THE VATICAN CONFIRMS

THE HISTORY OF THE

CELTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH

AN ANCIENT CHURCH STILL TEACHING THE ANCIENT TRUTH

AND LIVING OUT THE ANCIENT FAITH

HOLY TRINITY CELTIC ORTHODOX CHURCH

THE MONASTERY CHAPEL OF THE CELTIC

ORTHODOX BENEDICTINE FATHERS

1703 Macomber St., Toledo, Ohio 43606

E-MAIL amdg@bex.net

 The Celtic Orthodox Church is
so Ancient it demands respect
is so Traditional it is refreshing
and so Conservative it is reassuring.
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WE ARE THE ANCIENT ORTHODOX CHURCH
LIVING OUT THE ANCIENT FAITH AS ONCE
DELIVERED TO THE SAINTS
 
___________________________________________________________
 
SOURCE MATERIAL: ďECCLESIASTICAL ANNALSĒ BY
CARDINAL BORONIUS
CURATOR OF THE VATICAN LIBRARY 
 
Following the crucifixion of Jesus, St Joseph of Arimathea was driven from his 
home and began a journey of conversion. He traveled to Glastonbury in an attempt
to bring Christianity to the Britons. Joseph was the owner of the tomb in which
Jesus Christ's body lay from Good Friday till the third day, Pascha (Easter). 
Joseph was from Ramah that today is known as Ramallah. It was the birth place 
of Samuel, the prophet, and is called in the Septuagint Arimathaim. Josephus 
calls it Amartha. 
 
Upon their arrival and tired from the journey, he and his 12 
companions laid down to rest. As he did so, he thrust his staff into the hill. 
When he woke up, the staff had taken root and begun to grow. It flowers every 
Christmas (Old Style) and every spring. This became the site of the Glastonbury 
Abbey.
 
 
The original thorn was cut down by a Puritan soldier in 1653 and he was blinded 
when struck in the eye by a splinter. Many cuttings were taken from the original
before its destruction. The current thorn on the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey is
said to be a cutting from the original plant which was planted in secret after 
the original was destroyed. Botanically, the Glastonbury Thorn is a hawthorn, 
which usually blooms only in the spring. Blooming at Christmas that falls in 
January is considered a miracle by God to honor the faith of Joseph of 
Ariamathia.
 
 
Joseph of Arimathea was the Virgin Mary's uncle. It was he, along with St. John 
who buried Jesus after the crucifixion. Joseph, in the tin trade, made a lot of 
trips to Britain, where being a rich merchant made close contact with British 
Royalty; namely Kings Beli, Lud, Llyr and Arviragus, who gave Joseph and his 
companions some 2000 acres of land, tax free. On these trips to Britain, Joseph 
took Jesus, as we know through many geographical, historical and traditional 
references. The details of this study are taken mainly from "The Drama of the 
Lost Disciples", by George F. Jowett. 
 
Historians William of Malmesbury, (Born 1080 died 1143), Polydore Vergil (Born 
1470 died 1555) and others all place Joseph of Arimathea at Glastonbury. Even 
the four Church councils of Pisa 1409, Constance 1417, Sienna 1424 and Basle 
1434, mention that "the Churches of France and Spain must yield in points of 
antiquity and precedence to that of Britain as the latter Church was founded by 
Joseph of Arimathea immediately after the passion of Christ." 
Three Celtic Orthodox Bishops (London, Lincoln and York) were
present at the Council of Arles in 314 A.D.
 
Joseph, with many disciples traveled from the holy land by boat and 
landed at Marseilles, in the Vienoise province of the Gauls 
(France). From there he went on to England 
where he established the church, sent out missionaries, and 
helped in the conversion of the Royal family. 
 
In his "Ecclesiastical Annals", Cardinal Baronius, (1538-1607) 
Curator of the Vatican library, gives this account. "In that year the party 
mentioned was exposed to the sea in a vessel without sails or oars. 
The vessel drifted finally to Marseilles and they were saved. From 
Marseilles Joseph and his company passed into Britain and after 
preaching the Gospel there, died." 
 
How many of the disciples were with Joseph of Arimathea during his 
short stay in Gaul, before going on to England, is hard to say. 
Various existing records agree in part with the Cardinal Baronius 
record, naming among the occupants of the castaway boat Mary 
Magdlene, Martha, the hand-maiden Marcella, Lazarus whom Jesus 
raised from the dead, and Maximin the man whose sight Jesus 
restored. Other records state that Philip and James accompanied 
Joseph. Others report that Mary, the wife of Cleopas, and Mary, the 
mother of Jesus, were also in the boat. Here's Baronius' complete 
list of passsengers: 
 St. Mary, wife of Cleopas 
 St. Martha 
 St. Lazarus 
 St. Eutropius 
  St. Salome 
 St. Cleon 
 St. Saturninus 
 St. Mary Magdalene 
 Marcella, the Bethany sisters' maid 
 St. Maximin 
 St. Martial 
 St. Trophimus 
 St. Sidonius (Restitutus) 
 St. Joseph of Arimathea 
 
True to God's way, Philip was waiting for the travelers in 
France. There is a wealth of uncontroversial testimony asserting his 
commission in Gaul, all of which alike state that he received and 
consecrated Joseph, preparatory to his embarkation and appointment 
as the Apostle to Britain. 
 
Although there are some who would argue for France being first, most 
records agree that Britain, at Glastonbury was the Root of the 
Christian movement. One would expect that history would show that 
the missionary activities would flow out of the well-spring of 
Christianity. And well does history record this. The Gaulic records 
state that for centuries the Archbishops of Treves and Rheims were 
all Britons supplied by the mother church at Glastonbury-Avalon. St. 
Cadval, a famed British missionary, going out from Glastonbury, 
founded the church of Tarentum, Italy, A.D. 170. Did you notice that 
this was four hundred years before St. Augustine? And as we'll see 
later, even this date was at least fourteen years after King Lucius 
Christianized all of Britain in A.D. 156. 
 
Converts literally flooded into Glastonbury for conversion, baptism, 
instruction and missionary assignment. Philip sent, from Gaul alone, 
one hundred sixty disciples to assist Joseph and his team with the 
crowds. And it is surely known that helpers were sent from other 
places beside France. 
 
One of the first to go out from Glastonbury was Mary and Martha's 
brother Lazarus. He headed straight back to Marseilles where he held 
the Bishopric for seven years. But that was only natural. France was 
a Family thing for the Bethany household. 
 
Many famous names are recorded as having been associated with 
Glastonbury-Avalon. 
 
Sidonis, Saturninus, and Cleon taught and supported other 
Missionaries in Gaul, then returned to Britain. 
Martial's parents, Marcellus and Elizabeth were there along with St. 
Zacchaeus. Many faithful Judeans moved to Britain. 
Parmena, disciple of Joseph, was appointed the first Bishop of 
Avignon. Drennalus, helped Joseph found the church at Morlaix.
He was then appointed to Treguier as it's first Bishop. 
 
Beatus founded the church in Helvetia, after receiving his baptism 
and education at Avalon. Beatus was baptized by St. Barnabas,
the brother of Aristobulus. Beatus was sent in advance 
by St. Paul to Britain. He is referred to in scripture 
as Joses, the Levite. 
 
Mansuetus was consecrated the first Bishop of the
Lotharingians A.D. 49, with his See at Toul. He also founded 
the church at Lorraine. 
 
Mansuetus was a constant visitor at the Palace of the British at 
Rome after Claudia had married Pudens. Mansuetus was a
friend of Linus, the first Bishop of Rome, and brother of Claudia. 
At the age of 17, Claudia (former name Gladys (means Princess) 
the Younger, married Pudens a Roman Senator. 
 
Many Apostles especially Paul were frequent 
visitors to the home of Claudia and Pudens. St. Paul was the half 
brother of Pudens, the husband of Claudia. Priscilla was mother 
to St. Paul and Puden. Eurgain (Claudiaís sister) was the first 
woman Baptized in Britain and she was Baptized by St. Joseph of Arimathea.
 
Linus, the first Bishop of Rome who had been consecrated by St. Paul 
was the Grandson of Joseph of Arimathea. In 66 A.D. Claudia,
her husband and children were able to claim the mutilated body 
of St. Paul from the Romans and bury him on Pudens estate. 
 
After the death of St. Clement, Mansuetus became
the third official Bishop of the British 
Church at Rome. Thus we have three disciples of Avalon, instructed 
by St. Joseph, to become, in succession, Bishops of Rome. 
 
Iltigius, in "De Patribus Apostolicis", quotes St. Peter as saying; 
"Concerning the Bishops who have been ordained in our lifetime, we 
make known to you that they are these. Of Antioch, Eudoius, ordained 
by me, Peter. Of the Church of Rome, Linus, son of Claudia, was 
first ordained by Paul, and after Linus's death, Clemens the second, 
ordained by me, Peter." 
 
St. Joseph built a little chapel on the hills of Glastonbury 
in southern England. The church stood on the same spot 
until Cromwell had in torn down in 1665. 
 
With the disruptions caused by the pagan Anglo-Saxons, 
the Celtic Church was forced to the fringes of the Celtic Britain, 
hiding in caves and on small islands. 
It took on the monastic-style of leadership. There was 
considerable monastic influence from the Coptic Church 
(Coptic Orthodox who were Egyptian). 
 
The Northern portion of the Island (Scotland and England) 
was primarily Evangelized by the Celtic Church in Iona.
The Celtic Orthodox Church was also strong in Cornwall 
and Wales. In the South, centering on Kent and Canterbury,
 
The Celtic Orthodox Church remains vibrant and committed
to the ancient faith and praxis of the early church. The Celtic
Orthodox church remains a church in resistance to modernism and
remains a member if the Catacomb Church Movement.
 
HOW ROME ATTEMPTED TO DESTROY 
THE CELTIC ORTHODOX 
 
Because the Celtic Church never submitted to the authority of Rome, the Vatican 
was determined to destroy them and all of the Johannine branch of the church in 
favor of the Pauline branch of the church. 
 
Generations of Roman Catholic Irish have proclaimed loudly that the source of 
Ireland’s woes is the presence of the English. The Emerald Isle, once famed as a 
"land of Saints and Scholars," has been drenched in blood, as inhuman fiends, 
posing as patriots, murder, maim, massacre, rebel and wage civil war, often with 
the blessing of the Papal clergy, in the supposed cause of Irish "freedom."
However, the suppressed facts of history are that when King Henry II of England 
landed with an army of 4,000 at Waterford in October 1171, he came at the Pope’s 
behest, carrying as his authority the Papal Bull Laudabiliter, by which the 
Roman Pontiff claimed the right to bestow Ireland as a gift to the English King, 
on condition that he suppress the ancient Bible-believing Celtic Orthodox 
and bring the island and it’s people into submission to Rome. We 
reproduce herewith, the Bull Laudabiliter by which Pope Adrian IV gave Ireland 
to England:
 
PAPAL BULL LAUDABILITER BY POPE ADRIAN IV
 
"Adrian, bishop, servant of the servants of God, to our well beloved son in 
Christ, the illustrious King of the English, greeting and Apostolic Benediction. 
Laudably and profitably does your Majesty contemplate spreading the glory of 
your name on earth and laying up for yourself the reward of eternal happiness in 
heaven, in that as becomes a Catholic Prince, you propose to enlarge the 
boundaries of the Church, to proclaim the truths of the Christian religion to a 
rude and ignorant people (the Irish), to root out the growth of vice from the 
field of the Lord; and the better to accomplish this purpose, you seek the 
counsel and goodwill of the Apostolic See. In pursuing your object, the loftier 
your aim and the greater your discretion, the more prosperous we are assured 
with God’s assistance will be the progress you will make: for undertakings 
commenced in the zeal of faith and the love of religion are ever wont to attain 
to a good end and issue. Verily, as your Excellency doth acknowledge, there is 
no doubt that Ireland, and all the islands on which Christ the sun of 
righteousness has shone, and which have accepted the doctrines of the Christian 
faith, belong to the blessed Peter and the Holy Roman Church, wherefore the more 
pleased are we to plant in them the seed of faith acceptable to God, inasmuch as 
our conscience warns us that in their case a stricter account will hereafter be 
required of us.
 
"Whereas, then well beloved son in Christ, you have expressed to us your desire 
to enter the island of Ireland in order to subject its people to law (Papal 
Cannon Law) and to root out from them the weeds of vice (the ancient 
Bible-believing Celtic Orthodox faith) and your willingness to pay an annual 
tribute to the blessed Peter (the Pope) of one penny from every house, and to 
maintain the rights of the Churches of that land whole and inviolate. We 
therefore, meeting your pious and laudable desire with due favor; and according 
a gracious assent to your petition, do hereby declare our will and pleasure, 
that with a view to enlarging the boundaries of the Church, restraining the 
downward course of vice, correcting evil customs and planting virtue and for the 
increase of the Christian religion (Roman Church) you shall enter that island 
and execute whatsoever may tend to the honor of God, and the welfare of the 
land; and also that the people shall receive you with honor and revere you as 
their Lord, provided always that the rights of the Church remain whole and 
inviolate and saving to the blessed Peter and the Holy Roman Church the annual 
tribute of one penny for every house. If then you should carry your project into 
effect, let it be to your care to instruct that people in good ways of 
life...that the Church there may be adorned, that the Christian religion (Roman 
Catholicism) may take root and grow...that you may deserve at God’s hands the 
fullness of an everlasting reward and may obtain on earth a name renowned 
throughout the ages."
 
After King Henry’s victorious conquest of Ireland, and reception of 
congratulatory mail from Pope Adrian’s successor, Alexander III, one of his 
first acts was to call the Council of Cashel in 1172 at which the ancient Celtic 
Orthodox Church in Ireland was declared under the yoke of Roman bondage. The 
Celtic Orthodox Church in fact had gone underground. Rome had killed off the 
Celtic Orthodox Bishops and Priests and installed Vatican Bishops. A remnant of 
the Celtic Orthodox Church survived as the catacomb church in resistance. 
As for the Papal insults that the Irish, after the preaching of Patrick up to 
the 12th century, were a rude, ignorant, uncivilized people; had not the 
missionaries of Patrick’s Celtic Church brought the uncorrupted Gospel to many 
parts of the British Isles and the Continent of Europe during this time? Could a 
savage people produce the Book of Kells, and preserve the Christian faith in 
their communities even under Viking attack, while Papal Rome was sunk in the 
depths of vice and superstition?
 

The Irish slave trade began when 30,000 Irish prisoners were sold as slaves to the New World. The King James I Proclamation of 1625 required Irish political prisoners be sent overseas and sold to English settlers in the West Indies. By the mid 1600s, the Irish were the main slaves sold to Antigua and Montserrat. At that time, 70% of the total population of Montserrat were Irish slaves. Ireland quickly became the biggest source of human livestock for English merchants. The majority of the early slaves to the New World were actually white.

From 1641 to 1652, over 500,000 Irish were killed by the English and another 300,000 were sold as slaves. Ireland’s population fell from about 1,500,000 to 600,000 in one single decade. Families were ripped apart as the British did not allow Irish dads to take their wives and children with them across the Atlantic. This led to a helpless population of homeless women and children. Britain’s solution was to auction them off as well.

During the 1650s, over 100,000 Irish children between the ages of 10 and 14 were taken from their parents and sold as slaves in the West Indies, Virginia and New England. In this decade, 52,000 Irish (mostly women and children) were sold to Barbados and Virginia. Another 30,000 Irish men and women were also transported and sold to the highest bidder. In 1656, Cromwell ordered that 2000 Irish children be taken to Jamaica and sold as slaves to English settlers.

Many people today will avoid calling the Irish slaves what they truly were: Slaves. They’ll come up with terms like “Indentured Servants” to describe what occurred to the Irish. However, in most cases from the 17th and 18th centuries, Irish slaves were nothing more than human cattle. As an example, the African slave trade was just beginning during this same period.

African slaves were very expensive during the late 1600s (50 Sterling). Irish slaves came cheap (no more than 5 Sterling). If a planter whipped or branded or beat an Irish slave to death, it was never a crime. A death was a monetary setback, but far cheaper than killing a more expensive African. The English masters quickly began breeding the Irish women for both their own personal pleasure and for greater profit. Children of slaves were themselves slaves, which increased the size of the master’s free workforce. Even if an Irish woman somehow obtained her freedom, her kids would remain slaves of her master. Thus, Irish moms, even with this new found emancipation, would seldom abandon their kids and would remain in servitude.

In time, the English thought of a better way to use these women (in many cases, girls as young as 12) to increase their market share: The settlers began to breed Irish women and girls with African men to produce slaves with a distinct complexion. These new “mulatto” slaves brought a higher price than Irish livestock and, likewise, enabled the settlers to save money rather than purchase new African slaves. This practice of interbreeding Irish females with African men went on for several decades and was so widespread that, in 1681, legislation was passed “forbidding the practice of mating Irish slave women to African slave men for the purpose of producing slaves for sale.” In short, it was stopped only because it interfered with the profits of a large slave transport company.

England continued to ship tens of thousands of Irish slaves for more than a century. Records state that, after the 1798 Irish Rebellion, thousands of Irish slaves were sold to both America and Australia. There were horrible abuses of both African and Irish captives. One British ship even dumped 1,302 slaves into the Atlantic Ocean so that the crew would have plenty of food to eat.

There is little question that the Irish experienced the horrors of slavery as much (if not more in the 17th Century) as the Africans did. There is, also, very little question that those brown, tanned faces you witness in your travels to the West Indies are very likely a combination of African and Irish ancestry. In 1839, Britain finally decided on its own to end its participation in Satan’s highway to hell and stopped transporting slaves. While their decision did not stop pirates from doing what they desired, the new law slowly concluded THIS chapter of nightmarish Irish misery.

But, if anyone, black or white, believes that slavery was only an African experience, then they’ve got it completely wrong. Irish slavery is a subject worth remembering, not erasing from our memories.

 
HISTORY OF THE CELTIC ORTHODOX BENEDICTINE FATHERS
http://www.celticorthodoxy.com/bkceltic-orthodox-church/two.html

APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION OF BISHOP BRIAN J. KENNEDY, O.S.B.

http://www.celticorthodoxy.com/bkceltic-orthodox-church/succ.html