On Saturday, 1 August, faithful from across the Midlands, the North West and Wales made a pilgrimage to St Oswald’s Well at Oswestry — the town where the glorious king and martyr Oswald of Northumbria was slain — to honour the saint at the place of his martyrdom.
Father Panteleimon of Shrewsbury and Father John of Chester, along with a multitude of the faithful, met at St Oswald’s Church in Oswestry for a pilgrimage to St Oswald’s Well to celebrate Matins and Divine Liturgy. We were also joined by Oswestrians from this historic Anglican church who were interested in participating in this occasion, which fell on the celebration of the Procession of the Life-Giving Cross.
After the Liturgy, the icon, cross and a relic of St Oswald were processed the short walk to the well, where the waters were blessed, and the worshipers were sprinkled with holy water.
Once we had walked back, we settled in for refreshments and to hear a talk on the Transfiguration of Christ by Father Panteleimon, who was then joined by Father John to answer questions from those present.
It was a privilege and blessing to make this short pilgrimage to another town to share our common life in Christ, to be a witness of Orthodoxy and celebrate the feast of one the most important local saints of Shropshire. For more about St Oswald, please follow the link https://shrewsburyorthodox.com/local-saints/saint-oswald/
Synaxarion of Saint Oswald of Northumbria, King and Martyr (c.604–642)
Oswald, whose name denotes “God reigns,” perished in battle,
but in heaven now he reigns with God in glory.
On the Nones of August was Oswald slain in Maserfield.
Saint Oswald was the son of Aethelfrith, King of Northumbria. When his father fell in battle and the throne passed to an enemy, the young prince fled with his kinsmen into exile among the Scots of Dal Riata, and there, at the monastery of Iona, he was received into the Church of Christ and was baptised, being nurtured in the faith and in the ascetic tradition of the disciples of Saint Columba.
When his elder kinsman had been slain and Northumbria lay wasted under the pagan Cadwallon, Oswald came south in the year 634 to reclaim his people. On the eve of battle at Heavenfield there appeared to him in a vision Saint Columba, who bade him be strong and promised him victory. The king raised a wooden cross with his own hands and, calling his small army to kneel, prayed to the living God; and at dawn the enemy was scattered and Cadwallon slain. Thus Oswald united all Northumbria under his rule.
Straightway he sent to Iona for teachers, and received the holy bishop Aidan, whom he established at Lindisfarne; and because the bishop did not yet know the Saxon tongue, the king himself interpreted his preaching to the nobles and people, so that the North was swiftly won for Christ. He stood godfather to Cynegils, King of the West Saxons, at his baptism, and was known to all for his boundless charity. Once at Easter, when the poor thronged his gate, he gave them not only the food from his table but the silver dish itself; and Saint Aidan, taking his right hand, cried out, “May this hand never perish.”
In the year 642 the pagan Penda of Mercia made war upon him, and at Maserfield, the place now called Oswestry, Saint Oswald was defeated, slain, and dismembered, praying with his last breath for the souls of his soldiers. His holy right arm remained incorrupt, according to the word of Saint Aidan, and at the place of his death and at Heavenfield many were healed of their sicknesses. His relics were enshrined and carried to places of safety through the years of the Danish raids, and his head was laid at last in the coffin of Saint Cuthbert. So the holy king, a model of Christian rule throughout the North, received the crown of martyrdom and ascended victoriously into the heavens.
Apolytikion of Saint Oswald — Tone IV
The glory of pious kings and fearless warrior of Christ, the teacher of godliness and helper of those in need, with hymns let us gladly praise: Oswald the Passion-bearer, Oswestry’s holy patron, the martyrs’ imitator and the joy of all England, who to all that reverence him gushes forth streams of cures.
Sticheron at the Holy Well — Tone I
Now at your well we have gathered, the streams whereof confer health to men and beasts and scatter all demonic oppression; and faithfully we implore you, O divine Oswald: never cease to petition God, that He may bring back those who err unto the faith which you yourself professed most ardently.