patron saint

Saint Matthew the Apostle, depicted by Nicolas Régnier, is the patron saint of Salerno, Italy, bankers, and tax collectors. A patron saint, patroness saint, patron hallow or heavenly protector is a saint who in Catholicism, Anglicanism, Eastern Orthodoxy or Oriental Orthodoxy is regarded as the heavenly advocate of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person.

The term may be applied to individuals to whom similar roles are ascribed in other religions.