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canonization[kan´´unizA´shun] Pronunciation Key, in the Roman Catholic Church, process by which a person is classified as a saint. It is now performed at Rome alone, although in the Middle Ages and earlier bishops elsewhere used to canonize. Canonization is not necessary for martyrs, who are considered to be enrolled among the saints on their death, but in recent years the church has approved the cult of canonized persons only. Beatification, by which a person is called blessed and his or her cult is approved, requires proof of two miracles, and must precede canonization. Until 1983 the process of canonization was like a trial at which the saint was said to be defended by the church; a prosecutor was appointed to attack all evidence alleged in favor of canonization. The prosecutor was popularly called advocatus diaboli [devil's advocate], his opponent the advocatus Dei [God's advocate]. The process has now been streamlined, and the position of devil's advocate eliminated. Canonization still requires evidence that consists primarily of proof of additional miracles (beyond the two considered in the beatification) attributable to the saint and proof that the saint's life was exemplary. The first solemn canonization seems to have been that of St. Ulrich late in the 10th cent. The method of formal canonization was set by the enactments of Urban VIII that came into force in 1634. In the Orthodox Eastern Church, a synod of bishops within a self-governing church has the authority to canonize.
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