A Selection of Saints of the British Isles and Western Europe and Africa
Clockwise from top left: Saints Birinus, Ambrose, Finnian, Lucy, and Flannan.
By Walt Garlington
♱ St. Birinus, Apostle of Wessex, 3/16 December
Birinus, a native of Lombardy, consecrated Bishop by Asterius Bishop of Genoa, and then sent by Pope Honorius to convert the West Saxons. One of his earliest converts was Cynegils, King of Wessex, at whose baptism King St. Oswald of Northumbria (5th August) served as godfather. St. Birinus founded the Diocese of Dorchester in Oxfordshire where reposed circa 650. His relics were translated to the Church of St. Peter at Winchester by Bishop Hedda in 686. St. Birinus is also known as the Apostle of Wessex.
Source
A fuller account of his life
♱ St. Ambrose of Milan, 7/20 December
Ambrose of Milan, born to a Christian family in Trier, St. Ambrose was the son of the Praetorian Prefect of Gaul. He followed his father in an administrative career culminating in his appointment as governor of Aemilia-Liguria, with his seat at Milan. Upon the repose of the Arian Bishop of Milan, Auxeminus (374), St. Ambrose was chosen bishop by acclimation, even though he was still a catechumen. Initially he refused, but final accepted, and was baptised, and ordained. St. Ambrose gained fame as a preacher, a passionate defender of orthodoxy against Arianism, and was an important figure in the conversion of St. Augustine (28th August). He is credited with introducing a great deal of Eastern theology to the West, and encouraging monasticism. St. Ambrose introduced antiphonal singing, into the Western Church, was instrumental in making hymns an integral part of the Western Liturgy, and is believed to be the author of the “Te Deum.”
Kontakion of St. Ambrose of Milan
Tone III
You shone forth with divine doctrine eclipsing the deception of Arius,
shepherd and initiate of the mysteries, Ambrose.
you worked miracles through the power of the Spirit,
healing various passions;
righteous father, entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.
Source
A fuller account of his life
♱ St. Finnian of Clonard, 12/25 December
Finnian, known as the “Tutor of the Saints of Ireland,” stands with St. Enda of Aran at the head of the patriarchs of Irish monasticism. He showed great zeal and piety for God from his youth. He had already founded three churches before he set off for Wales to study at the feet of St. Cadoc at Llancarfan (September 25, 577). In Llancarfan he became close friends with St. Gildas (January 29, ca. 570), another of St. Cadoc’s disciples. Upon his return to Ireland, he founded the great Monastery of Clonard during the very same year the great St. Enda (March 21, 530) reposed in Aran. A multitude of illustrious and holy men studied under St. Finian, including the famous “Twelve Apostles of Ireland.” St. Finnian founded many other monasteries during his lifetime, including the famous island monastery of Skellig Michael off the southwest coast of Ireland.
Source
For fuller accounts of his life:
Orthodox Outlet for Dogmatic Enquiries and OrthoChristian
Kontakion of St. Finnian of Clonard
Tone VIII
Imitating the desert-dwellers of old, forsaking all the allurements of this world,
O venerable one, thou didst found houses for monastics throughout the Irish land,
filling its hills and vales with a host of noetic warriors who,
trained by thee, cut down the evil serpent with the sword of patience
and put his vile minions to flight through prayer.
Wherefore, we cry out to thee: Rejoice, O Finnian our father,
radiant beacon of the grace of God!
Source
♱ St. Lucy of Syracuse, 13/26 December
Lucy of Syracuse, a young Christian maiden whose mother had betrothed her to a pagan man. When St. Lucy rejected her bridegroom, he denounced her to the governor of Sicily who had her arrested. St. Lucy was subjected to torture which included her eyes being gouged out, she was then surrounded by wood which was set alight, however, the fire extinguished itself, and she was stabbed to death.
Source
She is one of the most famous Western virgin-martyrs. Her relics are preserved in Venice in Italy.
Source
A fuller account of her life
♱ St. Flannan of Killaloe, 18/31 December
Flannan was probably born in the medieval Irish kingdom of Thomond in present-day County Clare. His father was a local chieftain named Turlough. In spite of his father’s protests, Flannan became a monk. First he studied under a learned monk named Blathmet and later moved to the monastery founded by St. Molua in Killaloe, Clare. The name Killaloe means “Church of St. Lua.” St. Flannan was one of the ablest and most zealous students. From his childhood he promised to dedicate all his life to the service of God, and already in his youth was known for his holy life.
Once, when Flannan was baking, a supernatural light appeared from his left hand that lit all the space around him. Hearing of this miracle, St. Molua ordered that Flannan be made the next abbot. Flannan became a talented abbot and preacher and many ordinary people came to love him. Like many other Celtic saints, Flannan was a wandering missionary. Thus, the foundation of churches on the isle of Inishbofin in Galway and on the isle of Inishlannaun in Lough Corrib (the second largest Irish lake, situated in the west of Ireland) are attributed to him. On Inishbofin there are remains of St. Flannan’s well in a cemetery. The holy man erected churches all over the ancient province of Munster and also visited the Isle of Man. It was said that during the abbacy of Flannan the fields in the area produced extremely rich crops, fish of various kinds were bountiful in the sea nearby, there were no droughts, the forests produced hazel nuts and berries in plenty, and local people lived in peace.
In about 640, local people decided that Flannan should be consecrated bishop; so, after a probable pilgrimage to Rome, the saint became the first Bishop of Killaloe. As a bishop he gained a great fame for his sermons, mercy and hospitality. The saint worked numerous wonderful miracles. He travelled far and wide preaching the Good News. According to tradition, Flannan afterwards left Ireland and labored for some while in Scotland and, especially, in the Hebrides—an archipelago in the Atlantic Ocean to the west of Scotland. He managed to read the entire Psalter every day. His Life relates how St. Flannan, despite severe frosts, often in the middle of severe winter, standing in the icy river, would recite the Psalms from the beginning to the end.
Flannan was regarded as a great missionary, venerated in many regions of Ireland and Scotland. His sermons were so eloquent and inspired that with time his father abdicated the throne, became a monk, and lived an ascetic life for the rest of his days. Most probably he lived as hermit in Lismore, Waterford, surrounded by mountains and forests, becoming a disciple of St. Colman of Lismore. According to tradition, as a very old man Flannan returned from Scotland to Ireland where he reposed in Killaloe and was buried. He predicted his death beforehand and blessed all his disciples and relatives, instructing them to live in peace and always to be just. The faithful began to flock to his grave after his death and many miracles were recorded.
Source
For complete lists of Orthodox Saints of our Southern forefathers of Africa and Western Europe for December, visit Dr. John Hutchison-Hall and Fr. Andrew Phillips’ Orthodox England.
