British and Irish Saints' Month

Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

In these days of March the Church in these islands remembers a constellation of holy saints who sanctified the lands of Britain and Ireland. Their lives remind us that holiness is not distant or foreign, but has taken root here among our own people, that the light of Christ once shone brightly in these lands and continues to shine through their prayers.

1 March

We begin with the holy bishop David of Wales (+589), whom we commemorate on the first of March. He was a great ascetic and teacher of the Church in Wales. He founded monasteries where prayer, fasting, and manual labour formed the heart of Christian life. His monks lived simply, working the land and praising God. His final words to his flock were: “Be joyful, keep the faith, and do the little things.” In this simple teaching he reminds us that holiness is found in faithfulness in the small and ordinary duties of life.

5 March

Saint Piran (c. 480) is honoured especially in Cornwall as a bringer of faith, perseverance, and humble service. Tradition tells us that even after hardship and exile, he continued to share the light of Christ wherever he went. His life reminds us that faith is not simply spoken—it is lived in patience, courage, and kindness. He is the patron saint of tin miners. The Cornish flag is black as tin ore, and the white cross is the light the Saint brought.

16 March

Soon after we remember the holy Aristobulus of Britannia (I c.), one of the Seventy Apostles and the first bishop sent to Britain. He came here in the first century to preach the Gospel among peoples who had never heard the name of Christ. He endured hardship, opposition, and the harshness of a distant land, yet he planted the first seeds of the Christian faith in Britain. From that apostolic seed the Church in these islands began to grow.

17 March

Then we commemorate the great missionary Patrick of Ireland (died second half of the 5th century), the enlightener of Ireland. Once taken captive as a slave in a foreign land, he later returned—not seeking revenge, but bringing forgiveness and the Gospel. With humility and perseverance he preached Christ, baptised thousands, and transformed an entire nation. His life teaches us that God can turn suffering into salvation and that the true victory of a Christian is love for those who once wronged us.

18 March

We also remember the holy king and martyr Edward the Martyr, who was slain in the year 978 while still very young. Though he ruled only briefly, he became a witness to Christ through his innocent suffering. Today his relics are venerated at the St Edward the Martyr Orthodox Church, where many faithful continue to seek his intercessions. His life reminds us that true kingship is not earthly power, holiness is not measured by years, but by faithfulness to Christ even unto death.

20 March

And we celebrate the holy bishop Cuthbert of Lindisfarne (+687), the wonderworker of the north. A shepherd who became a monk, a monk who became a bishop, he lived a life of prayer, humility, and love for God’s creation. Even the birds and animals were said to obey him, for he lived in harmony with the Creator. His relics rest in Durham Cathedral, a testimony to the sanctity that once flourished in the monasteries of the north.

Why does the Church call us to venerate these saints?

First, because they are our spiritual forefathers. The faith we hold today did not appear suddenly; it was handed down through the prayers, struggles, and sacrifices of these holy men and women.

Second, we venerate them because they show us that holiness is possible in every time and place. Whether apostle, missionary, king, or monk, each of them served Christ according to the calling given to them.

Finally, we honour them because they are alive in Christ and intercede for us. The saints are not merely figures of the past; they are members of the living heavenly Church, who pray for us before the throne of God.

Therefore, beloved in the Lord, let us ask the prayers of saints David, Piran, Aristobulus, Patrick, Edward, and Cuthbert, that through their intercessions the light of the Orthodox faith may continue to shine in these islands, and that we too may follow their example of faith, humility, courage, repentance, and love.

May their prayers guide us, strengthen us, and may we be found worthy to glorify Christ together with them in His eternal Kingdom.

Amen.

Priest Trayan Goranov

March 2026