A reminder as we enter the holy season of preparation and expectation Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, As we enter into the sacred season of Advent, the Church calls us to watchfulness, repentance, fasting, and joyful expectation. Advent is not merely a countdown to December celebrations — it is a spiritual preparation for the […]
ADVENT IN THE HISTORIC CHURCH: THE INCARNATION, THE CELTIC TRADITION, AND THE CONTINUITY OF SACRED TIME Institute of Theology — Celtic Orthodox Church / Priory of Salem INTRODUCTION The following article is prepared for the curriculum of the Institute of Theology, and is offered publicly for the edification of visitors to CelticOrthodoxy.com. It presents a […]
Restoring the Penitential Heart of Celtic Orthodoxy Recovering the Confessional Foundation of the Western and Celtic Liturgies I. The Danger of “Starting Over” A new generation seeks to start over with imported post-Bolshevik forms of Eastern Orthodoxy, claiming that Celtic Christianity somehow died out. Yet those same voices make pilgrimages to Iona, Lindisfarne, Glastonbury, and […]
Is It Scriptural to Use the Prayer Rope (or Rosary)? A Biblical, Israelite, and Apostolic Defense of Counted Prayer, Remembrance, and Ceaseless Praise Most objections to the prayer rope (chotki) or rosary come from a misunderstanding of Scripture, history, and even the prayer life of Israel.In reality, counted prayer, repeated prayer, and prayer tools are […]
Prayer to Jesus in Scripture and Tradition The Church’s prayers, both liturgical and personal, are profoundly Christ-centered. From the rising of the sun to its going down, believers invoke the Holy Name of Jesus—calling upon Him for mercy, help, and salvation. Far from being a later custom, this direct address to the Lord Jesus is […]
The Origin and Continuity of Prayer Beads and Knots Across Christendom Second Article in the Jesus Prayer & Prayer Rope Seriesby St Andrew’s OCC / Rev. Dr. Stephen M. K. Brunswick 1 | From Tassel to Prayer Rope The impulse to mark prayer with a physical sign begins in Scripture itself.The Law of Moses commanded […]
Receiving the Word: How Meditation Makes the Word Effectual By St. Andrew’s Orthodox Celtic Church Introduction: When Hearing Becomes Receiving In the parable of the sower, Christ said that the seed is the Word of God. Some fell on stony ground, some among thorns, and others on good soil. But only the word that was […]
The Jesus Prayer in the Celtic Church: An Ancient Link to the East Introduction: Reclaiming an Ancient Prayer The Jesus Prayer, often associated with the monastic tradition of Mount Athos and Eastern Orthodoxy, has long been cherished within the Celtic Church as well. Contrary to the assumption that such prayer forms were uniquely Byzantine, the […]
The Persistence of Prayer: Repetition as Faith, Not Vanity By St. Andrew’s Orthodox Celtic Church Introduction: Yom Kippur and Covenant Prayers In ancient Israel on the high holy day of Atonement (Yom Kippur), all of Israel bowed low before the Lord YHWH. The entire nation fasted and prayed unceasingly for the blood of atonement to be […]
From the Torah’s tassel to the Christian prayer rope, the sign of remembrance anchors us in Christ — the Word made flesh, the Lawgiver, and the One who began with “Hear, O Israel” when asked the greatest commandment(Mar 12:29). Introduction One of the simplest yet most enduring commandments of the Torah is the making of […]
📘 Three Types of Prayer: Ask, Demand, and Worship Why Not All “Prayer” Is the Same — and Why It Matters 🔍 Introduction: The New Testament doesn’t treat all prayer as the same. Whether we are asking for help, interceding boldly, or simply worshiping, the Greek text gives us unique terms — and each carries […]
A Biblical Framework for Honoring the Seasons The celebration of June 24—the Nativity of St. John the Baptist—has endured across many ages and cultures. While some have tied it to solstice traditions or misunderstood it through the lens of paganism, Scripture offers a far deeper vision. As Psalm 19 says, “The heavens declare the glory […]
Full Communion with the Evangelical Apostolic Church Diocese Orthodox Church of the Culdees and Archbishop John P. Johnston Introduction The Orthodox Church of the Culdees (OCC), under the primacy of Dr. Stephen MK Brunswick, affirms its full communion with the Evangelical Apostolic Church Diocese led by Patriarch Archbishop John P. Johnston (https://eacdiocese.org). This relationship was […]
Saint David of Wales, the Culdees, and the True Meaning of the ‘Lord’s Way’: A Defense of Celtic Sabbath Observance A small expose on the topic covered by Dr Stephen MK Brunswick ThD, PhD “Saturday Rest: the Christian Sabbath in Orthodox Faith”, page 35-36. Lord’s Way, Not Lord’s Day, proven The life and ecclesiastical […]
The Didache, one of the earliest Christian texts, serves as a foundational guide for believers seeking structured spiritual and community life. Its principles align closely with the traditions of the Culdees, a unique order within Celtic Christianity, known for their dedication to both spiritual and practical survival. The Didache: A Blueprint for Christian Community The […]
Women’s Offices in OCC: The Role of Deaconesses & Abbesses Historical Background: Women in the Celtic Church Women played a significant role in the early Celtic Church, serving as seers, abbesses, and spiritual leaders. Unlike the more hierarchical Roman Church, the Celtic Christian tradition embraced a monastic structure that allowed for strong female leadership. This […]
Chapter 12 from the book “Saturday Rest: Embracing the Christian Sabbath in Orthodox Faith” CONCLUSION God promised to keep a faithful remnant of Israel as His bride—a people who would continually observe the Sabbath of YAHWEH. The Sabbath is only one of many signs or “marks” of His true people, who are destined to […]
Regarding Repentance in the Celtic Church: Why Confession (and Repentance) Was Central to the Original Celtic Church The below is taken from the Appendix of a book by Rev Dr Brunswick “Saturday Rest: Embracing the Christian Sabbath in Orthodox Faith” Section 5: Renewing the Ancient Call to Repentance Reintegrating the Full Practice of Confession in […]
The Orthodox Identity of the British Church and Anglicanism This document explores the foundational argument that the British Church and Anglicanism are inherently Orthodox, rooted in apostolic continuity, doctrinal integrity, and liturgical validity. The British Church is not seeking recognition but reasserting its historical and theological identity as an Orthodox jurisdiction since the earliest centuries. […]
Herein you may read a great history on this part of the Irish Celtic (Orthodox Culdee) church. Download free pdf copy of The Life and Works of St Aengus (the Culdee) Hagiographus by O’Hanlon. A reprint from https://celtic.press The book goes in great detail on what is called the Martyrology of Oengus the Culdee or […]
Another example of the local independent nature of the Culdees institutions, was shown in their various implementations of the Rule of Chrodegang. Below is a review of the rules themselves. The Chrodegang Rules were based on the Benedictine Monasticism (which later gained a broader implementation in the schools of the Culdees). We know some local […]
The Cele Dei Litany from Dunkeld translated by Peter Farrington A litany used at the ancient monastery of Dunkeld, which was accustomed to be sung together at public processions of the Keledei, called Culdees. A skeptical analysis follows from the Preface of Forbes’ Kalendars of Scottish Saints. Other analysis by our institute shows the more […]
The Twelve Beatuses as sung by the Culdees during the daily Psalms at the canonical hours. The twelve blessings or beatuses are a series of blessings that begin with the word “beatus”, which means “blessed” or “happy” in Latin. They are found in various sources of Christian literature, such as the Bible, the writings of […]
The purer ancient Rule of St Maelruan The rule for the Culdees of Armagh, drawn up by Maelruan, abbot of Tamhlacht (Tallaght), who died in the year 792. The full chapters of the rule goes into practical usage day to day as well as annual. This rule has been affirmed by 1600s-1900s historians that it […]
Volumes 1-7 of the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters. From the Orthodox Church of the Culdees library. The online versions. We can also suggest publishers of enhanced printed versions if you inquire. Here you may find all seven volumes in one place. For those who want to know the meat […]
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