Category Archives: Feasts, Saints & History

Life of our Holy Mother Mary of Egypt (St. Sophronios of Jerusalem) By St. Sophronios of Jerusalem “It is good to hide the secret of a king, but it is glorious to reveal and preach the works of God” (Tobit

Today we commemorate Saint Alchmund of Derby. Saint Alchmund's church in Shrewsbury is dedicated to the saint possibly because his relics were brought here by Queen Aethelflaed’s to save them from the invading Danes. Continue reading →

If I were to say to you that you are not a human (ἄνθρωπος), you might take it as an insult. I will say it, nevertheless. We are not humans, neither you nor I; we are merely in the process

Saint Chad was one of three brothers born in Northumbria, and was educated at the monastery on Lindisfarne under Saint Aidan. In 664 he succeeded his brother, Cedd as Abbot of Lastingham.  In 669 that Chad became Bishop of Lichfield

On 23 February and 25 June (translation of her relics) we commemorate our venerable mother, Milburga, princess and abbess of Much Wenlock. Saint Milburga is one of the patrons of our community along with the Holy Fathers of Nicaea and

Werburgh, a princess of Mercia, exchanged her coronet for a veil early in life and became a great foundress and leader of monastic communities in East Anglia and Mercia.  Her greatness in life is reflected in her veneration in death. 

By Sister Theovouli  A founding figure at Old Melrose Abbey St. Boisil¹ and St. Eata were among St. Aidan’s first pupils at Lindisfarne, both of whom were tonsured by him. St. Aidan founded Old Melrose² Abbey in Scotland, situated in

Veneration of the Chains of Saint Peter on 16 January VersesWe venerate your honourable bonds O Peter,Release me from the long bonds of my accusations.On the sixteenth I venerate the bonds of Peter. Herod Agrippa, the grandson of Herod the

On the eleventh of January, we commemorate our Holy Father Theodosios the Cenobiarch. VersesTheodosios abbot of the common life,As a common monastic you lost your life.On the eleventh the Cenobiarch departed this life. This Saint lived during the times of

By Sister Theovouli Key takeaways:  In this blog: St. Egwins early life St. Egwin was born in Worcester¹ to a noble family, and was related to the Mercian kings, believed to have been a nephew of King Æthelred, a formidable

Kontakion on the Nativity of Christ From St. Romanos the Melodist, On the Life of Christ: Kontakia (Archimandrite Ephrem Lash, tr.: Harper, San Francisco, 1995), pp. 1-12. Introduction A “kontakion” is a poetic form frequently encountered in Byzantine hymnography. It

By Sister Theovouli  Key takeaways:  In this blog:  Who was St. Finnian?  Saint Finnian, was, on his father’s side, a member of Clanna Rudhraighe, rulers of the ancient province of Ulaid on the north-east coast of Ireland. This province covered

Key takeaways: In this blog: Who is St. Nicholas? St. Nicholas was born in Patara, Lycia (modern day Turkey) in the 4th Century, the only child to wealthy parents who had long remained childless. After losing his parents at a

On the sixth of December, we commemorate our Holy Father Nicholas the Archbishop of Myra in Lycia the Wonderworker. Verses While on earth Nicholas was a great intercessor, Departing the earth he still fervently intercedes. On the sixth the end

Delve into the life and lasting legacy of St. Birinus, the first bishop of Dorchester, and his critical mission to bring Christianity to Anglo-Saxon England. Continue reading →

Saint Aelhaiarn (al-high-arn) was a Welsh Confessor who lived in the 7th C. He had two brothers, Llwchaiarn and Cynhaiarn. The family was descended from the ruling dynasty of the Kingdom of Powys at that time which traced its lineage

Feast day 20 November. Of his life little is known. In the year 869 the Danes, who had been wintering at York, marched through Mercia into East Anglia and took up their quarters at Thetford. Edmund engaged them fiercely in battle, but

John was born in Amathus of Cyprus c. 550 to the patrician Epiphanios, a governor of the island. He married and had children, but was a widower when he was called to become Patriarch of Alexandria on the recommendation of

St. Nektarios was born in Selybria of Eastern Thrace to the family of Demos and Maria Kephalas on 1st October 1846. He was named Anastasios at his baptism, a name which suited perfectly his early behavior. As a child he

Read about the life of Saint Winefrid and her importance for the town of Shrewsbury Continue reading →