Category Archives: Pilgrimage

Pilgrimage

Parish Pilgrimage to Mathern and Tintern

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Dear brothers and sisters,

I have just entered the house and boiled the kettle for a cup of tea at the end of a very long but very blessed day of pilgrimage, with our senior sister and seven of the brothers of the parish, having greatly enjoyed our spiritual-journey to Mathern and Tintern.

After chanting the Paschal Hours at Nazareth House, our eastward journey took us to Mathern, the place where St Tewdrig died from his battle wounds after leading the Welsh army against the invading Saxons.

His hope was to be buried on Ynys Echni (Flat Holm), but divine intervention took him only as far as Mathern, where a miraculous spring gushed forth – though today the waters in it are choked with autumn leaves and decaying vegetation.

However, the brothers of the parish have suggested that cleaning the well is something they would very much like to do.

Three of the brothers from Bath and Chippenham met us, having already explored the churchyard.

Our first stop, however, was neither the well nor the church – a graceful and imposing building despite its stark protestant interior – but the lovely little green area around the statue of St Tewdrig, where the instant-appearance of a table from Menna’s Land-rover (in which I greatly enjoyed travelling!) and the assembly of parishioners’ offerings conjured up a much appreciated picnic lunch.

After visiting the church, enclosing the site where St Tewdrig’s coffin and relics were found, and subsequently reburied in the 17th century, we made our way to the Holy Well, where we chanted the Paschal moleben, with the Paschal Canon and hymns to the saint.

We then made our way through the beautiful Wye Valley to Tintern, with its ruins of the great abbey.

It was here, Din-Teyryn, long before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of the Cistercians, that St Tewdrig retired from kingly-rule to live as a hermit, until an angelic messenger commanded him to emerge from his seclusion and lead the warriors of the local kingdom against the invading Saxons, and despite their victory, a blow to the head by a spear thrown by one of the fleeing Saxons mortally wounded the king.

To quote his hagiography,

“…Tewdrig, fully harnessed, mounted his horse and stood at the head of the troops to defend the ford over the Wye. The Saxons were put to flight, but one of them hurled a lance across the water and wounded the old king.

When it was perceived that the wound was mortal, his men were for removing him, but he forbade them to do so, and said that he would die there, and that he had desired his body to rest in the Isle of Echni, the Flat Holm, in the Severn Sea.

On the morrow, however, appeared two stags harnessed to a wagon, and Tewdrig, recognising that they were sent by the will of God, allowed himself to be lifted into the conveyance. The wagon carried him to the bank of the Severn and there stayed, and on the spot a sparkling spring began to flow. Then suddenly the wagon dissolved, and Tewdrig gave up the ghost.

Meurig erected an oratory on the spot, which was blessed by S. Oudoceus. The spot was Mathern, below Chepstow; there the old king was laid, and not conveyed, as he had desired, to Echni.”

The beautiful village that has grown in the more than a thousand years since the death and burial of St Tewdrig, with its centuries old cottages and gardens full of spring flowers and trees in bud and blossom, was a wonderful place in which to honour our martyred hermit-king and saint, and whilst the drama of Tintern was so impressive, and the social time spent there after exploring was a blessing, the spiritual heart and climax of our day was in the little village by the Severn, sacred to St Tewdrig.

I would partcularly like to thank our drivers, Peter, Porphyrios and Menna – and also Aldhelm for playing the accordion and bringing such cheer during our picnic lunch.

Dioch yn fawr!

Troparion to St Tewdrig, King and Hermit, Tone VI:
O Holy and Right-Believing King and Champion of the Faith, having resigned thine office thou didst retire to Tintern and the silence of the eremitical life; * but, upon the invasion of the pagans, * was prompted by an angel of God * to return and lead the victorious Christian host; * and grievously wounded, didst consecrate the Welsh soil with thy blood; * and borne to Mathern didst leave the mortal world * and wast born again in heaven. * Wherefore, O Holy Tewdrig, * intercede to Christ the High King of Heaven, * to bless our land, * and have mercy on our souls!

Venerable Hermit-King and Martyr, Tewdrig, pray to God for us!

From Glastonbury…

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Dear brothers and sisters,

It has been very good to be able to rest, pray and read in Glastonbury, spending much of yesterday in the abbey and the gardens at Chalice Well with its iron-rich spring waters flowing through the beautiful gardens at the foot of Chalice Hill.

Glastonbury Abbey, a short distance away, claimed the presence, long-stays, pilgimage-visits and relics of many saints, but whether the great monastic house was ever visited by all the saints that the annals claimed, we shall never know, just as we shall never know the voracity of the many relics the monks claimed to possess – some in direct opposition to other claimant-establishments.

Around the margins of the Glastonbury Icon of the Mother of God, we see many Celtic saints that link Ireland, Wales, Brittany and Somerset – y Gwlad yr Haf – together with the Archangel Michael, St Aristobulus and St Joseph of Arimathea.

The monastic preeminence of Glastonbury Abbey, and its centrality in the growth of Christianity in this part of the British Isles is undeniable, and given the great importance of Glastonbury, it should not surprise us that such eminent saints as David, Patrick and Brigid should be linked with what came to be called Glastonbury with the coming of the English, but was still Ynys Witrin in the age of our great Celtic saints.   

As sanctuaries of holiness, culture and learning, the great religious houses of their time were not islands and isolated, but closely interlinked and connected by the much-sailed sea-roads on which monastics – saints among them – visited one another’s communities. Glastonbury was of course an island at that time, making it particularly accessible for those coming from South Wales, with its great religious centres at Llancarfan, Llanilltud-Fawr.

Even though there is now so little to see of the greatest English Abbey that claimed precedence over every other monastic establishment in Britain, and whose abbot sat in the House of Lords, people are still drawn to the ruins, though many through a concocted belief system of their own making.

Yet, whatever people may believe, their coming and going (and I’ve encountered people that repeatedly and regularly come from the far corners of the world) means that the site is loved and cared for, even though it sometimes feels like the Anglican custodians of the ruined abbey have consciously tried to quash any manifestation of spirituality and piety since the millennium: quite ironic considering what the millennium marked.

But, praise God, the site is preserved, even if one can only wonder at the glory of the once great abbey that stood here, and equally wonder at the wanton violence and demonic acts of those who desecrated the great sanctuary on England’s holiest earth. Whilst, in Walsingham England has its Nazareth, in Glastonbury the whole of Britain had its Jerusalem.

Gone are the dazzling colours of gold, paint, jewels and enamel which once adorned the shrines and their treasured relics, but now the colours of nature shine here, especially in autumn.

The abbey has a great many species of trees, soon to be resplendent in their autumn colours, and the flower and herb beds still manage a few flowers after the passing of summer.

I always say to those put off Glastonbury by the New-Age, occult, and and do-it-yourself-pseudo-religious commercially lucrative rubbish, to not be robbed of our holiest site by these works of darkness.

I recall seeing a documentary on the growth of occultism in Glastonbury when I was a teenager, with the camera looking down on the town form the tower of St John’s Church, and its vicar saying what no Anglican incumbent in the town would dare to say now – that the cosmic battle between good and evil is going on right here in this little Somerset town.

This is why must come!

We must come to worship, pray and venerate the holy sites, as I have been doing since I was a teenager – back then, sometimes with the most wonderfully devout friends on the West of England Pilgrimage – a very English, but also very Anglo-Catholic and in-your-face (with all of the senses) demonstration of Christianity.

Much has changed since then. The obvious Christian presence is much diminished, despite the imposing Catholic Parish Church, served by Benedictine monks.

Christianity seems very much in the shadows… which is why we MUST come, honouring the Mother of God in the place of her first British shrine, with David, Patrick, Brigid, Collen, Rumon, Fili, Kea, Indract, Dominica, Beon, Gildas the Wise, Dunstan, and all of the saints who shone forth in Glastonbury.

May they pray for us and for this confused and suffering holy-place.

St Alban’s Day Thanks

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Our profound thanks go the Very Revd Father Sebastian Jones Cong.Orat., and the brethren of the Cardiff Oratory, for their characteristic warmth and hospitality in welcoming a small group of parishioners to the Oratory Church of St Alban on the Moors, this afternoon.

We were privileged to pray at the shrine of St Alban, offering a moleben before his sacred relics and icon, venerating the Protmartyr’s relics, then chatting over refreshments in the parish hall.

It was just over a year ago, in June 2021, that the portion of St Alban’s relics in the Oratory Church were presented and enshrined by the Abbot of St Michael’s Benedictine Abbey in Farnborough, which is blessed with one of the Protomartyrs thigh-bones, saved during the reformation, and evacuated to the continent to escape desecration and destruction. 

Since the Oratorian Fathers were granted the parish of St Alban on the Moors, and especially since they were replaced as University chaplains (with the resultant Orthodox exodus from Newman Hall), we have been continually blessed to have the use of the Oratory Church for confessions and shrine-prayers.

Troparion, Tone 3: With faith, piety and devotion let us hasten to the sacred shrine of the wondrous martyr Alban, the first in Britain to shed his blood for Christ the Lord, for Whom he willingly laid down his life; and let us pray that through his supplications our souls may find mercy and salvation.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Kontakion, Tone 2: Imbued with courage and bravery from on high, the glorious martyr Alban stood undaunted before the tyrant and boldly confessed Christ as the only God of all; and he utterly refused to offer sacrifice to false deities. Wherefore, having laid down his life for the Lord, he maketh earnest entreaty in behalf of our souls.

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us!

The Coming Feast of St Alban

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Dear brothers and sisters,

This coming Tuesday is the feast of the Holy Protomartyr, Alban, and to celebrate his memory, we will serve a moleben before the saint’s relics and newly-painted icon in the Oratory Church at 16:00.

Their presence is a great blessing, and some of us make pilgrimages to pray before them week by week. However, it has been some months since a parish group did so, and we look forward to praying and venerating them in the week ahead.

The Cardiff Oratory, The Church of St Alban on the Moors, Swinton St, Splott, Cardiff  CF24 2NT.

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us!

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

A Paschal Pilgrimage to Walsingham

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Christ is Risen! Христос воскресе! Hristos a înviat! Χριστός ἀνέστη!

I have been very fortunate to make a pilgrimage to Walsingham for a few days, celebrating the altar-feast of the Orthodox chapel of the Life-Giving Spring.

The Mother of God appeared to Richeldis (Rychold), Lady of the Manor of Walsingham in the 11th century, commanding her to build a replica of the original Holy House of Nazareth, later dismantled and rebuilt in Loreto, in Italy, after the Islamic conquest of the Holy Land.

The great shrine and priory, which developed around the chapel of the Holy House was endowed through royal patronage and was renowned throughout Europe, but despite its sanctity and fame it fell victim to the ravages of the reformation and the destruction of the holy places by King Henry VIII and his henchmen.

The 19th century saw the restoration of Roman Catholic pilgrimage to Walsingham, based in the Slipper Chapel, and the 20th century saw the restoration of Anglican religious life around a newly built Holy House and shrine complex.

The founder of the restored Anglican shrine, Father Alfred Hope Paten, was encouraged to engage with the Russian Orthodox Church in Exile by Father Henry Joy Fynes-Clinton, vicar of St Magnus the Martyr, London Bridge, who had travelled in Russia before the revolution, visiting holy places and holding theological discussions with some of the leading churchmen of the time. Despite his advanced Papalist Anglo-Catholicism, he was a great admirer of Orthodoxy and a friend and supporter of the exiled faithful, including the first hierarch of the Church in Exile, Metropolitan Antoniy of Kiev and Galych.

The Orthodox presence in the shrine has been developed over the years by a series of remarkable Orthodox figures, including Archimandrite Nicholas Gibbes (former tutor to the Tsarevich Alexei), Archbishop Nestor of Kamchatka, Archbishop Sava of Grodno, St Nikolai Velimirovich, Archbishop Nikodem, and the pioneer of iconography of British saints, Archimandrite David.

Our diocese and its clergy have been involved in spiritual life here since the earliest years of the Anglican shrine, when emigré Russians made pilgrimages to this corner of Norfolk to honour the Mother of God.

The intended free-standing Russian Orthodox chapel was never built, but the little chapel in use since 1941 and consecrated by Archbishop Sava on the Sunday of Pentecost in 1944, remains a place of Orthodox prayer and worship, occupying a landing on above the south aisle of the Anglican shrine church.

Now that Father Philip Steer is unable to serve in the chapel of the Life-Giving Spring, the Orthodox presence is maintained by Mother Melangell, who has a house-skete in the village. There is a Russian-tradition parish of the Patriarchate of Constantinople a short distance away, based in the Church of the Transfiguration in Great Walsingham, and the former monastic-brotherhood church of St Seraphim survives, though sadly bereft of services for most of the year.

We are greatly blessed that Orthodox prayer is offered in Walsingham EVERY day, even if the Liturgy is not celebrated in the shrine very often.

It is a joy to celebrate and pray in the shrine, especially in the evenings, when the church is quiet. The Holy House, dedicated to the Annunciation and built to replace that destroyed by the reformers of the 16th century is a special place to pray the akathist hymn to the Mother of God.

There were many intentions for which to pray during the short pilgrimage, and the culmination of this prayer was our Liturgy for the feast of the Mother of God, the Life-Giving Spring, a short distance from her holy well within the shrine-church.

It was a privilege to be with our local friends, including parishioners from Walsingham, Cambridge and Norwich, to meet local supporters of the Martha and Mary Convent in Moscow, and to share a Paschal lunch in the orangery after the Liturgy – welcoming two Ukrainian pilgrims who visited that day, not knowing that there would be an Orthodox presence.

We very much look forward to returning in the summer and autumn, knowing that the Mother of God continues to pour out her grace on this shrine and the many pilgrims who honour her in England’s Nazareth.

Honouring St Teilo and Praying For Ukraine

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Being the feast of St Teilo, today saw a visit to Llandaff Cathedral, where we quietly prayed a short moleben to St Teilo before the reliquary in the Lady Chapel, commending our community, the Ukrainian land and the sick to God in our prayers.

At the time we were travelling, members of our parish joined the faithful in Ukraine and Russia in prayers for peace. and we especially ask St Teilo to intercede for Ukraine, for those who live in fear, and for those already affected by war and civil strife.

 

 

Troparion, Tone 4: As a fountain of the true Faith, thou didst issue forth the life-giving waters of salvation, O Hierarch Teilo. Wherefore, we implore thee, intercede with Christ our God that our souls may be saved.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Kontakion, Tone 1: O teacher of pure doctrine, joy of monastics and St David’s fellow pilgrim to Jerusalem, where thou wast elevated to the episcopate, most pious Father Teilo, we keep festival in thy honour, praying for grace to follow in thy footsteps.

Pray to God for us, O Holy Hierarch Teilo, for we fervently flee unto thee, the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls.

Pilgrim-Prayers at the Shrine of St Alban

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It was wonderful for a small group of parishioners to be given the opportunity to gather at the shrine of St Alban in the Oratory Church in Splott, yesterday afternoon, offering a moleben to the Holy Protomartyr with the biographical canon telling the story of his passion.

This was the first liturgical visit to the shrine, and though a number of parishioners have been quietly visiting the relics to seek the intercession and help of St Alban, the public celebration in English and Church Slavonic brought Orthodox chant to the church, as we prayed for our communities, for the Church and for the world.

It was a great blessing for the faithful to be able to venerate a relic of St Alban after the dismissal of the moleben, having prayed before the relic enshrined in the feretory.

We extend our thanks to the Fathers and brethren of the Oratory, who have been supporters and benefactors of our Russian Orthodox parish over the last four years, and look forward to regular Orthodox prayers at the shrine.

Holy Protomartyr Alban, pray to God for us!

Troparion, Tone 3: With faith, piety and devotion let us hasten to the sacred shrine of the wondrous martyr Alban, the first in Britain to shed his blood for Christ the Lord, for Whom he willingly laid down his life; and let us pray that through his supplications our souls may find mercy and salvation.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Kontakion, Tone 2: Spec: Imbued with courage and bravery from on high, the glorious martyr Alban stood undaunted before the tyrant and boldly confessed Christ as the only God of all; and he utterly refused to offer sacrifice to false deities. Wherefore, having laid down his life for the Lord, he maketh earnest entreaty in behalf of our souls.

Friday Events: Moleben to St Alban Before His Relics

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Through the good offices of the fathers and brethren of the Cardiff Oratory, I will celebrate a moleben before the relics of the Holy Protomartyr, Alban, in the Church of St Alban-on-the-Moors, on Friday, and should very much welcome parishioners to join me.

This is the first liturgical-visit to the shrine, but the brethren of the Oratory have indicated that we would be most welcome for regular prayers and devotions before the relics.

After the moleben, we will be able to venerate the relics of the Holy Protomartyr, who became an unofficial patron of our diocese through our joyful pilgrimages to St Alban’s Abbey in Hertfordshire.

The Fathers have asked that we offer the moleben at 14:30, to ensure that we are undisturbed, though I will hear confessions in the church before the service (and after, if needed), with several parishioners having indicated that afternoon confessions will be easier for them than going to St Mary Butetown in the evening.

I repeat – this will be the first of regular visits to the shrine, to which some of us already go quietly, for personal prayer, mindful that it is such a great blessing to have the relics in the city.

Confessions in St Mary Butetown will commence at 18:00, and will be followed by our catechesis cum refresher session in the parish room in North Church Street.

Our thanks go to Fathers Sebastian and Dean, for their warmth and generosity, and to Brother David-Lewis Barker for his support and enthusiasm in building parish links with our local shrine of St Alban.

Holy Protomartyr, Alban, pray to God for us!

In Christ – Hieromonk Mark

Addresses:

Church of St Alban-on-the-Moors, Swinton St, Splott, Cardiff CF24 2NX.

Church of St Mary the Virgin, North Church St, Butetown, Cardiff CF10 5HB.

 

Celebrating St Cadoc at Llancarfan

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Last Saturday saw the first parish pilgrimage of the year, as a small group of parishioners headed out of the city into the Vale of Glamorgan and Llancarfan, with its medieval church and wall-paintings.

With Sunday being the commemoration of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia, we anticipated the feast of St Cadoc, celebrating on the site of his monastery, at ‘the church of the stags’.

We were welcomed with great warmth, and very much enjoyed the historical talk from Sam Smith, who was both entertaining and informative as he guided us through the medieval wall-paintings, dominated by the incredible mural of the Holy Great-Martyr, George.

The wealth of surviving medieval details in the church – woodwork, masonry, wall painting – in addition to the architecture of the church in its valley, beside the stream, bore witness to centuries of continual prayer and devotion on this ancient site, founded in the Age of the Saints.

After the wonderful talk, we gathered behind the fine medieval screen of the Lady Chapel, where we chanted a simple moleben, with a canon to St Cadoc, even having charcoal and incense being brought from the sacristy for our use. It was lovely to have a few Llancarfan parishioners with us, and we hope that in the future, we may be able to celebrate the Liturgy on the site of St Cadoc’s ascetic labours.

Though a prince and son of the local King Gwynllyw and Queen Gwladys of Glywysing (both saints), St Cadoc (c. 497 – c. 580) dedicated his life to asceticism and the monastic life and the monastery that he founded at Llancarfan became a great seat of Christian learning, a nursery of asceticism and school of holiness.

With the monastics living in its daughter-houses and cells, Llancarfan became an important monastic centre, with St Cadoc considered a founding-father of the monastic life in Wales.

St Cadoc’s travels linked Wales with Ireland and Brittany, in addition to distant Rome and Jerusalem, and the contrasting poverty of his hermit-retreat on the island of Flatholme in the Severn Channel.

Llancarfan was a place of fellowship between St Cadoc and other great saints of our land, including St Illtud and St Gildas the Wise.

According to tradition, when he was too old to serve as abbot, St. Cadoc retired and withdrew from Llancarfan, and whilst visiting Beneventum (Weedon in Northamptonshire), he was killed by a pagan as he celebrated Liturgy.

It was a great blessing to mark the feast with prayers in the llan of St Cadoc, and to honour him on the site of his own ascetic struggles.

We hope and pray that this visit will be the first of many, and encourage parishioners and friends to make the journey through the narrow lanes of the Vale to seek the blessing of St Cadoc and enjoy the treasures of Llancarfan church.

Our thanks go to the parishioners who greatly honoured St Cadoc, their patron, by the warmth and generosity of their welcome.

Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us!

Tomorrow: Pilgrimage in Honour of St Cadoc

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Dear brothers and sisters,

Just to remind you that the parish pilgrimage to Llancarfan tomorrow will be at noon at St Cadoc’s Church, where we will serve a moleben in honour of St Cadoc’s Feast, which we will keep tomorrow, given that the feast of the New Martyrs and Confessors of Russia displaces Sunday’s commemorations.

The moleben text is below, and we will be celebrating this quite simply, given that it is our first visit – and hopefully, the first of many.

God bless – Fr Mark

MOLEBEN TO OUR VENERABLE FATHER CADOC

ABBOT OF LLANCARFAN

Priest: Blessed is our God always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Chanters: Amen. O Heavenly King, O Comforter, Spirit of Truth, Who art everywhere present and fillest all things, Treasury of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us of all impurity, and save our souls, O Good One.

Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice) 

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name’s sake. 

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice) 

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen. 

Our Father, Who art in the heavens, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One. 

Priest: For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. 

Reader: Amen. Lord, have mercy. (Twelve times)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen

O come let us worship God our King. 

O come let us worship and. fall down before Christ our King and God. 

O come let us worship and fall down before Christ Himself, our King and God. 

Psalm 142: O Lord, hear my prayer, give ear unto my supplication in Thy truth; hearken unto me in Thy righteousness. And enter not into judgment with Thy servant for in Thy sight shall no man living be justified. For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath humbled my life down to the earth. He hath sat me in darkness as those that have been long dead, and my spirit within me is become despondent; within me my heart is troubled. I remembered days of old, I meditated on all Thy works, I pondered on the creations of Thy hands. I stretched forth my hands unto Thee; my soul thirsteth after Thee like a waterless land. Quickly hear me, O Lord; my spirit hath fainted away. Turn not Thy face away from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear Thy mercy in the morning; for in Thee have I put my hope. Cause me to know, O Lord, the way wherein I should walk; for unto Thee have I lifted up my soul. Rescue me from mine enemies, O Lord; unto Thee have I fled for refuge. Teach me to do Thy will, for Thou art my God. Thy good Spirit shall lead me in the land of uprightness; for Thy name’s sake, O Lord, shalt Thou quicken me. In Thy righteousness shalt Thou bring my soul out of affliction, and in Thy mercy shalt Thou utterly destroy mine enemies. And Thou shalt cut off all them that afflict my soul, for I am Thy servant. 

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Chanters: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  / Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia. Glory to Thee, O God. (Thrice)

And God is the Lord: tone 4: God is the Lord, and hath appeared unto us. Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Stichos 1: O give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endureth for ever.

Chanters: God is the Lord…

Stichos 2: Surrounding me they compassed me, and by the name of the Lord I warded them off.

Chanters: God is the Lord…

Stichos 3: 1 shall not die, but live, and I shall tell of the works of the Lord.

Chanters: God is the Lord…

Stichos 4: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the comer. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes.

Chanters: God is the Lord…

Troparion of St. Cadoc, Tone 5: Having been raised to piety, O Hierarch Cadoc,/ thou didst dedicate thy life to God,/ serving Him in the monastic state./ As with joyful heart thou didst fulfil thy daily obedience,/ caring for the earthly needs of countless paupers,/ look now upon our spiritual poverty/ and beseech Christ our God,/ that He will grant us great mercy. (Twice)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Tone 5:  Rejoice, impassible gate of the Lord!  / Rejoice, rampart and protection of those who have recourse unto thee!  / Rejoice, haven untouched by storms, / thou that knowest not wedlock, / who gavest birth in the flesh to thy Creator and God!  / fail not in thy supplications // for those who hymn and venerate thy birthgiving!

Reader – Psalm 50: Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I know mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done this evil before Thee, that Thou mightest be justified in Thy words, and prevail when Thou art judged. For behold, I was conceived in iniquities, and in sins did my mother bear me. For behold, Thou hast loved truth; the hidden and secret things of Thy wisdom hast Thou made manifest unto me. Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be made clean; Thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones that be humbled, they shall rejoice. Turn Thy face away from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and with Thy governing Spirit establish me. I shall teach transgressors Thy ways, and the ungodly shall turn back unto Thee. Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; my tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness. O Lord, Thou shalt open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Thy praise. For if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I had given it; with whole-burnt offerings Thou shalt not be pleased. A sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit; a heart that is broken and humbled God will not despise. Do good, O Lord, in Thy good pleasure unto Sion, and let the walls of Jerusalem be builded. Then shalt Thou be pleased with a sacrifice of righteousness, with oblation and whole-burnt offerings. Then shall they offer bullocks upon Thine altar.

Ode 1, Irmos: Having passed through the water as upon dry land, * and having escaped the malice of the Egyptians, * the Israelites cried aloud: * Unto our God and Redeemer let us sing.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

From thy youth thou wast adorned with goodly moral qualities, cleaving unto Christ, and mortifying the passions of the flesh with abstinence and fasting, thou hast passed over unto life, O venerable one.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

O most wise Father, being a doer of the divine sayings and laws, thou hast been blessed with divine gifts and miracles, wherefore all are richly illumined with thy splendour.

Refrain: Venerable Father Cadoc, pray to God for us

Strengthened by Christ, thou, O Father, subdued the might and power of the enemy, wherefore in honour of thy victory thou hast been rewarded with the gift of miracles, O venerable one.

Refrain: Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Possessing a clear conscience, and directing the eye of thy heart towards God O most wise one, God, in answer to thy prayers, hath numbered thee among the just.

Refrain: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

I implore thee, O most pure Virgin, subdue the passions of my flesh and quieten the beguiling thoughts of my mind, and do thou thyself set me upon the right path.

Ode 3, Irmos: O Lord, thou art the confirmation of those who flee to Thee, * Thou art the Light of those in darkness, * and my spirit doth hymn Thee.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

Altogether devoted to the Almighty, thou, O most wise venerable Father, didst escape all the wiles of the demons, and adorned with the loftiest humility, by thy most excellent works, thou didst overcome the proud boaster.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

While still in the flesh thou, O most wise Father, shamed the stiff-neckedness of the wicked one by thy humble instructions.

Refrain: Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having the grace of God as thine effectual helper, thou, O most wise and wondrous father, wast granted the gift of miracles, driving away diseases.

Refrain: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

In becoming incarnate, the Creator found an abode within thy womb, O all-immaculate one, unto the profit of those who with faith hymn thee.

Katavasia: Pray to God for us, O holy father, Cadoc, for we fervently flee unto thee, the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls.

Then the priest says the ectenia: Have mercy upon us, O God…

Sessional Hymn, Tone 4: Spec. Mel.: “Go thou quickly before …”: Vanquishing the fleshly subtlety of the passions through fasting, * thou didst make the weaker subject unto the better, * O most glorious Father Cadoc, * and thereby destroyed the scheming of the enemy. * In the brilliant radiance of thy virtues thou didst shine forth in the world * as a beacon of divine light; ** Wherefore we ever hymn thee.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Theotokion, Tone 4: O Virgin Theotokos, * thou art an invincible wall for all Orthodox Christians. * For having recourse unto thee we remain unharmed * and in thee we have a sure intercessor for the forgiveness of our sins; * wherefore rendering thanks unto thee, we cry aloud! ** Rejoice, O thou who art full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

Stavrotheotokion: O most immaculate Virgin, * Mother of Christ God, * a sword pierced thy most holy soul * when thou didst behold thy Son and God * crucified of His own will. * Him do thou never cease to entreat, O blessed one, ** that He grant us the forgiveness of our transgressions.

Ode 4, Irmos: O Lord, I have heard the mystery of Thy dispensation; * I have considered Thy works, * and I have glorified Thy Divinity.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

Making thy soul a temple of the Holy Spirit, thou didst become an heir of the Heavenly Kingdom, together with the hosts on high.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

Thou dost ever relieve the suffering of those who, afflicted with manifold infirmities, have recourse unto thee; for thou, O venerable one, hast obtained from the Lord the grace to work wonders and miracles.

Refrain: Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Thou, O Father, sprouted forth like a preeminent blossom in the temple of God, adorned with virtues and filled with the sweet fragrance of grace-filled fruit.

Refrain: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Thou, O Ever-Virgin art a truly spiritual field, for from thy furrow thou didst bring forth the fruit that doth feed the whole of creation, the God of all.

Ode 5, Irmos: Rising early we cry to Thee, O Lord; * save us, for Thou art our God, *  and we know none other besides Thee.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

With thy mind purified, O most glorious one, thou didst behold the ineffable goodness of Christ, the God of all.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

Like unto Elijah, thou, O Father, aided by the Holy Spirit, ascended into heaven on the chariot of thy virtues.

Refrain: Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having withered thy body with abstinence and attained bodily purity, thou, O Father, didst ascend unto the fullness of the loftiest abodes on high.

Refrain: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Heal the blindness of my polluted mind, O all-immaculate Lady for thou hast given birth unto Christ the great Physician.

Ode 6, Irmos: I will pour out my prayer unto the Lord, * and to Him will I proclaim my grief; * for my soul is filled with evils, * and my life unto Hades hath drawn nigh, * and like Jonah I pray unto Thee: * Raise me up from corruption, O God.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

By thy sacred prayers, O thou who art blessed by God, the cunning serpent hath been slain and the malice of those who demanded of thee a sign hath been destroyed, for thou, as one favoured by God, art effulgent with the light of the Godhead in thine unshakable faith.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

Assiduously ploughing the fields of thy soul, and most wisely sowing the diversely fruitful seeds of virtues, thou, O sacred Father, hast harvested the rich bounty of abundant healings.

Refrain: Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Helped, O holy Father, by the strength of the Spirit, thou hast subdued the might and power of the enemy, and in honour of thy victory thou hast been rewarded, O holy one, with the effulgent gift of miracles.

Refrain: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

The Lord is with thee, O most pure one! As it was well pleasing to Him, to be with thee O Maiden, so by thine intercessions, He hath delivered us all from the reign of the deceitful one; wherefore as is meet, from generation to generation we call thee blessed.

Katavasia: Pray to God for us, O holy father, Cadoc, for we fervently flee unto thee, the speedy helper and intercessor for our souls.

Then the priest says the ectenia: Have mercy upon us, O God…

Kontakion of St. Cadoc, Tone 5: We honour thee with hymns, O righteous Hierarch Cadoc,/ for the pilgrimage of thy life was found pleasing to God,/ Who in His goodness adorned thee with authority,/ and as thou didst receive the crown of martyrdom,/ whilst serving the Holy Mysteries,/ pray for us that we also may be blessed to die in Christ.

Ikos: Having conceived within thyself a loving attachment to the divine commandments of Christ, and a hatred for the delights of this world, with diligence thou didst achieve thy God-pleasing goals, like a divine lamp enlightening the ends of the world with spiritual radiance. Wherefore falling down before thee I implore thee: Enlighten my spiritual eyes that I may worthily hymn thine endeavours of fasting, thy watchfulness, the shedding of thy tears, thy labours and the emaciation of thy body, all for the sake of a blessed future life, which thou dost now enjoy; do thou ever pray for us who celebrate thy holy memory!

Ode 7, Irmos: The Children of Judaea, * who of old came to dwell in Babylon, * trampled underfoot the flame of the furnace * through their faith in the Trinity, * as they sang: “O God of our fathers, blessed art Thou.”

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

Having with great resolve completed thine exploits of fasting, thou, O Father, hast humbled the proudest of minds by thy divine humility, singing: “O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou”.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

Thou, O Father, sprouted forth like a preeminent blossom in the temple of God, adorned and filled with the sweet fragrance of the grace-filled fruits of virtue.

Refrain: Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Having enlightened thy heart, O Father, thou wast made the guide of thy sacred assembly, giving them spiritual direction, teaching them and rousing them all to fulfil the will of God, singing: “O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou”.

Refrain: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Giving birth to a new Child, the beginningless Word, thou, O Virgin, hast renewed us who have grown old through sin, and granted us strength to sing: “O God of our fathers, Blessed art Thou”.

Ode 7, Irmos: Treading down the fiery flame in the furnace, * the divinely eloquent children sang: * “Bless the Lord, ye works of the Lord”.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

As an heir of the divine habitations, thou, O Father, didst live like an angel; wherefore with the Angels thy spirit rejoiceth.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

O most wise and right wondrous Father, without wavering thou didst proceed along the divine paths leading to heaven, and thou didst, even unto the end, avoid those that lead to perdition.

Refrain: Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

Through the grace which found an abode in thy soul, O Father, the unclean spirits that cunningly find their abode in mortals, are driven away.

Refrain: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Thou, O Virgin, art an inexhaustible source of spiritual water, drinking of which we all are filled with grace, and cleansed in both soul and body.

Ode 9, Irmos: All are awestruck at hearing of God’s ineffable condescension, * for the Most High voluntarily descended and assumed flesh, * becoming man in the Virgin’s womb; * wherefore we the faithful magnify the most pure Theotokos.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

By the action of the Holy Spirit thine honoured relics shed forth healings, curing the long standing diseases of those who have recourse unto thee, O Father; driving away cunning ferocious spirits, and raising the faithful to praise thy splendid deeds.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

Like a great sun that shineth forth with the majesty of thine ascetic deeds, O godly-wise one, thou hast enlightened the ends of the earth, and in thy death hast been exalted from light unto a most effulgent light; wherefore we cry unto thee: Enlighten our thoughts, O holy Father Cadoc.

Refrain: Venerable Father, Cadoc, pray to God for us

By touching thine enduring body resplendent with ascetic endeavours, O blessed  one, incurable diseases are healed, for our God and Saviour hath greatly glorified thee O most wise and wonder-worthy Father Cadoc; wherefore, for thy good works, thou art showered with fame, O holy one.

Refrain: Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.

In the hollows of fasting hast thou, O most praised Father, blossomed like a sweet-smelling rose, and like a lily hast thou filled the consciences of the faithful with the fragrances of thy virtues and miracles; wherefore, O holy one, drive away from us putrid passions.

Refrain: Both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Enlighten, O pure Virgin, my heart ever grieving from my transgressions and the multitude of worldly distractions, and never leave me to mine enemies, that I may glorify and with love hymn thee, O all-hymned one.

And then: It is truly meet to bless thee, O Theotokos, ever-blessed and most immaculate, and the Mother of our God. More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without defilement gavest birth to God the Word, the true Theotokos, thee do we magnify.

Reader: Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Thrice)

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

O Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. O Lord, blot out our sins. O Master, pardon our iniquities. O Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities for Thy name’s sake.

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice).

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

Our Father, Who art in the heavens, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.

Priest: For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory: of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages.

Reader: Amen.

Troparion, Tone 5: Having been raised to piety, O Hierarch Cadoc,/ thou didst dedicate thy life to God,/ serving Him in the monastic state./ As with joyful heart thou didst fulfil thy daily obedience,/ caring for the earthly needs of countless paupers,/ look now upon our spiritual poverty/ and beseech Christ our God,/ that He will grant us great mercy.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Kontakion, Tone 5: We honour thee with hymns, O righteous Hierarch Cadoc,/ for the pilgrimage of thy life was found pleasing to God,/ Who in His goodness adorned thee with authority,/ and as thou didst receive the crown of martyrdom,/ whilst serving the Holy Mysteries,/ pray for us that we also may be blessed to die in Christ.

Then the priest says the ectenia: Have mercy upon us, O God…

Priest: Wisdom. Most Holy Theotoks, save us.

Chanters: More honourable than the Cherubim, and beyond compare more glorious than the Seraphim, who without defilement gavest birth to God the Word, the true Theotokos, thee do we magnify.  

Priest: Glory to Thee, O Christ God, our hope, glory to Thee. 

Chanters: Glory be to the Father and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit; both now and ever, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.  

Lord, have mercy. (Thrice)  

Master give the blessing. 

Priest: May Christ our true God, through the prayers of His Most-Pure Mother, of our Venerable and God-Bearing Father, Cadoc, and of all the saints, have mercy upon us, and save us, for He is good and the lover of mankind. Amen.