THE CONDEMNATION OF ST. CHARLES MARTYR

 

The Blessed Charles Martyr of England

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West)

On January 27th, 1649, King Charles I was condemned to death by a Puritan “court” appointed by one house of the legislature that had been reduced to a minority of its number by a military purge. 

King Charles was not allowed to examine the evidence or confront the witnesses against him or respond to the predetermined sentence. Escorted from Westminster Hall, the King said, “I am not suffered to speak; expect what justice other people will have!” 

King Charles Accused 

King Charles on the Scaffold

King Charles' Last Words

The Head of Charles Displayed

Icon of the King, Published Ten Days After His Martyrdom

Charles I was martyred for his Faith on the 30th of January, and stands today as a witness for the Apostolicity, Catholicity and Orthodoxy that was intended for the English Patrimony, a continuity of faith that is truly evidenced within the Anglican Vicariate of the Orthodox Archdiocese of America.

Sequence Hymn for Charlesmass

Heavenly King, of Kings the Pastor,

Giver of laws, of justice master,

Ruling all by Thy behest,

Unto Thee to-day we render,

Praise for him, to memory tender,

Charles our King, of kings the best.

Traitors shedding blood like water

Filled the land with crime and slaughter,

Law was trampled in the mud,

Noble churches left forsaken

And the White Rose, overtaken

By the sword, was red with blood.

Thus the bardic verse fulfilling

There shall be a time of killing

When the ravens shall be fed,

And a King without pollution

Midst a realm in revolution

Shall be numbered with the dead.

Violent men without compassion

Proudly spurned the ancient fashion

Of the sacred right divine;

From his friends by madmen riven

Was our King to judgement driven

Stained with blood his Royal line.

Faithful son of Mother holy,

To the Church devoted solely,

He to keep her laws was fain.

He her champion ever glorious,

Was beaten still victorious,

Robbed of life, but conqueror slain.

"He nothing common did nor mean,

Upon that memorable scene,"

When on the block he laid his head;

Nor called the gods with vulgar spite

To vindicate his helpless right,

But went to death as to his bed.

Fair exchange King Charles was making

When, the crown immortal taking

For the earthly crown he wore,

By the axe he followed faster

To realm of Christ his master,

And the cross behind him bore.

Lo, the priest who shares his glory

(Laud his name and laud his story),

For his fellow-martyr waits,

And the white-robed host upraising,

Heart and voice their Saviour

Greets him at the heavenly gates.

He by dying brought salvation

To the torn and shattered nation,

Life restored and liberty;

For the Martyr's blood was sowing

Seed from which the Church is growing

Seed of immortality.

Ere his death one word was spoken

That 'Remember' was the token

Of his coming victory.

So his blood brought life and healing,

And the Church's triumph sealing,

Never shall forgotten be.

By C.B. Moss

Collect

O Lord we offer unto thee all praise and thanks for the glory of Thy grace that shined forth in Thine anointed servant Charles; and we beseech Thee to give us all grace that by a careful studious imitation of this Thy blessed Saint and Martyr, that we may be made worthy to receive benefit by his prayers, which he, in communion with the Church Catholic, offers up unto Thee for that part of it here Militant, through thy Son, our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 

May Christ hear the prayers of St. Charles Martyr before His throne!

(From "Private Forms of Prayer" 1660, by Bp. Brian Duppa, Lord Bishop of Salisbury and Winchester)

Blessed Charles Martyr, The Last Monarch to Rule England solely upon a Christian Theology of Kingly Anointing