Tracing Clan Gregor from the kings of Scotland to the High Kings of Ireland 1. Introduction: “Royal Is My Race” The MacGregor declaration Siol Alpine and the problem of proof Framing the question of origins 2. Scots and Picts: One Royal Tradition? Dal Riata and Pictland Political vs ancestral identity The MacAlpin narrative 3. […]
Upcoming Article: The ancient motto of Clan Gregor, “’S Rioghal Mo Dhream” — “Royal is my race,” has often been explained through the clan’s place among the Siol Alpine, those Highland kindreds traditionally said to descend from Kenneth MacAlpin. Yet older clan histories are careful: they affirm the MacGregors as one of the purest Celtic […]
An Early Culdee Father and the Monastic Life of Menevia Saint David of Wales stands among the earliest and most authoritative figures of the Celtic Orthodox tradition—rightly counted among the Early Culdee Fathers, whose lives preserved the ancient apostolic pattern of prayer, labor, and sacred discipline in the West. Although no separate document titled “The […]
The Historic Celtic Church and Today’s Orthodox Church of the Culdees The Living Celtic Orthodox Tradition: Featured Documentary The Celtic Orthodox Church, also known as the Orthodox Church of the Culdees, is a living continuation and restoration of the ancient Celtic Church tradition. This page is a central guide to Celtic Orthodoxy, the historic Celtic […]
As published in Celto-Saxon Confederation – Christian Heritage & Confederative Studies Some in our circles love reading the books on Heraldry and find the meaning of heritage symbols, or family ensigns, as the Scripture told us to have(encamp under, reckon our families by, etc). A lot of us know about the St Andrew’s banner, the […]
Pascha at Dawn: The Firstfruits, the Resurrection, and the Apostolic Pattern of Worship A Living Tradition Rooted in Scripture Before turning to the Scriptures themselves, it is helpful to begin with the living practice of the Church, because the liturgy preserves what the apostles handed down in a continuous and recognizable form. Among Western traditions, […]
Pascha, Not Paganism: A Direct Answer to the Claim That “Easter Is Pagan” A biblical, historical, and practical defense of the Resurrection feast rooted in Passover—not paganism Quick Overview (Key Points at a Glance) 1. Pascha = Passover fulfilled in Christ — not a pagan feast — The Resurrection celebration comes directly from the biblical […]
The Crosfigell or Cross-Vigil in Celtic Orthodoxy Sources, Theology, and Practice The early Irish crosfigell—usually rendered cross-vigil—is one of the most striking bodily prayers in the Celtic Christian tradition. It unites the cruciform posture with the Lord’s Prayer, Deus in adjutorium, the Gloria Patri, and the Sign of the Cross, offered directionally to the four […]
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 […]
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 […]
The Four Kinetons/Kingtons of the Ardens: Vicecomital Nobility and Templar Co-Administration in Warwickshire By Dr Stephen M. K. Brunswick, Ph.D., Th.D. (Priory of Salem – St Andrew’s OCC Educational Series / Watchman News Historical Division) Prefatory Note on Authority and Sources This study follows the method of recognized genealogical authorities such as Evelyn Philip Shirley, […]
We often think of creatine as just a supplement for athletes — something that helps with muscle performance, gym strength, and recovery. But there’s another side to creatine that’s far more fundamental: its role in methylation, one of the body’s most essential biochemical processes. Understanding how creatine supports methylation can help explain why it’s not […]
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 […]
The Eternal Law, the New Covenant, and the Misunderstanding of Love and Liberty by Rev Dr Stephen MK Brunswick, ThD, PhD. Professor, Priory of Salem, Institute of Theology Primace, St Andrew’s and St Joseph’s Orthodox Church of the Culdees https://orthodoxchurch.nl https://celticorthodoxy.com Many today claim, “There are only two commandments now,” as if Christ somehow abolished […]
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 […]
Britain’s Ancient Orthodox Heritage: A Living Tradition, Not a Modern Conversion Featured Articles from CelticOrthodoxy.com For a detailed exploration of the intricate relations between Western and Eastern traditions: Catholic-Orthodox History and Recognition of Sacraments Between Them For foundational arguments on Britain’s inherent Orthodox identity: The Orthodox Identity of the British Church and Anglicanism For ecclesial […]
Academic Note The following material is drawn from the core curriculum of St. Andrew’s OCC, Institute of Theology. It is distributed with permission as a preview for prospective students, to raise awareness about the ongoing political and cultural context, and to foster constructive dialogue between professionals on the place of Christian alternatives in a […]
Academic Note The following material is drawn from the core curriculum of St. Andrew’s OCC, Institute of Theology. It is distributed with permission as a preview for prospective students, to raise awareness about the ongoing political and cultural context, and to foster constructive dialogue between professionals on the place of Christian alternatives in a predominantly […]
The Wheels, the Four Living Creatures, and the Throne of God — A Revelation Brought to Life For centuries, believers have marveled at the mysterious visions recorded in Ezekiel 1 and Revelation 4—visions of fiery beings, wheels within wheels, and the throne of Almighty God. Many have read these passages with curiosity, yet few have […]
Most people today think “separation” is negative — a sign of judgment, division, or pride. But the Bible paints a completely different picture. From Genesis to Revelation, God calls His people to be separate from sin, false worship, and the works of darkness. In this video, we uncover how over 50 passages command believers to […]
The Confederacy’s Broader Vision: A Constitutional Union of All Sovereign States In his historic “Cornerstone Speech,” Confederate Vice President Alexander H. Stephens laid bare not only the ideological foundations of the Confederate States of America (CSA), but also a wider constitutional hope: that all the states of the former Union might one day recognize and […]
The Piast Inheritance of the House of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel Building upon the foundation laid in Article 1: Brunswick Being the Only Probable Successor of the Piasts, we now explore additional heraldic and historical data that support the rightful claim of the House of Brunswick-Wolfenbüttel to the Piast legacy. This continuation draws attention to powerful visual and […]