REMEMBERING THE SAINTS OF OUR BRITISH PATRIMONY (JULY 14TH)

All Saints of Great Britain 

By Bp. Joseph (Ancient Church of the West) 

Remember all the Saints and Martyrs of our Orthodox Faith and our Anglo-Saxon and Celtic Patrimony, who shone forth in Great Britain the Love of our Lord and God, preaching the Gospel to the Pagan and converting us to the worship of the Holy Trinity! “How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!” (Isaiah 52:7, KJV)

SCRIPTURE

“I, Esdras, saw upon the mount Sion a great people, whom I could not number, and they all praised the Lord with songs. And in the midst of them there was a young man of a high stature, taller than all the rest, and upon every one of their heads he set crowns, and was more exalted; which I marvelled at greatly. So I asked the angel, and said, Sir, what are these? He answered and said unto me, These be they that have put off the mortal clothing, and put on the immortal, and have confessed the name of God: now are they crowned, and receive palms. Then said I unto the angel, What young person is it that crowneth them, and giveth them palms in their hands? So he answered and said unto me, It is the Son of God, whom they have confessed in the world. Then began I greatly to commend them that stood so stiffly for the name of the Lord. Then the angel said unto me, Go thy way, and tell my people what manner of things, and how great wonders of the Lord thy God, thou hast seen.” (II Esdras 2:42-48, KJV)

COLLECT

O Almighty God, who didst raise up in the British Isles and throughout the Celtic and Anglo-Saxon lands a glorious company of Saints and Confessors: Grant us, we beseech Thee, so to follow their blessed examples, that we may be steadfast in faith, joyful in hope, and constant in charity; and finally, with them, may we obtain to be partakers of Thy heavenly kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end. Amen.