On the twenty-fifth day of June, we commemorate the finding and the translation of the precious relics of our Venerable Mother Milburga, daughter of the king of Mercia, abbess of Wenlock, the wonder-worker.
Verses
Like one who finds great spoil we now rejoice
At the finding of your relics, Milburga.
On the ninth of the Kalends of June Milburga’s relics were unearthed.
Synaxarion
Our Venerable Mother Milburga reposed in peace on the twenty-third day of February in the year 722, and was buried with honour in the monastery church of the Holy Trinity by the altar containing the relics of Saint Gregory. Her sacred body rested in the earth for many years, through times of great tribulation when the Danish raiders destroyed much of the monastery in the year 874. The community was scattered, and the location of the saint’s tomb was forgotten amid the devastations that befell Western Mercia.
In the year 1079, Earl Roger de Montgomery brought Benedictine monks from France to restore the monastery as a daughter house of La Charité-sur-Loire. These monks inherited a silver casket said to contain the relics of the saint, but when they examined it, they found only ashes and fragments of cloth that had once wrapped something precious.
By God’s providence, a servant named Raymond, laboured on the restoration of the monastery buildings, discovered in an old box a document written in the English tongue. In this testament, a priest named Alstan bore witness that the body of the blessed Milburga lay buried in the church near the altar. The monks began to search the site of the ancient nuns’ church, having first sought the blessing of Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury.
On the Vigil of the Feast of Saint John the Baptist, being the twenty-third day of June in the year 1101, while the brethren sang Matins, Raymond came to the prior’s stall with wondrous news. Two boys playing upon the excavation site had fallen up to their knees into a circular pit. The prior examined the place by torchlight but could discern nothing in the darkness, so he returned to complete the divine service.
At dawn on the following day, the prior assembled a company of the brethren to continue the work. As they dug deeper, a sweet fragrance of balsam arose from the earth, and the bones of the saint were revealed, beautiful and luminous, together with iron bands from her ancient coffin. Further excavation uncovered the foundations of the altar where she had been laid to rest.
On the third day, being the twenty-fifth of June, the monks clothed themselves in white vestments and with bare feet reverently retrieved the holy bones. They washed them with care and laid them first in the old shrine, then fashioned a new reliquary worthy of such precious remains. The sacred relics remained in the ancient church until they could be translated to the monks’ church with proper ceremony.
Immediately upon the discovery, miracles began to flow abundantly. A man who had suffered disease for five years drank water that had touched the saint’s bones and was delivered of an enormous tapeworm. A twelve-year-old maiden afflicted with leprosy was carried by her father into the old church at the beginning of Vespers and by the service’s end was completely healed. The blind received sight and lepers were cleansed through the saint’s intercession.
On the Feast of the Meeting of the Lord, being the second day of February in the year 1102, the new shrine was completed. The holy relics were translated in solemn procession to the monastery church, where they became a source of countless miracles and drew pilgrims from throughout the realm.
Through her holy intercessions, Christ our God, have mercy on us and save us. Amen.
Apolytikion
The Lord did reveal to us * as an invaluable pearl * that was hidden in the earth * your relics to all in need * giving forth streams of miracles; * wherefore, blessèd Milburga, * supplicate Him, we beg you, * to save from tribulations and temptations and dangers, * adornment of all Shropshire, * those gladly praising you.
Kontakion
We observe the holy feast, Mother Milburga, * of the finding of your bones, * Abbess most prudent and devout, * and we cry out to you lovingly: * Rejoice, Shropshire’s * protection invincible.