The Church celebrates as saints, only those who were with Jesus Christ or after Him. In fact, Jesus Christ completed the salvation of the world through his death and resurrection. Through his Passover he opened for us the door of His Father's House.

St. John the Baptist is the only saint of the Ancient Testament who is celebrated by the Church, but he knew Jesus Christ, believed in Him, showed Him present and died as martyr of the truth. Jesus said about John the Baptist: In truth I tell you, of all the children born to women, there has never been anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of Heaven is greater than he (Mt 11:11). "Greater," in the meaning that he has the chance to be saved by the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

However, this does not mean that the Patriarchs of the Ancient Testament were not saints, but they belong to another time of the plan of salvation established by God.