The Ancient Faith of Britain: Intro to a New Series on Orthodoxy in the Isles with Fr Jacob Siemens
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- Опубліковано 22 сер 2024
- In this video, I introduce a new series on the Ancient Faith of Britain, talking about Orthodoxy and its deep roots in British soil, as well as the saints who heroically lived the Faith.
/ priestjacob
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#orthodoxy #history #orthodoxchurch #christianchurch #orthodoxfaith #orthodoxchristian #celtic #british #insular #wales #scotland #ireland #england #brittany #earlysaints #saints #theology #cardiff #wenallt
I am a priest in the Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America. I am a convert and former Baptist minister. I have Celtic and Saxon ancestry. I am really looking forward to this series. Thanks for doing this. Fr Thomas Frisby (Phoenix, AZ)
Plenty more of these father please. Our country needs Orthodoxy and to discover its Orthodox roots
Whole Europe. Germany, Austria, France.....full of Orthodox Saints
Fascinating, I look forward to the rest of the series.
I am British and Orthodox. I had zero idea of this. Thank you for enlightening me
Thanks for this! And thanks for your excellent guidance and warm hospitality during our Welsh pilgrimage.
Thanks Father! My forbears are from the British isles. ☦️❤️
Thank you for this video. I am a beginner on the Orthodox journey, having escaped the mundane modernity of protestantism. For an Australian of Scottish and Anglo ancestry it warms my heart to hear that my ancestors homelands have a rich historical connection with the ancient faith. Protestant pastors never taught this aspect of British Isle Christianity.
I was baptised in my 40s into the Orthodox Church. My journey was sparked by my Anglican minister who told me about the origins of my faith, when I asked about the icons on British saints that were in his office.
Incredible work Father!
May God Eternally Bless these Ancient Isles of ours!
I can say I am a protestant, who has been studying Orthodoxy for the better part of 2 years now, outside of Jonathan Pageau's Symbolic World, and Fr. Stephen
the thumbnail to this series, is the first I've heard of this idea, I knew some of the ancient roots of Britain having connections to the Christianity.
But I never knew anything about Orthodoxy in relationship to it, looking forward to binging this series, thank you and Godbless.
"When the church of the British Isles begins to venerate her own saints, then the Church will grow"
St.Arsenios of Paros
This is true, for those who have forgotten their Saints but puzzling for us Catholics who have never stopped venerating our Saints on these Isles 🙏
Yes - British Christianity has its deep roots in our Orthodox past. This has been shown by the Rev A H Hore in his History of the Church of England- I have an 1893 edition. He showed clearly the Orthodox origins of our Faith. Hore is also remembered for his excellent History of the Greek Church (1900) which is still available and was very well received. The English Church is essentially Orthodox and needs no imported Greek or Russian traditions- we simply need to remember our Orthodox roots.
The Greek traditions may have been in place in the early centuries of the Orthodox Church in Britain. Whatever we do we must keep the Greek music tradition as that harks back almost to the Apostles themselves. Such rich hymnography and unlike Anglicanism very theological and scriptural.
@@SteveGriffiths-tk6uo Why criticise the Church of England? Have you evidence that the Celtic Church was Greek? The Early Church was undivided. Why are Christians so critical of each other? In reality there is only one Church since Christ can only have one body.
The church had many traditions in the past.What was orthodox in the past was the theology.Now the theology of anglicanism is faulty in keeping faithful to the orthodox theology.The Patriarchate of Rome was different than that of the eastern pathriarchates but the theology was the same and the creed likewise
"The English Church is essentially Orthodox and needs no imported Greek or Russian traditions- we simply need to remember our Orthodox roots." I am an English Protestant, but I really like this argument.
@SteveGriffiths-tk6uo The available evidence doesn't support your claim. According to Tradition, St. Joseph of Arimathea first brought Christianity to Britannia. He was a Middle Eastern Jew. Further down in history, British Monasticism was almost entirely influenced by Egyptian monasticism from its earliest days, even with the Celtic monastics.
This Egyptian-influenced monasticism eventually became formalized under Benedictine monasticism. St. Benedict of Nursia (Nursia being a kingdom in central Italy) adapted the form of monasticism that he had received through the influence of St. John Cassian, who, though he was a Latin speaker from Scythia Minor, learned monasticism first in Palestine before settling with and being discipled by the Origenist monks of the Nitrian Dessert in Egypt. (His spiritual father was none other than Evagrius Ponticus, or Evagrius the Solitary, as he is called in the _Philokalia._ ) He later fled with those monks to seek refuge under St. John Chrysostom in Constantinople but, after Chrysostom's deposition (partly as a result of his harboring the Origenist refugees with whom he sympathized), Cassian was sent to Rome to make his appeal to the pope. Later, he founded an Egyptian-style monastery, the Abbey of St. Victor, in Massalia, Gaul (France), where he reposed.
So, ancient British Christianity has more influence from Egypt and Rome than it ever did from Greece.
Well this is interesting, thank you. I spend a lot of time in woodland and feel it is conducive to worship. I am Roman Catholic and of Irish descent so am very aware that the land is God's creation; without being too pagan, the land speaks to us, but in a slower timeframe than modern humans are used to. Ireland's holy wells and rag trees are still very much in use,btw! We Catholics call England "Mary's Dowry" and see her as the protector of the country.
Don't worry too much about the birdsong intro..... maybe not the most historically accurate or perfectly representative of the entire chant or musical tradition of these lands, but it does well in capturing the ethos, the feeling of the wooded lands, the gentle breeze on the skin, the distant echo of the Logos coming forth from the Father's womb...
The modal nature of the birdsong accomplishes this, so it's fine.
Also contributing to its soothing character is the fact that it is in the first mode, the favored mode for most feasts and occasions in these lands as far as I have seen. It is certainly my favorite mode to sing the services of the Holy Church.
I like it, and hope to hear it again as the series continues.
Thank you for spending time in these places, and speaking about these holy people; may the Lord keep you under the shelter of His wings as you travel. Fiat. Fiat.
Excellent, very much looking forward to this series! The first Orthodox Church I attending over 20 years ago was in Belfast. It was another decade before I would fully enter the Church, but I look back on that time and place with great gratitude and affection. I would love to go back some day.
St David of Wales was actually consecrated Archbishop of Menevia by John 3rd Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem! Can’t get much more Orthodox than that! The Greek Orthodox Churches in Wales venerate him with great respect and love.
Beautiful. Looking forward to learning more ✨
Hi from Yorkshire England!
Latin is the language of the Saints of Ireland. They are part of Christ's Mystical Body, the Church. Headed by Saint Peter and by his successors. I am a Tertiary of the great SSPX and I truly love being this for the sake of our Divine Redeemer. 🙂Amen
Caerleon on Usk!!! ;-) just down the road from where I live. Love hearing about it in the context of the ancient church.
Just down the road/ down the Usk from where I live too! (Abergavenny/ Y Fenni) I wonder how many there are of us in this beautiful area deeply interested in the ancient roots of our Christian faith.
The Celtic Church and Saints are an unbroken inheritance of Catholics in Scotland too...orthodoxy is part of our tradition too. Do the Orthodox from other countries believe that the Council of Whitby was in error...? St Hilda is a much loved Saint for us. Thank you for the video. God bless you.
Yes there seems to be some confusion here. Jesus Christ founded his Church on St Peter and the Christian faith has been Catholic from the start. The hatred of Catholics since Henry8th creates bizarre stories as if the faith of St Patrick was not Roman Catholic! This push to re-brand early British Christianity as Orthodoxy is such an attempt based on an anti-Catholic stance.
Celtic Christianity is the right word for it and it started in Ireland and the Irish converts spread the true faith to England and also back to Europe who lost it. The English Protestants keep trying to 'claim' the early saints because they can't cope with the truth.
The TRUE original Christian religion of the entire British and Irish Isles is Catholic!
Early saints in Ireland and in England were Catholic not Orthodox.
The traditional Catholic faith is orthodox in that it adheres to the ancient true practices and core beliefs.
Back then the Christian worlds of east and west were very close and not much difference existed between them so it hardly matters in some instances if someone wandered in from the east, but all the essential teaching and tradition that developed the Early Church in England and brought to these islands started in Rome and was Catholic.
I understand that the English who are attracted to the Truth would seek Orthodoxy because it is closer to the Truth than the falseness of protestantism and bypasses the deep discomfort with the Catholic Church that is baked into the DNA at this stage.
Being Orthodox is better therefore and very close but it has problems in its theology.
Paul Kingsnorth has been doing a series called 50 Holy Wells that might tie into this.
Would love to hear more about Saint Brendan the Voyager.
I promise that I will get to him! Thanks for your interest.
greetings from Cape Breton Nova Scotia Canada
Thank you for this Father, it can forget that even in the west the roots of Orthodoxy burrow deep.
This man brought me here 👆👏
Amazing!
I most enjoyed the video, and look forward to the next. I am currently reading the Orthodox Study Bible. Thank you
Sounds great. My wife is British but not Orthodox. Look forward to great content.
Looking forward to following you!
With the Anglican church becoming far too secular and in love with itself more than Christ, and the Catholic church open to too much corruption in its power structure, Christian people in Britain are crying out for a better expression of Christianity. I really hope Orthodoxy can reclaim its presence in Britain and fill that vacuum.
Orthodoxy with its wonderful Hymnography and services is the ultimate expression of the Christian faith.
Yes there seems to be some confusion here. Jesus Christ founded his Church on St Peter and the Christian faith has been Catholic from the start. The hatred of Catholics since Henry8th creates bizarre stories as if the faith of St Patrick was not Roman Catholic! This push to re-brand early British Christianity as Orthodoxy is such an attempt based on an anti-Catholic stance.
Celtic Christianity is the right word for it and it started in Ireland and the Irish converts spread the true faith to England and also back to Europe who lost it. The English Protestants keep trying to 'claim' the early saints because they can't cope with the truth.
The TRUE original Christian religion of the entire British and Irish Isles is Catholic!
Early saints in Ireland and in England were Catholic not Orthodox.
The traditional Catholic faith is orthodox in that it adheres to the ancient true practices and core beliefs.
Back then the Christian worlds of east and west were very close and not much difference existed between them so it hardly matters in some instances if someone wandered in from the east, but all the essential teaching and tradition that developed the Early Church in England and brought to these islands started in Rome and was Catholic.
I understand that the English who are attracted to the Truth would seek Orthodoxy because it is closer to the Truth than the falseness of protestantism and bypasses the deep discomfort with the Catholic Church that is baked into the DNA at this stage.
Being Orthodox is better therefore and very close but it has problems in its theology.
follow me, I know the way. Truly 🕊 Born again since returning home to my beloved cymru
I have just come across this post which absolutely interests me…I have for several decades felt that nature is the true connect with God, meetings like Jesus held in the open are more sincere, away from all the modern day service rituals which are constantly morphing into something totally alien to Christianity. The world is desperately in need of guidance, the path it’s on is leading to destruction. A thought has crossed my mind, maybe earth will eventually evolve into hell.
My roots are Welsh and I have as an adult have felt I am of Celt origins, I connect so strongly to Wales.
Dear Fr., please don't forget the Cornish saints!
@@TheaWeaver55 I promise! At Fr Andrew’s request, we visited Tintagel, and ended up discovering St Piran, together with his oratory and standing cross half buried in the dunes. It was all very inspiring!
@@orthodoxexchange wonderful! I look forward to watching. Thank you for replying!
@@orthodoxexchangeEMERGENCY. Jeremiah.4:22. this proves that we are the Israelites the real ones
There is a holy well in the little village of st Noet. The church in the village still has some of his relics. His right arm is believe.
There is also a Saxon cross in the church grave yard, it was gifted to him by Alfred the great when he was still a prince.
Thank you for this. I will add it to my destination list
The church is a site of a miracle. There was a fierce fire in the church all the pews ceilings alter, were completely destroyed in the fire. But the cross that hung above the altar in front of the beautiful stained glass. Was completely uncorrupted by the fire. I believe the cross thats there to this day is that uncorrupted cross.
Oh one more thing, on the pathway leading to the holy well of st Noet. In the wall you can see the original baptismal font for the church. Thank you for this series Father I’m sure it’s going to be of great interest to a lot of people. I will let everyone in my parish know about it.
In Christ, Christopher.
My son is Kenneth, after St. Kenneth of Wales....I don't acknowledge denominations. One Lord, One Faith, One baptism. Thanks for this lovely history.
You have hit on something quite profound, it is something I have not being able to put my finger on. "Celtic" Christianity, has felt different to Roman Catholicism despite being part of it (Irish Catholics for example).
The reformation in England was quite different to what happened on the continent - we didn't abandon liturgy of St. James, (the western rite). If anything it was a rejection of papal supremacy, one of the reasons behind the 1054 schism. The problem for the CofE/CinW, it doesn't know whether it is "Catholic" or Protestant - theologically speaking. That said, we need both low-church and high-church. I am a communicant, of the Anglican Communion, I have heard a number of young clergy and curates, seeing a need for the Church in Wales to move back towards Orthodoxy.
I live in South Wales, (would love to join you on your walks), one of my favourite haunts for exactly the same reason as you state here, is the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean. You can understand why the Cistercians/Benedictines build Tintern Abbey where they did.
Any relation to Jason Bray?
@@robertjarman4261 no
I am given to understand that the 1st orthodox church in Britain was very different from that which the Church of Rome began to re-established in Kent in 597 AD, about 2 centuries after Rome abandoned the Isles around 410 AD. I always thought that the church of the isles submitting to Rome was a great calamity. However SDAs believe the Heruli, Vandals & Ostrogoths are the 3 horns of Revelation that fell to the little horn. It's an interesting theory of which I am undecided as I am most definitely not SDA, but perhaps the same would have happened in Britain had they also resisted too much. It's amazing the eastern and western Orthodox retained their autonomy & survived. Anyway, if you are trying to regain some of the ethos of that original church of the Isles, good for you & God Bless. Shalom Aleichem!
I didn’t know there was one after the schism in the British Isles.
Would like to see series about France and other parts of Europe
Yes please!
That would indeed be great. Have been reading through the works of St Gregory of Tours lately.
I can definitely see expanding into France eventually. Probably via Brittany, considering its connections with Wales and Cornwall. But that will come later.
What language is used to conduct an Orthodox sevice in Britain?
In my parish, it's English and Welsh, with some Slavonic and Greek. Another parish in Wales is Welsh. Others across England, Scotland, and Wales, and in English, Greek, or Slavonic depending on where they are and the mix of people that attend.
@orthodoxexchange thank you for this detailed reply. So many YT channels never bother to reply to questions.
Well, there are Romanian, Moldavian and Serbian speaking churches near me, a Georgian speaking cathedral in London and several Ukranian churches have sprung up... and I'm sure services are being conducted in more languages but most are trying to do some English, at least
i believe the way as taught by Christ was practiced on these isles from 36 AD up until around 3oo AD, anything after that veered off the narrow path.
The Orthodox Monastery of all Celtic Saints is located on Mull Island in Scotland...the island of Iona has one as well...
From where do these Western Rite Churches get their apostolic succession? Is there an unbroken line of bishops going back to the Apostles.
A young Christ was with Joseph of Arimathea when he visited Briton, and taught his gospel. This is recorded in the Book of Rayaneck.
Slight correction about the Celtic tribes, they didn't arrive in the British Isles until the 1st Millenium B.C. e.g. My maternal DNA (mtDNA) derives, like many people in England, from the farmers and agriculturists that arrived here during the Neolithic period in Britain.
@@sperestillan ‘Celtic’ = occult, which simply means ‘hidden’. There were two major migrations to Briton.
1st around three and a half thousand years ago - with Albyne, a Syrian princess (‘perfidious Albion?).
2nd around two and a half thousand years ago - under Brutus ( descendant of Aeneas of Troy who founded Rome). The Lemnos stele commemorates Brutus gathering the ‘remnant’ of Troy prior to embarkation for Britain. Brutus also brought Greek heritage given that he had married the daughter of the local king. It was his father-in-law who provided the ships and provisions. Britain was then renamed for Brutus who divided the main island into three kingdoms, named for his three sons (who may, themselves, have been named for others in previous history). Lloegr / Alban / Camber.
Are you talking about times before split into western and eastern churches in 1054 ???
@@TheMetyx yes I am
@@orthodoxexchange well then the Catholics have just as much claim to the above; actually more.
The history of Christianity in the British Isles was developed in Ireland and brought to England and is Catholic though the protestant English have attempted to rewrite history. Many of these ancient early saints are very amazing - Irish, English, Scottish, Welsh and Cornish and very connected to the land as you say but perhaps you miss the real history here which is tormented by centuries of anti-Catholicism begun by a looting operation by the Henry 8th against the Church and has morphed into a hatred of Catholics so deep that a gentle soul like yourself mayn't be aware of it. I don't mean to be divisive but history matters.
This fuels a great interest in Orthodoxy in England because one can bypass the discomfort of becoming Catholic.
You will see my other comments regarding this below. I am sure you will uncover much of this as you go on.
I invite you to at least come to Ireland and experiences the incredible ancient Celtic Christian history that is evident everywhere in the landscape especially in the west. Abbeys, monasteries, and more. Read the book How the Irish Saved Civilisation.
Best of luck on a beautiful series! Any efforts to praise and love Our Divine Jesus Christ are good ones!
St Patrick was a Briton (Welsh) - He took Christianity to Ireland and the Synod of Whitby is also significant in the story…
The Welsh bishops had declined their invitation to attend this. The vote of the other bishops (as to the form of worship to be practised in the rest of Britain) was tied. The decision was taken on the casting vote of the hostess, Hilda.
The Welsh Church did not recognise the outcome of Whitby and continued in their apostolic faith - ‘embraced’ by Bran who received Joseph of Arimathea when he arrived in Britain with his family ‘in the last year of Tiberius’).
Though, I believe that their initial reception was in Cornwall.
@@megw7312 It is universally accepted scholarship that Saint Patrick was a roman living in what is now Wales and had the Christian faith (from a Roman uncle) and didn't practice it until he was enslaved by the pagan pirate Irish who kidnapped him. While enslaved he regained his faith. I read the direct translation of Saint Patrick's Confessions. He escaped. He returned and converted Ireland within violence because the Druids were open-minded.
Early Christianity in the British Isles developed in the Celtic areas but was led by the early Irish Christians who continuously spread the Gospel to the lands in Britain and beyond. The Irish monks re-Christainised Europe in the 6th and 7th centuries after it fell apart there. All these Christians were Roman Catholic. There were divisions at synods but there was no NON Roman Catholic Christians until Henry the 8th.
People are taught and told different stories to support cultural narratives and it gets passed down but Celtic Christianity originally comes from Rome because the entire Christain faith comes from Rome. Nobody regarded themselves as 'not catholic' because the terms Christian and catholic are the same thing. There was no need for the distinction.
If you were Christian, you followed the faith of Rome.
Of course there were variations as there are everywhere and the particular nature of Christianity in these islands took on a very unique character over the centuries. I understand that those who wanted to erase the Roman aspect of Christianity after Henry 8th viewed their history differently and passed down that legacy.
@@megw7312 I appreciate both your comments and find them very interesting!
@@marynadononeill Christianity arrived in South Wales 35-37 a.d. which was the ‘last year of Tiberius’. The Monarch (Bran the Blessed) embraced this. The remains of the first church dedicated to St Peter are still discernible.
Christianity was taken to Rome (52 a.d.) by the family of Bran following the capture (betrayal) of King Caradoc who was then taken to Rome in chains and kept under house arrest for 7 years in the Palace of the Britons. Bran, together with other members of his family, eventually travelled to Rome to join Caradoc.
Timothy 2 : 4 : 21. :- The first bishop of Rome was Linus, son of Caradoc.
‘Claudia’ took this name on her adoption by Claudius and marriage to Rufus Pudens. She was natural daughter of Caradoc.
The church reached Britain before the end of the 1st century
Can you please provide a reference?
@@orthodoxexchange Check out the work of Wilson and Blackett, and an ancient variant of Welsh called Colbren.
Ray Simpson's book on Celtic Christianity has the apostle Paul converting the Celts of Galatia around AD 40/50 and from there Christianity reached Britain via the Roman occupation soon after.
Have you read any Stephen Lawhead Father?
Very beautiful 😍 😍
Much to share on this topic.
Wales is a slur.
Britain was HQ for the galis/gauls, the enemies of the romans.
Heddwch â bendithion
Just a thought for future videos. You have added a bird song sound track, that is not from Wales, and indeed not even from the UK. So the first five minutes and the end of your video, creates a disconnect for those, who genuinely spend a lot of time in British nature. I.e. it is hard for us to listen to what you are saying, in the same way that if you were walking in a Spanish forest but saying you were in Wales, would do. Your North American viewers may not experience this same distraction. Many thanks for all the information contained in your video, and, your encouraging content.
I was wondering if my birdsong overlay would get me into trouble! Sorry, but I'll be more careful in the future. 🙂
The church had many traditions in the past.What was orthodox in the past was the theology.Now the theology of anglicanism is faulty in keeping faithful to the orthodox theology.The Patriarchate of Rome was different than that of the eastern pathriarchates but the theology was the same and the creed likewise
Except Bede, Albans et al were Catholic.
The Church prior to 1066 in England had more in common with Orthodoxy than Papism. The Normans enforced the papal Gregorian Reforms that centralized the medieval Latin church as we know it.
@Burgermeister1836 that's not true. Unless you merely mean that thi was more monastic or cloistered. For it is true that the Celtic Church thought the Abbot superior to the Bishop. St.s Cuthbert and Wildfird resolved this, agreeing on evidence of scripture that the Episcopi were indeed the Bishops. That being said, there were still ostensibly under the Latin Patriach rather than their own separate church.
Where people have professed differently has been to seek greater claim for their own cause, wether orthodoxy in this video or aglicanism in the works of Stephen lawhead. Both belie the truth.
@@mickyfrazer786 Well of course they were still under the Patriarchate of Rome - but what that authority entailed was much more in line with the early Church's understanding of it as well as what was believed in the East before and after 1054.
Yes there seems to be some confusion here. Jesus Christ founded his Church on St Peter and the Christian faith has been Catholic from the start. The hatred of Catholics since Henry8th creates bizarre stories as if the faith of St Patrick was not Roman Catholic! This push to re-brand early British Christianity as Orthodoxy is such an attempt based on an anti-Catholic stance.
Celtic Christianity is the right word for it and it started in Ireland and the Irish converts spread the true faith to England and also back to Europe who lost it. The English Protestants keep trying to 'claim' the early saints because they can't cope with the truth.
The TRUE original Christian religion of the entire British and Irish Isles is Catholic!
Early saints in Ireland and in England were Catholic not Orthodox.
The traditional Catholic faith is orthodox in that it adheres to the ancient true practices and core beliefs.
Back then the Christian worlds of east and west were very close and not much difference existed between them so it hardly matters in some instances if someone wandered in from the east, but all the essential teaching and tradition that developed the Early Church in England and brought to these islands started in Rome and was Catholic.
I understand that the English who are attracted to the Truth would seek Orthodoxy because it is closer to the Truth than the falseness of protestantism and bypasses the deep discomfort with the Catholic Church that is baked into the DNA at this stage.
Being Orthodox is better therefore and very close but it has problems in its theology.
I need no earthly Church
my home is Heaven i only follow the Holy Spirit not man
religion is man not God ❤
we are the temple
there is no Jew nor Gentle
if you are truly of Heaven then you look only to heaven
Jesus alone is the Great high Priest our only intercessor
be not part of any
be it Catholic
or evangelical
set your self apart from the word
or any church
9 minutes in and… nothing relevant.
Just clean up your own country. More "Europe as Disneyworld."
Why do these guys always have their costumes? Can't they share spiritual history & truth in normal clothes?
@@Brett.Crealy-kh1sk I am an Orthodox priest, and so I dress like an Orthodox priest. It is important for the world to see that its priests and ministers still exist, and for Muslims to see that it is not only them that maintain a sense of dress that reflects their faith.