Celtic and Old English Saints 7 October =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * St. Osyth of Chich * St. Canog of Wales * St. Dubtach of Armagh * St. Helanus of Rheims =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
St Osyth (Osith, Osgyth) of Chich, Martyr ------------------------------------------------------- Died at Chich (Saint Osyth), Essex, England, c. 675-700. All that is known about her is that she was the wife of Sighere, king of the East Saxons, and that she founded the abbey of Chich, where she ended her days. In the 12th century currency was given to various legends. These tell us that Osyth was the daughter of a Mercian chief named Frithwald and his wife Wilburga, who was the daughter of King Penda. She was raised in a convent, perhaps at Aylesbury, and wanted to become a nun herself. Her parents, however, married her to Sighere, who may have been the apostate named by Saint Bede (f.d. May 25), who was later reconciled to the Church by Bishop Jaruman. (King Sighere's uncle was King Saint Sebbi (f.d. September 1), of whose dignified death the Venerable Bede gives account.) The marriage was never consummated because when Sighere became distracted by his passion for hunting, Osyth ran away and sought the protection of Bishops Acca of Dunwich and Bedwin of Elmham. Sighere, not wanting to force his reluctant bride, allowed them to give her the habit and himself donated land at Chich on a creek of the Colne for a monastery. It is related that she was captured and martyred by Danish pirates, who beheaded her. The village of Saint Osyth in Essex, originally called Chich, has its name from this woman, as do several other localities. Her relics were returned to her convent before 1000 AD from Aylesbury, where they were taken during the Danish invasions. Her shrine at Chich is mentioned in the treatise "On the resting-places of saints" (Attwater, Attwater2, Benedictines, Coulson, Walsh). Osyth is shown as a queen with her crown at her feet or on a table before her; sometimes carrying her severed head. Venerated at Colchester (Roeder). Service to our Venerable Mother Osyth, Abbess of Chich http://www.orthodoxengland.btinternet.co.uk/servosyt.htm Pictures of the 14th century St Osyth Priory http://www.stosyth.gov.uk/default.asp?calltype=stosythday St. Canog (Cenneur, Cynog) of Wales, Martyr --------------------------------------------------------------- Died c. 492. Saint Canog, the eldest son of the prolific King Saint Brychan of Brecknock (f.d. April 6). He was killed at Merthyr-Cynog during a barbarian invasion. There are churches dedicated to his memory in Wales; he is also honoured in Brittany (Benedictines). Troparion of St Cynog tone 4 Spurred on by their impiety,/ God-hating barbarians sought to destroy thee, O holy Cynog,/ but by death thou didst gain the victory./ Pray for us, that we too may triumph over evil by faithfulness unto the end,/ that we may be granted great mercy. St. Dubtach of Armagh, Bishop ------------------------------------------- Died c. 513. Archbishop of the primatial see of Armagh, Ireland, from 497 until his death (Benedictines). Troparion of St Dubtach Hierarch tone 1 Compassionate pastor and inspired teacher of Armagh's flock, O Hierarch Dubtach,/ thou art a model of piety for both the pastors and the laity of Christ's holy Church./ Intercede with Christ our God that we may be given grace to emulate thee/ in bringing others to Him that we all may be saved. St. Helanus (Helen) of Rheims (of Cornwall), Hermit -------------------------------------------------------------- Died near Rheims, France, 6th century. It is said that Saint Helanus migrated from Ireland to Cornwall with his three sisters and six brothers, including Saint Germoc (f.d. June 24) and Saint Breaca (f.d. June 4). They continued on to Brittany, where they settled at Bucciolus near Rheims, where he was ordained to the priesthood and served the people of the area. He is likely to be the titular patron of Cornish churches that are dedicated to Helen (Benedictines, Bonniwell, Farmer). Lives kindly supplied by: For All the Saints: http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/ss-index.htm These Lives are archived at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints *****************************************
