. For the Holy martyrs and martyrs endured suffering with great firmness. New Confessors appeared in the place of the victims.
2. The fleeing Christians brought their faith with them and planted it in their new place of residence.
3. Persecution kept faithful guard over the faith and the Church. They were in strong faith, cheerfulness, and mutual love. Thus, the Church has to be cleansed of people who are weak and not worthy to be its members.

Of the large number of Christian martyrs in the ancient Church, especially remarkable are St. Ignatius the God-bearer, Bishop of Antioch, St. Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, and St. Justin the Philosopher.