Holy orders – Celtic Orthodox Church | Orthodox Church of the Culdees

Tag: Holy orders

The Orthodox Order of the Culdees, the Rule of St Maelruan +792AD

October 5, 2023

Beliefs, Book Club, Celtic Church Roots, Christian Israel Nationalism, Christian Israel: Tribal & Theological, Christian Worship / Liturgy, Covenantal Sovereignty, Ecclesiastical, Legitimist Philosophy, Literature, Membership, New Believers, OCC Assemblies, Order Establishments, Priory of Salem, Protectorates, Templar, Theology Institute

Comments

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 […]

Read Post

Monastic Rule of Columbanus

Admin

June 17, 2017

Celtic Church Roots, Ecclesiastical, Legitimist Philosophy, Literature, Order Establishments, Priory of Salem, Templar, Theology Institute

Comments

📜 Culdee & Monastic Rules Rule of St Columba Rule of St Maelruain Rule of St David Rule of St Chrodegang Rule of St Comgall Rule of St Columbanus more on the rules of the Culdees Monastic Rule of Columbanus G. S. M. Walker translated by G. S. M. […]

Read Post

On Celtic Married Clergy and Monastics

Admin

May 29, 2017

Christian Israel: Tribal & Theological, Covenantal Sovereignty, Special Reports

Comments

On Celtic Married Clergy and Monastics Culdees’ Abbots, Priests, Monks and even Nuns were married. They performed religious services in accordance with norms of the ritual purity as found in the Scripture as it has to do with performing ceremonies. by Rev Dr Stephen MK Brunswick TABLE OF CONTENTS – FOREWORD – – OUR HISTORICAL […]

Read Post

Latest Website Articles

FACT CHECK: Pope Leo XIV Did NOT Declare All Religions Equal — Christians Must Stop Spreading Misleading Claims
Church Boundaries on Devotion to Mary and the Saints
The Communion of Saints in Early Christian and Celtic Worship. Heavenly Communion, Intercession, Invocation, and the Historical Boundaries of Devotion
Walking With The Saints (The Communion of Saints in the Celtic Orthodox Church)
The Houses Survived: What Really Happened to the Celtic Kingdoms?

Become Part of the Work

Interested in a closer association with St. Andrew's? Learn about membership, fellowship, study, volunteer involvement, and Sustaining Membership.

Sustaining Members help us extend the reach of thousands of articles, MP3 teachings, books, Orthodox theology, important news and Kingdom-focused resources.

Explore Membership & Involvement

Learn more, become a Sustaining Member, or begin the Stage 1 inquiry process.

Join us in celebrating the faithfulness of God working in His people.

From time to time we hold live commemorations and study sessions on several of our great Celtic Orthodox founders.
Subscribe to ensure you get briefed on the next one.

You may also use https://celticsaints.org Celebrating also 1,000 Celtic & British Saints before the arrival of St Augustine of Canterbury. PDF download of the first 350 Pre-Augustinian Celtic Saints

Celtic Orthodox Church and Orthodox Church of the Culdees Hub

Fatwa Season Banning a Christmas market near you? Or Restoring freedom?
Now Listen to 1,300 Articles — In Your Own Language
Poland’s Coup and Reckless PM Tusk
England’s Forgotten Militia: Constitutional Restoration or an Unfunded Promise?
Kingdom Style Prayer For the Dinner Table

Search the Scriptures, the Word of God.

Pray successfully! His will is His word. When you pray in agreement according to His will, staying in humility to His Sovereignty, it is done. Search KJV for any words:

Witnesses of Our Continued Orthodox Faith

Celtic and Pre-Roman British Orthodoxy
- OCC celebrates over 1,000 Celtic Saints who flourished before Augustine arrived in 597AD to convert the Saxons, having complained to Pope Gregory about Britain’s already well-established Celtic Bishoprics.
- Gildas (542AD): “We certainly know that Christ… afforded His light… to our Island in the last year of the reign of Tiberias Caesar,” 37AD.
- Council of Arles (314AD), called the “First Ecumenical Council” by Augustine of Hippo, was attended primarily by Celtic clergy of Britain and Gaul.
- Chrysostom (402AD): “The British Isles… have received the virtue of the Word. Churches are there found and altars erected. There thou should’st hear all men everywhere discussing matters out of the Scriptures.”
- St Aristobulus, assistant of the Apostle Andrew, was the First Century Bishop of Britain — celebrated liturgically across Orthodox jurisdictions.
- Rhygyfarch’s Life of Saint David (c. 1090) of Wales states Saint David (c. 550AD) was anointed as an archbishop by the Patriarch of Jerusalem, a position confirmed at the Synod of Llanddewi Brefi by popular acclaim (over 200 Bishops were recorded under his direction at subsequent synods).
Testimonies from the Roman Church
- Cardinal Baronius (Roman Annales Ecclesiastici): “Britain received the Gospel by 37AD.” He said all the Roman Martyrologies must be corrected to read “to the Gauls”(Celts) rather than “Galatians,” affirming the Western apostolicity.
- Baronius further cited Metaphrastes that “about the year of Our Lord 58, St Peter was preaching in the West, particularly in Britain.”
- Augustine’s own arrival was only to convert the newly arrived Saxons — not the longstanding British Church.
- Archbishop Parker of Canterbury promised Calvin that England would “retain her Episcopacy; but not as from Pope Gregory, who sent Augustine the monk hither, but from Joseph of Arimathea.” (“The Life and Acts of Archbishop Parker ” By John Strype, Published in 1711.)

Early Patriarchates and Apostolic Connections

The foundational patriarchates of Jerusalem, Rome, and Antioch are historically connected to Britain’s early Church:
- St. James the Just and St. Simon Zelotes, the first and second Bishops of Jerusalem, had enduring missionary links to Britain.
- St. Peter and St. Linus, the first Bishops of Rome, are linked to the British Church, with St. Linus being the grandson of King Bran the Blessed, a baptized British ruler.
- The Orthodox worldwide celebrate St Aristobulus, as the First Bishop of Britain in the First Century. He assisted the Holy Apostle St Andrew.
- St. Lazarus of Bethany, the first Bishop of Gaul, traveled to Britain before returning to the Continent — showing the seamless flow of apostolic missions between Britain and early patriarchal centers.

Historical and Canonical Witnesses to Our Apostolic Catholic Rite
- The Orthodox Church of the Culdees (OCC) maintains a valid Catholic rite, judged by the Roman Apostolic See to be in the same position as the Eastern Churches, as defined in Canon 844 §3 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law.
- Rome has consistently affirmed in official declarations such as Dominus Iesus §17 and Unitatis Redintegratio §15 that Churches with apostolic succession and valid Eucharist — even if not in communion — are “true particular Churches” where the Church of Christ is operative.
- OCC clergy hold lines of apostolic succession among main lines widely recognized as valid and canonical. The Celtic Rite preserves valid form, matter, minister, and intent as affirmed by papal documents (cf. Apostolicae Curae, Leo XIII).
- OCC recognizes the sacramental legitimacy of Orthodox and Roman clergy and welcomes visiting members for sacramental participation, as they do for ours. This mutual practice is consistent with their Canon 844 and ecumenical norms.

✦ Continued Orthodoxy vs. Eastern Heresies

The Second Council of Constantinople (381 AD) declared:
“The Churches that are without the Roman Empire should be governed by their ancient customs.”
This canon affirmed the rightful independence of the British Church.
St. Columba of Iona, in his Letter to Pope Gregory I, reminded him that the Celtic church has not propped up heretics:
“None has been a heretic, none a Judaizer, none a schismatic; but the Catholic Faith… is maintained unbroken.”
The Greek Orthodox Patriarchate was not formally established until 451 AD, long after the Gospel had already reached Britain (37 AD) and established bishoprics like that of St. Aristobulus.
Before 451 AD, the Greek sees were repeatedly governed by Arian heretics — the Patriarchs of Antioch, Constantinople, and Alexandria were condemned for promoting this heresy.
After their 451 AD establishment of their “Patriarchate”, many Greek Patriarchs were Monophysite or Monothelite heretics — the Patriarchs of Antioch, Constantinople, and Alexandria were condemned for continuing these heresies till the 7th Century.
Monophysitism was condemned at the Council of Chalcedon (451 AD) for denying Christ’s human nature, and
Monothelitism was condemned at the Third Council of Constantinople (680–681 AD) for denying Christ’s human will.
The Celtic Church maintained doctrinal purity while many Eastern Patriarchates fell into error — a fact noted by both Church councils and saints such as St. Columba.
Recognition from the Eastern Orthodox World
1951 – Affirmation from the Greek Orthodox Church in America:
A signed/sealed document on the early consecrations originating from Greek Orthodox bishops in the U.S.
(View document with seal)
1976 – Recognition from the Orthodox Church in America (OCA):
A signed and sealed letter acknowledging the challenges of being a church replanted in America, and recognizes our episcopal consecrations as valid and canonical.
(View source document with seal)
1978 – Official Recognition by His Beatitude Nicholas VI, Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria:
The Patriarch and Synod declared our Western Orthodox Bishops consecrated in America as canonical:
“we studied carefully the documents placed at our disposal placed at our [the Synod’s] disposal, and are pleased to declare your Episcopal Ordination as valid and Canonical for the existent conditions in America.”
(View Patriarchal document with seal)
Moscow Patriarchate Synod (1904–1907): Under the leadership of Bishop Tikhon (later Patriarch of Moscow and canonized saint), the Russian Synod reviewed the English liturgy and affirmed it as **theologically and liturgically Orthodox**, rooted in the ancient **Sarum Rite** of the British Isles. This recognition serves as a good reminder for Eastern Christians.
Patriarch Cyril Lucarius of Constantinople (1572–1638): This historically significant Patriarch endorsed a **Reformed (Calvinist) Confession**, demonstrating the breadth of doctrinal dialogue between Eastern and Protestant traditions. His support for doctrinal reform shows the complex and open nature of Orthodoxy in previous centuries.
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople (1882): The Patriarch and Synod **conditionally approved the Western liturgy and offices for the British Isles**, acknowledging their Orthodox form and apostolic legitimacy when restored with correct doctrine and rubrics.
Scottish Episcopal–Russian Orthodox Dialogue (1868): Metropolitan Filaret of Moscow engaged with the Scottish Episcopal Church to explore restoration of the **Western Orthodox Rite**, resulting in formal approval of a revised Orthodox-compatible Western liturgy.
Russian Orthodox Church (1907): Affirmed that the **Book of Common Prayer** is canonical and Orthodox in content, specifically citing its derivation from the **Sarum Use**, thus validating the theological integrity of Anglican and pre-Reformation British worship forms.
Recognition of Britain’s Autocephaly: Across multiple centuries, **Eastern Patriarchates and Russian Tsars** repeatedly acknowledged **Britain as an independent Orthodox jurisdiction since the First Century**.
(cf. “History of the Nonjurors…” by Lathbury)

Discover the Celtic Orthodox Tradition

Explore the history, faith, and continuing work of the Orthodox Church of the Culdees.

Learn More »

🌿 Celto-Saxon Confederation 🌿
Christian Heritage · Confederative Studies · Cultural Restoration
Join the Fellowship

✠ Join Us in Daily Prayer

Morning & Evening Prayer with sacred recitation and harp

NEW: Daily Harp Psalter (Audio)

🎶 Morning & Evening Psalter with harp, chant, and sacred recitation — in one place.

Open Daily Liturgy Page →

Daily Divine Services (Sunrise & Sunset “times of incense”)

☀️ Today’s Morning Service

Called the canonical “First Hour” (around sunrise).

🌙 Today’s Evening Service

(around sunset)

Our community promotes the traditional Orthodox discipline of daily prayer (canonical hours), without extremes. Find your style, and strengthen your relationship with the Lord. Anyone will agree it is good to start and end the day with God.

As is widely recognized to be Orthodox, we carry the English Orthodox Liturgy (Book of Common Prayer).

Free Tools

Hours of Prayer (Cosin):
Hours of Prayer Collection of Private Devotions (PDF)

📜 Today’s Psalter (30-day cycle)

📚 Today’s Old & New Testament Readings

JOIN US IN THE DAILY PRAYERS (Psalter, Canticles, Collects, Lectionary for Morning & Evensong).

“For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same My name shall be great among the Gentiles…”

— Malachi 1:11

Proud Sponsor: Celtic Press

Celtic Press is dedicated to publishing and preserving the rich spiritual and historical legacy of the Celtic Orthodox tradition. Discover insightful works on the Culdees, early Christian heritage, and the Kingdom message rooted in ancient faith.

Visit Celtic Press

Teachings by Pastor Leroy Crouch

A co-pioneer of the Celtic Culdee movement in Southern California. As you enter the sanctuary, you see the ensigns of the House of Israel, a remarkable artistic display of the House of David (British and other Royal House) genealogy, and framed copies of the Declaration of Arbroath. Many well-respected authorities on the Celtic Church came here to teach and unveil deeper truths of the Kingdom.

Listen to the Teachings

Communion and Inter-Communion

St Andrew's and St Joseph's Orthodox Church of the Culdees maintains a welcoming inter-communion network. This is comparable, though not limited, to practices found among other Celtic Culdee jurisdictions, including:

+Abbot David Smith, Abbot General, Order of the Culdee published books
Abbot-Bishop Maelruain, Céle Dé (Kristopher G. Dowling) — of the Celtic Orthodox Christian Church and Ascension Western Rite Orthodox Church in Akron
Archbishop MacKillop — St Brendan's Orthodox Church of the Culdees
Bishop Kennedy — Celtic Orthodox Church

We are of established canonical orthodoxy, which in its pure form makes room for a wide breadth of tradition. By orthodoxy, we mean the reception of at least one of the Ecumenical Church Councils, the practice of the Sacraments, and Apostolic Succession.

OCC practices inter-communion in a broad sense with those who maintain closed communion in the proper Christian sense; that is, they ensure that communicants are converted to the mainstream Gospel of Jesus Christ, confessing and turning from all sin, and being Baptized, Confirmed, and duly prepared.

Full Communion with St Andrew's OCC, however, is granted only by certification with ministries that not only practice closed communion, but also make room, where ministers are available, for the fuller round of observances, including Saturday liturgies and the Biblical seven high holy days as practiced by our Church Fathers.

Subscribe to: https://youtube.com/thebrunswickers wolfenbuttel.info © Copyright 2007 - Present, incl. "Dukedom of Brunswick" film by Galatia Films, LLC © Copyright 2009. The House of Brunswick is under covenant obligations to serve the Culdees' Church, ie the institutes of St Gall and St Othmar. As was earlier established by the Imperial German house: Culdees' Order was the standard for Charles Martel and His Chancellor Bishop Chrodegang.

Note: Youtube has been blocking so many conservatives. Even those of us representing established moderate norms are censored from sharing all of our content. So we are developing to put our content up on the alternative platform Rumble:
Visit and Subscribe to our Rumble Video Channel click here

The Revolvermaps.com Globe Widget has been discontinued. Your total unique visits amounted to 13,982,021.

Some sites to check: Watchman News: http://watchman.news

LATEST HEADLINES TO THE HOUR (combined from the top Nationalist News sites)

Col. Douglas MacGregor Military Analysis
Daily Technocracy / Transhumanism Agenda News