Who are your favorite Christian heroes/heroines outside of the bible?

[Louisa]

For me, many of the Orthodox Christian saints and elders might be considered "heroes", like culture heroes or something, so to speak, because I see them as full of much wisdom, goodness, yet, still quite human, imperfect, and I disagree with quite a few things they say. But by reading some of the things they have said over time, it has totally transformed my perception and outlook on life and so many issues, and it's transformed my character, in ways that I thought impossible.

I also have felt spiritual great energy from reading their words, which seemed to have some healing power over my mind, heart, and soul, beyond any logic. I learned about values and ideas from them that I nowhere else did I see explained so clearly, or even mentioned at all, sometimes.

And it all made everything feel complete to me, but only after I was able to kind of pick it apart, get some distance from it, and separate out the great many things I do agree with from the still many things that I don't agree with, in their words and teachings. Some of the more modern Orthodox saints especially seem to resonate more for me - Elder Paisios, Elder Porphyrios, St. Sophrony of Essex, Elder Thaddeus of Vitovnica and others. They often seem gentler and more optimistic in tone than some of the older Orthodox saints. Not always, though. When I'm in the right state of mind for them, I love reading some of their writings and books (though, some of it I find upsetting) which often give me this subtle, yet beautiful energy that I can't really describe, but seems to then permeate my day afterwards too.