ST. EDWARD CONFESSOR (OCT. 13TH)

  

 St. Edward Confessor of England

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West)

Today, the 13th of October, we remember the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, strong bastion of the Orthodox Church, and builder of Westminster Abbey, King Edward Confessor.

St. Edward the Confessor (AD 1003-1066) was the last Anglo-Saxon King to uphold Orthodoxy in England, before Britain fell to Norman papists who replaced the bishops in communion with the Byzantine East with bishops exclusively loyal to Rome, and the Great Schism began to spread throughout the British Isles. He was the only king of England to be officially canonized by the Roman Church in an effort to bring the Anglo-Saxon element of the England into conformity with the Pope’s new political direction. While he was the only Saint-King that Rome ever officially recognized, he is only one in a long list of holy rulers that we recognize in our Patrimony - Sts. Alfred the Great, Edmund, Edith of Wilton, Easburh of Winchester, Edward the Elder, Edgar the Peaceful, the child-king Edward the Martyr, and Charles Martyr. 

St. Edward the Confessor lived a long and tumultuous life, reigned for 24 years after after he won succession after the passing of his older half-brother, Harthacnut, in AD 1043. He was known as a otherworldly, pious, and monastically inclined king. While married, he never produced an heir, and it was rumored that he had never consummated his marriage because of a secret vow he had taken to maintain ascetic practices while still king. He was a highly effective ruler, appointing many bishops, built and restored many monasteries and abbeys, and established schools. At his death, on January 5th, AD 1066, he was quickly recognized as a “Confessor”, a saint who, while not martyred, lived his life for the Lord’s service and glory. His reign is considered the high point of Anglo-Saxon civilization. 

The Seal of St. Edward Confessor 

The shrine of Saint Edward the Confessor in Westminster Abbey remains where it was after the final translation of his body to a chapel east of the sanctuary on the 13th of October, AD 1269, by Henry III. The day of his translation became his feast day, and is remembered in the Roman, Anglican and Western Rite Orthodox Churches. Each October the abbey holds a week of festivities and prayer in his honor. Edward is also regarded as a patron of difficult marriages. Along with his tomb, the Abbey maintained a set of coronation regalia that Edward had left for use in all future coronations. Following Edward's canonization, these were regarded as holy relics, and thereafter they were used at all English coronations from the 13th century until the destruction of the regalia by the Puritan tyrant Oliver Cromwell in AD 1649.

COLLECT

ALMIGHTY GOD, who didst bestow upon Thy blessed Confessor King Edward the crown of everlasting glory: grant us, we pray Thee; so to follow his good example on earth, so that we may be found worthy to reign with Thee in the Kingdom to come. Through Jesus Christ Our Lord, Who livest and reignest with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God. World without end. Amen.

The Wilton Triptych, Featuring St. Edward in the Center

(Portions of text edited from Wikipedia, Collect edited from the Book of Common Worship)