Origins

Where did the idea of christian saints originate from?

HI

From early on, Christians believed that some holy people, when they died, not only went to heaven but had the special attention of Jesus, and had special powers themselves, so that they could cure sicknesses and answer prayers of all kinds. These people were called saints. Both men and women, and often children, became saints.
Some important Christian saints (for example) were Saint Peter, Saint Paul, Saint Michael, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Anne (Jesus' grandmother).