Saints often become the patrons of places where they were born or had been active. However, there were cases in
medieval Europe where a city which grew to prominence obtained for its cathedral the remains or some
relics of a famous saint who had lived and was buried elsewhere, thus making them the city's patron saint – such a practice conferred considerable prestige on the city concerned. In
Latin America and the
Philippines, Spanish and Portuguese explorers often named a location for the saint on whose
feast or commemoration day they first visited the place, with that saint naturally becoming the area's patron. , a
Hong Kong chain bakery (
Honoratus of Amiens is the patron saint of bakers and confectioners) Some occupations have a patron saint associated with them whose acts or miracles in some way recall the profession. For example, when
photography emerged in the 19th century,
Saint Veronica became its patron saint, owing to how her
veil miraculously received the imprint of
Christ's face after she wiped off the blood and sweat.. The
veneration or commemoration and recognition of patron saints or saints in general is found in
Catholicism (including
Eastern Catholicism),
Eastern Orthodoxy,
Oriental Orthodoxy, and among some
Lutherans and
Anglicans. According to the
Catholic catechism a
person's patron saint, having already attained the
beatific vision, is able to intercede with God for their needs. Apart from Lutheranism and Anglicanism, it is, however, generally discouraged in other
Protestant branches, such as
Reformed Christianity, where the practice is considered a form of
idolatry.
Catholicism A saint can be assigned as a patron by a venerable tradition, or chosen by election. The saint is considered a special intercessor with God and the proper advocate of a particular locality, occupation, etc., and merits a special form of religious observance. A term in some ways comparable is "titular", which is applicable only to a church or institution. == In Islam ==