For the title given to ordained Buddhist monks, see Venerable (Buddhism).

Venerable is a title confered on persons for a number of religious reasons, particularly in the Christian churches.

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".

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

In the Roman Catholic Church, 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 a 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.

Venerable people | Sainthood | Saints

Ctihodný | Venerable | Eerbiedwaardigheid