A SERVICE TO ALL SAINTS OF BRITAIN

The writing of services for Western Orthodox Saints was first encouraged, in modern times, by the recently glorified St. John Maximovich, while he was archbishop of Western Europe for the Russian Church Abroad (see Blessed John the Wonderworker Platina: St. Herman of Alaska Brotherhood, 1987, pp. 99-102). This service was composed in response to a request by St. John's successor, Archbishop Anthony of Geneva, when he was in London in October, 1976. It is modelled on the Service to All Saints of Russia; and we suggest that, if approved by the local Hierarch, it could be chanted, like the latter service, on the Second Sunday after Pentecost.

The land of Britain produced Saints to the glory of God for an approximately 1000-year period, from the apostolic age to the Norman Conquest in 1066-70, when the traditions of British Orthodoxy were overthrown, the relics of many of the saints were destroyed, and Roman Catholicism was imposed on the British peoples at the edge of the sword. According to a prophecy of the nineteenth-century Greek Saint Arsenios of Paros, the Church in the British Isles will not prosper again until her native saints are again venerated. This service is therefore offered as a humble mite towards the rebuilding of the Church of Christ in the British land.

The Saints commemorated in this service are mainly Celts and Anglo-Saxons, with several Italians, two Frenchmen, two Danes, one Greek and one Persian. Towards the middle of the tenth century, the whole of England was united in a single State which was Orthodox in faith and in communion with other Orthodox States in both East and West, a fact that was reflected in the compiling of several English calendars of Saints. Therefore a calendar of the Western Saints known to have been commemorated in the English Church before the Norman Conquest, together with a prophecy of King Edward the Confessor, is appended after the service.

May 30 / June 12, 1995

Day of the Holy Spirit.

The Orthodox Foundation of St. Michael, Guildford.

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men of goodwill, because a grain of wheat, falling into the earth, has died that it might not reign in heaven alone - even He by Whose death we live, by Whose weakness we are made strong, through Whose love we seek in Britain for brethren whom we know not, by Whose gift we find them whom without knowing we sought."

St. Gregory the Great, pope of Rome and apostle of the English,

to St. Augustine, first archbishop of Canterbury.

"Although this bitter sorrow tortures our heart, nevertheless a certain triumphant, exultant joy softens and quiets our grief as we recall the wondrous - nay, the ineffable - grace of God and render thanks that the English people were found worthy, foreigners though they are, to send out this gifted student of heavenly learning, this noble soldier of Christ, with many pupils well taught and trained, to far-off spiritual conflicts and for the salvation of many souls through the grace of Almighty God... Wherefore, in our general synod at which we took counsel together regarding those other matters which we have briefly set forth to your Holiness, we decided to celebrate annually the day of his martyrdom and of the company who perished with him. We desire him to be our especial patron, together with St. Gregory and St. Augustine, and we surely believe that he is such before Christ our Lord, Whom he so loved in his life and so glorified in his death as to be worthy of His grace."

Archbishop Cuthbert of Canterbury to Bishop Lullus of Mainz,

on the martyrdom of St. Boniface, enlightener of Germany.

Vespers

At Lord, I have cried... four verses of the Sunday, then of the Saints:

Tone 1:

Come, let us praise the Saints of Britain: holy Monks and Nuns, Hierarchs and Princes, Martyrs, Hieromartyrs and Wonderworkers, both named and unnamed. For by their deeds and words and various gifts, they became truly holy, and God has glorified even their tombs with miracles. And now as they stand in the presence of Christ Who glorified them, they pray earnestly for us who with love celebrate their radiant feast.

Tone 2:

With beautiful chanting let us praise the divinely wise holy Hierarchs of Britain, bright adornment of the Church of Christ, crowns of the priesthood, models of piety, unfailing sources of divine healing, channels of spiritual gifts, rivers abundant in miracles gladdening the land of Britain with their flow, fervent helpers of pious Christians, for whose sake Christ subdued the uprisings of enemies and bestoweth on us great mercy.

Tone 8:

Earth exulteth and heaven rejoiceth, O holy monastic Fathers, as we praise your labours and spiritual struggles, your moral courage and purity of mind, for ye were not defeated by the law of carnal nature. O holy company and divine army, ye are truly the strength of our land.

Same tone:

Blessed, divinely-wise Princes of Britain, shining with Orthodox wisdom and radiant with the brightness of the virtues, ye illumine the gatherings of the faithful and dispel the darkness of the demons. Therefore we honour you as partakers of unfailing grace and untiring guardians of your inheritance.

Most blessed Martyrs of Christ, ye gave yourselves up as voluntary sacrifices, and have sanctified the land of Britain with your blood, and illumined the air by your death. And now ye live in the heavens in the unwaning Light, ever praying for us, O seers of God.

Ye enlightened the hearts of the faithful with your virtues, O righteous Martyr-Kings of Britain. For who will not be amazed on hearing of your infinite patience and humility, your meekness and gentleness to all, your mercifulness to those in sorrow and suffering, your speedy help to those in trouble, the calm haven you were to those at sea, and Godspeed to travellers. Ye beautifully anticipated every need, O wonderful Saints. And now ye have been crowned with unfading crowns by the hand of the Almighty God. Pray that our souls may be saved.

Glory... Tone 5:

Rejoice, wonderworking holy Hierarchs of Britain. For ye are the first of all our intercessors with the Lord, leaders of Orthodoxy and guides to the true Faith. Rejoice, every place and land and city that has reared citizens for the heavenly Kingdom. These Saints have appeared as lights for our souls, they have shone spiritually with the glow of miracles and works and portents to the ends of the earth, and now they pray to Christ for the salvation of our souls.

Both now...

Dogmatikon of the tone. O Joyful Light. Prokeimenon: The Lord is King... Readings: (1) Isaiah 43.9-14; (2) Wisdom 3.1-9; (3) Wisdom 5.15-16.3.

Litia. Tone 8:

Rejoice with us, O all ye choirs of Saints and Angels, and let us be spiritually united. Come and let us chant a song of thanksgiving to Christ our God. For behold, a countless host of our kinsmen who were well-pleasing to God standeth before the King of glory, and intercedeth in prayer for us. These are the beauty and pillars of the Orthodox Faith. These glorified the Church of God by their struggles and the shedding of their blood, by their teaching and by their works. These strengthened faith in Christ by signs and miracles. These shone from all parts of our land, and strengthened the Orthodox Faith there. And they emulated the Apostles and penetrated to other lands. Some adorned deserts and cities with holy monasteries, and lived the angelic life. Many suffered insults and injuries from the sons of the world and experienced a cruel death. And many undertook other labours of every kind. And all pray to the Lord to deliver our country from adversity, having given us an example of patience and the suffering of hardship.

Glory... Both now... Same tone:

All the noetic orders rejoice with us, and, united as a spiritual choir, they see the Lady and Queen of all, who is glorified by the faithful under many names. The souls of the righteous also rejoice, seeing visions of her praying in the air, stretching out her all-pure hands and asking for peace for the world, for the conversion of the land of Britain, and for the salvation of our souls.

Apostikha as for Sunday.

Glory... Tone 4:

As we celebrate today the annual commemoration of our holy kinsmen, let us worthily bless them. For they truly passed through all the Lord's Beatitudes: When stripped and poor, they became rich in spirit; being meek, they inherited the land of the meek; they wept, and were comforted; they hungered for justice and righteousness, and were satisfied; they showed mercy, and obtained mercy; being pure in heart, they saw God as far as it is possible; having been peacemakers, they were granted Divine adoption; having been tortured and persecuted for the sake of righteousness, they now exult and rejoice in heaven; and they pray fervently to the Lord to have mercy on our land.

Both now... Tone 5:

Let us now blow the trumpet of song, let us chant in harmony to the defender of our land, our Queen, the Mother of God: Rejoice, thou who hast crowned our country from ancient times with thy favour and showered thy grace upon it! Therefore our British Church brightly celebrateth thy most precious Protection and the memory of thy miracles. Take not thy mercy from us also now, O Lady. Look down on our sorrows and afflictions and raise us up by thy mighty intercession.

Nunc Dimittis. Holy God... Our Father...

Troparion to the Saints of Britain, tone 8:

As a beautiful fruit of the sowing of Thy salvation, the land of Britain offereth to Thee, O Lord, all the Saints that have shone in it. By their prayers keep the Church and our land in deep peace, through the Mother of God, O Most Merciful One.

Mattins

At the Lord is God, Sunday troparion twice. Glory... Troparion to the Saints of Britain.

Both now... Theotokion:

O Thou Who for our sakes wast born of a Virgin, and suffered crucifixion, O Good One, and despoiled death by death, and as God didst reveal the Resurrection: Despise not those whom Thou hast created with Thine own hand; show us Thy love for mankind, O Merciful One; accept the Theotokos who bore Thee and who intercedeth for us; and save Thy despairing people, O our Saviour.

After the Polyelaion, the Magnification:

We magnify, we magnify you, O all ye Saints of the land of Britain, and we honour your holy memory, for ye pray for us to Christ our God.

Select Psalm: Hear this, all ye nations; give ear, all ye that dwell upon the earth.

Then the Evlogitaria and the Hypakoe of the tone.

The Kathisma of the Saints, tone 8:

Illumined by the lightning-flashes of the Saints, as if entering a beautiful Paradise, we enjoy torrents of delight. And seeing their wonderful courage, we emulate their virtues, crying to the Saviour: By their prayers, O God, make us sharers in Thy Kingdom.

Tone 1:

Like a bright sun, like a brilliant morning star, the precious memory of the Saints who shone in the land of Britain has dawned, enlightening all of us, and warming our hearts to imitate their life and emulate their zeal.

Glory... Tone 8:

In memory of Thy Saints, O Lord, all British believers keep festival, the heavens are glad, and the ends of our land rejoice. By their prayers grant to our souls great mercy.

Both now... Same tone:

O All-Merciful Lord, Who lookest down from the heights and receivest the poor, visit us who are bedevilled by sin, and by the prayers of the Mother of God and all the British Saints, grant to our souls Thy great mercy.

Anabathmoi of the tone. Prokeimenon of the tone. Let every breath... Sunday Gospel. Psalm 50. Glory... Through the prayers of the Apostles... Both now... Through the prayers of the Theotokos... Jesus, having risen...

Canon to the Resurrection in the Sunday tone. Canon to the Mother of God.

Canon to the Saints of Britain, tone 8:

Ode 1.

Irmos: Let us, O people, send up a song to our marvellous God, who delivered Israel from slavery, and let us chant a song of victory and cry: We chant unto Thee, our only Lord.

Refrain: O all ye Saints of Britain, pray to God for us!

Rejoice, O holy Apostles, who planted the staff of faith in our land! Rejoice, for the blood of your martyrdom has become the seed of Christian generations! Never cease to look with favour on us, your children. R.

Not fearing the tyrant's threats, thou wast scourged and beheaded for Christ's sake, O holy Protomartyr Alban. Together with Julius and Aaron and all the Martyrs of Britain, pray unceasingly for our souls. R.

O blessed Hieromartyr of Christ Augulus, together with your noble company, forget not thy fatherland: banish famine and oppression, and deliver all who hope in thee from civil war and all manner of sin. R.

Trained by the great Martin, thou didst emulate his missionary zeal in the Scottish land, O holy Bishop Ninian. And in Whithorn didst thou build the first stone church in Britain in his name, shining with the purity of the virtues. R.

Carried to Ireland by pirates in thy youth, thou didst return as her blessed Apostle, O Patrick, glorious fruit of the British Church. Pray that we who honour thee may be granted great mercy. R.

In Man wast thou the first to sow the Word, O holy Hierarch Germanus, bringing forth a rich harvest to Christ. With your fellow bishops Conon and Maughold, pray that we who honour thee may be granted great mercy.

Glory...

Thou wast a chronicler of the deeds of the martyrs, and chastiser of the sins of thy people, O wise Gildas. And as from sacred Glastonbury thou didst preach repentance, so now pray that we be granted remission of our sins.

Both now...

With the ranks of Angels and Archangels, O Lady, with the venerable and glorious Prophets, with the supreme Apostles and Martyrs, and with all the Saints, pray to God for us sinners who glorify thee in the land of Britain.

Ode 3.

Irmos: There is none holy as the Lord, and none righteous as our God. And all creation chants to Him: There is none righteous but Thee, O Lord.

Refrain: O all ye Saints of Britain, pray to God for us!

Abandoning thy princely father's home, thou didst seek a hermit's life in the Devonian land, O Nectan, blessed Martyr of Christ. And with thy holy brothers and sisters thou dost reign now with Christ in glory. R.

A rock of faith wast thou, O Petroc, rejoicing of the Cornish Church. With Constantine, King, Monk and Martyr, and with all the Saints of Cornwall, do thou intercede for our souls. R.

Thou didst traverse the western lands, amazing all by thy virtue, O holy Samson. Filled with the Holy Spirit, thou didst drive out evil spirits from the hearts of men, and dost intercede for all who honour thee. R.

Thou didst assemble a great company of Monks, O David, glorious archpastor of Menevia. And raising thy voice on high thou didst silence the ragings of Pelagius' followers. Together with the holy Bishops Dyfrig and Deiniol, pray that we too may be delivered from all heresy. R.

From Ireland didst thou come, O dove of the cells, most glorious Columba, and all Scotland didst enlighten with thy miracles. And to England's Oswald didst thou appear after thy repose, promising glorious victory. With thy friend, the holy Hierarch Kentigern, do thou pray for our souls.

Glory...

O righteous Princes, Martyrs, Monks and Hierarchs of the Celtic lands! Ye did make the western desert a city, and by your wonderful lives ye have taught us to take the cross upon our shoulders and to follow Christ.

Both now...

Behold the time has come for the intervention of the Most Holy Mother of God, for scandals and temptations abound. Now is the time to offer our sighs to her, O brethren. So let us cry with all our heart: O Lady, our Queen, help thy people.

Kontakion to the Saints of Britain, tone 3:

Today the choir of Saints who pleased God in our land standeth before us in church and invisibly prayeth for us to God. With them the Angels glorify Him, and all the Saints of the Church of Christ keep festival with them. And they all pray together for us to the eternal God.

Oikos:

Ye have proved to be fruitful and beautiful trees of the Paradise of Eden, O Saints, producing fragrant flowers of teachings and the fruit of good works, by which our souls are nourished and our spiritual hunger is allayed. Come, then, let us have recourse to their protection, and let us bless them as the joy and adornment of our land, and as an example and model for our lives, for they have received incorruptible crowns from the eternal God.

Kathisma, tone 4:

Christ the Sun of Righteousness sent you as rays to enlighten the land of Britain, O servants of God who have sprung from our stock. So enlighten my darkened soul by your divine prayers, O blessed Saints of God.

Glory... Both now... Same tone:

Let us run, O ye faithful, to the divine and healing Cross of God our Saviour, Who was pleased to ascend upon it and by His Blood redeem us from slavery to the enemy. Then let us thankfully cry to Him: Save our Hierarchs and spiritual leaders, and protect all Thy people by thy precious Cross, and save our souls, for Thou are the Lover of men.

Ode 4.

Irmos: The Prophet with divine insight saw Thee, O Word, desiring to become incarnate of the overshadowed mountain, the only Mother of God, and with awe he praised Thy power.

Refrain: O all ye Saints of Britain, pray to God for us!

Rejoice, O Augustine, great Gregory's most worthy son! Rejoice, Apostle of the English land! Rejoice, first Bishop of the Church of Christ at Canterbury, and our intercessor before the Throne of God! R.

Your sound hath gone out into all the land, destroying the worship of idols and planting the true Faith in the hearts of the English, O holy Hierarchs of Canterbury and York Laurence, Mellitus, Justus, Honorius, Deusdedit and Paulinus. R.

Armed with the power of the Cross, thou didst conquer Christ's enemies, O holy King Oswald. And remaining constant in prayer and almsgiving, thou didst merit a Martyr's crown. With the holy Martyr-Kings Edwin and Oswin, pray for our souls. R.

From Iona's blest isle didst thou come, O humble Aidan, and with the milk of thy teaching didst nourish the hearts of the English. With all the holy Saints of Lindisfarne, pray that we be granted remission of our sins. R.

Thou didst spurn a mortal bridegroom for the Immortal Bridegroom of our souls, O Eanswythe, first fruit of women's monasticism in the South. And now with your holy brothers Ethelbert and Ethelbricht, thou dost rejoice for ever in the heavens. R.

Of hell's dark abodes wast thou granted visions, and with fear didst thou confirm the faith of the people, O our holy Father Fursey. And with the holy Abbot Botulph and the righteous Bishop Felix thou didst plant the monastic life in East Anglia's land.

Glory...

Thou wast raised from the dead, O Virgin Winefrid, and to all didst show the Way and the Life. Together with the holy Beuno and all the Saints of Wales, cease thou never to pray for our souls.

Both now...

O Virgin Mother of God, hope of Christians, grant us also thine ancient mercies which our fathers enjoyed, and protect and keep us from all evil.

Ode 5.

Irmos: Having redeemed us from the darkness of the passions as from deepest night, grant that my spirit may greet the dawn of the daylight of Thy commandments, I pray, O Christ.

Refrain: O all ye Saints of Britain, pray to God for us!

Strengthened in thine old age by the grace of God, from Tarsus didst thou come like a second Paul, O holy Hierarch Theodore. With thy companion, the holy Adrian, pray that Orthodox Christians may be preserved in unity. R.

Even after thy sacred repose, thine incorrupt body gushed forth healings for the faithful, O glorious Cuthbert. For thou wast great in asceticism and a faithful shepherd of thy flock, O bright light and intercessor for our land. R.

Like a pillar of fire thou didst shine in fen-girt Ely, O royal Virgin Etheldreda, wherefore thy body dost remain incorrupt even till now. With the holy priest Huna and thy holy sisters Sexburga, Withburga and Ermenhilda, pray for us all. R.

O holy Abbesses Hilda, Osith, Ethelburga and Werburga, having acquired abstinence and humility, wisdom, faith and perfect love, ye attained the Kingdom immovable. R.

A peacemaker wast thou, and glorious peace didst thou obtain from the King of Peace, O Erkenwald, great London's boast and holy hierarch. Do thou intercede for our souls.

Glory...

Thy tears in the wilderness brought forth fruit an hundredfold, O holy Father Guthlac, and by the weapon of thy prayers thou didst conquer demons and receive from heaven the grace to heal the diseases of those who honour thee.

Both now...

The choir of the holy ones and the souls of all the faithful bless thee, O most pure one, for above mind and understanding thou didst give birth to the Divine Word. And now again, O Lady and Queen, be a protection and defence for the land of Britain, and save us from all attacks of our enemies.

Ode 6.

Irmos: Receive me, O Lover of men, oppressed by many falls. And save me as I fall down before Thy compassion like the Prophet, O Lord.

Refrain: O all ye Saints of Britain, pray to God for us!

O holy Mildred, coming from France thou didst impress thy seal on Thanet's shore, and wast taken up as a seal on the heart of the heavenly King. With thy holy sisters Mildburga and Mildgytha, pray for our souls. R.

Thou wast adorned with beauty of speech, O venerable Bede of Jarrow, for thou didst appear as a divinely writing scribe. As thou didst glorify the English Saints by thy words, so now has the Lord glorified thee. With thy holy Fathers Benedict and Ceolfrid, intercede for us now. R.

Thou didst contend well for the sacred canons, and didst enlighten the pagan darkness of Sussex, O Wilfrid. Wherefore, with the holy Hierarchs Chad and Cedd, Egwin and Aldhelm, Acca and Alcmund, we all honour thee. R.

To the Dutch thirsting from the drought of polytheism thou didst bring the Living Water to drink, O divinely wise Willibrord-Clement. Pray that to us may be given the sweet wine of contrition. R.

Having destroyed the temples of the idols, thou didst bring a multitude to the Faith of Christ, O Boniface, Enlightener of Germany. Wherefore with the holy Eoban and a company of thy disciples, thou wast counted worthy of a Martyr's crown. R.

Hearkening to the cry of your benighted kinsmen, ye did abandon all and go to the lands beyond the sea, O holy siblings Willibald, Wunebald and Walburga. Wherefore with the divine Leoba and Tecla, ye now rejoice in the heavens.

Glory...

From Ireland didst thou come, O holy Hierarch Fergus, bringing the grace of the Divine Word to the Scots. And with the righteous Fathers Drostan, Fillan and Maelrubba, thou didst bring forth a rich harvest of souls.

Both now...

O most holy Virgin, fervent intercessor for those who have recourse to thee and hope of those who trust in thee, see the oppression of thy people and show us a sign of thy mercy, O most pure one.

Kontakion for the Sunday.

Ode 7.

Irmos: On the plain of Deira, the tyrant once placed a furnace to punish the God-bearers, in which the three children praised the One God, crying: O God of our Fathers, blessed art Thou.

Refrain: O all ye Saints of Britain, pray to God for us!

Wearing the purple of your own blood, ye exchanged your sceptres for the Cross, O holy Passion-Bearers Ethelbert, Kenelm and Wistan. Wherefore the miracles at your tombs proclaim your innocence. R.

When the savage Northmen appeared off Britain's shores, ye offered yourselves as sweet-smelling sacrifices to Christ, O holy Hieromartyrs Adrian and Stalbrand. With Blaithmaic of Iona and all the Martyrs of the Viking yoke, pray for our souls. R.

In Winchester's royal city thou didst shine with the grace of humility, O holy Hierarch Swithun. Wherefore the Lord did exalt thee on the summit of high miracles many years after thy repose. R.

With the great Swithun ye appeared in glory, O holy Hierarchs Birinus and Birnstan. Wherefore the land of Wessex doth ever enjoy your protection. R.

Although the heathen transfixed thee with arrows, thou didst not renounce sweet Jesus, O King among Martyrs Edmund. Wherefore thy tongue did still speak after thy repose, and thy body was resplendent with the grace of incorruption. R.

On witnessing thy brother's heavenly glory, thou didst renounce the glory of the world, O blessed Edwold, and by thine ascetic struggles in the wilderness thou didst attain the Kingdom on high.

Glory...

In England's darkest hour thou didst reprove the righteous King Alfred and comfort him with thy sage counsel, O great among Priests Neot. And with the holy Grimbald, thou didst guide him in the restoration of Orthodoxy in our land, crying: Blessed art Thou, O Lord, the God of our Fathers.

Both now...

Thou are the boast of Christians, O Lady, thou are a weapon against our enemies and a wall for those who have recourse to thee, O Queen. Let not thine enemies who praise not thee nor thy Son, O Mother of God, rise up against thy people. Do thou conquer them and save our souls.

Ode 8.

Irmos: Victors by Thy grace over tyrant and flame, the youths clung fast to Thy commandments and cried: Bless the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, and praise and exalt Him above all to all ages.

Refrain: O all ye Saints of Britain, pray to God for us!

As emulators of the apostles in labours and vigilance, ye have presided over the people of the Church, O holy Hierarchs Alphege and Oda. Wherefore we magnify you in psalms and hymns. R.

Counting all the splendour of thy royal inheritance as dung, thou didst press forward to the mark of a heavenly calling, O Virgin Edburga, perfect exemplar of the monastic life. R.

Having first mortified thy flesh by abstinence and labours, and having assembled a multitude of monks by thy teaching, thou hast appeared as a divine and all-sacred intercessor before the Trinity, O Dunstan, rock of Orthodoxy. R.

Being obedient to thy spiritual father Dunstan, thou didst win the prize of obedience in an innocent death, O holy Passion-Bearer King Edward. Wherefore thy shrine dost gush forth miracles of healing. R.

Ever guarding thyself with the sign of the Cross and pierced by Divine love, thou, O sacred Virgin Edith, didst wound with the arrows of abstinence him that wounded Eve. With your holy grandmother Elgiva and the Virgins Wulfhilda and Ethelfleda, pray for our souls. R.

Taking up prayer as a sword and shield, thou didst vanquish the pagan darkness, O Lide, blessed ascetic of the Scilly isles. And Norway's King Olaf didst thou convert by thy wisdom.

Glory...

Like unto Moses, the holy Hierarchs Ethelwold, Oswald, Yvo and Wulsin have ascended the cloudy mountain of passionlessness and have obtained the noetic law of grace, crying: Hymn the Lord, all ye works of the Lord, praise and exalt Him above all to all ages.

Both now...

Grant us help by thy prayers, O all-holy Mother of God. For troubles come upon us, sorrows multiply, and our enemies are arming themselves. But intercede for us and deliver us, O most pure one. Lay low the arrogance of our enemies and grant us victory, that all who do evil to thy servants may be put to shame.

Magnificat.

Ode 9.

Irmos: O Mother of God, perfection of virginity, thou exaltest with glorious chants the feasts that celebrate thy graces. And now even more on this day in thy virginal memory thou adornest with the mystic enlightenment of thy Word those who magnify thee.

Refrain: O all ye Saints of Britain, pray to God for us!

For thy flock and country didst thou lay down thy life, O holy Hieromartyr Alphege. Wherefore from the Chief Shepherd didst thou worthily receive the highest accolade. As thou now rejoicest in the heavens, pray that our souls may be saved. R.

From sacred Glastonbury didst thou set out, O holy Hierarch Sigfrid, and didst make the savage Swedes gentle lambs of Christ by thy teaching. With the Martyr Ulfrid and thy martyred nephews, pray for our souls. R.

Having been bound and tortured, thou didst surrender thy pure soul into the hands of thy Creator, O holy Prince Alfred. Wherefore thy tomb was illumined by the grace of miracles. R.

As darkness descended upon the West, thou didst shine with the light of wisdom, O chaste King Edward, warning thy people of the wrath to come. Wherefore God preserved thy body in incorruption. R.

O holy Martyrs of the Latin yoke, ye did not fear the false pope's threats, nor bow your necks to the tyrant's rule. Pray that we ever remain steadfast in the Orthodox Faith. R.

O great Fathers and Mothers, named and unnamed, known and unknown, who have attained the heavenly Zion and have received great glory from God, ask for comfort and strength for us who are in trouble, raise up our fallen country, and receive from us as our gift this chant of thanksgiving.

Glory to Thee, O God, Most Holy Trinity!

O Most Holy Trinity, accept all the Saints who have pleased Thee in the land of Britain, receiving them as first-fruits and choice incense. And by their prayers keep our land from all harm.

Both now...

O Virgin, full of grace, the icons of whose countenance have enriched our cities and villages with signs of thy favour and goodwill, accept our thanksgiving, and deliver our homeland from all violent adversity. For we all magnify thee as a mighty protection of all Orthodox Christians.

Exapostilarion for the Sunday.

Glory... Then of the Saints:

Let us praise and extol in chants the unwaning lights of the land of Britain, the mystics and initiates of the Divine Word. And let us glorify Christ Who enlightened and loved them, and Who gave them as our helpers in trouble.

Both now...

Theotokion of the Sunday.

For the Praises, 4 of the Sunday, and 4 of the Saints,

tone 1:

Thou didst send down Thy Most Holy Spirit, O Lord, into the intelligent soul of Ethelbert, to know Thee, the One God in Trinity. Then, having enlightened the people entrusted to him, Thou didst bring them by faith into Thy Church: O our Redeemer, glory to Thee!

Tone 2:

Let us who have gathered together bless the lights of the land of Britain, the glorious Martyrs and holy Hierarchs, Monks and Righteous, and let us cry out to them: O all ye Saints of Britain, pray to Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

Verse: The righteous cried, and the Lord heard them.

O holy Fathers, ye were spiritual flowers of the land of Britain, our praise and strength and a calm haven for all. For of you our land boasteth, having acquired you as an inexhaustible treasure. And now though your bodily tongues are silent, yet miracles bear witness to the Lord Who glorified you. Pray to Him to grant our souls His great mercy.

Verse: Blessed are all they that fear Thee, O Lord, and walk in Thy ways.

Tone 4:

Having heard the call of the Gospel, and burning with apostolic zeal, ye rushed to instruct the unbelieving pagans, O divinely blessed hierarchs Patrick, Samson, Willibrord, Boniface and Sigfrid, pioneers of the enlightenment of the lands beyond the sea. Therefore with all the rest who laboured in the Gospel of Christ, ye are rightly called blessed.

Glory...

Eothinon.

Both now...

Most blessed art thou...

Great Doxology.

Liturgy

After the Entry, troparia of the Sunday and of the Saints, kontakion of the Sunday. Glory... Kontakion of the Saints. Both now... O unfailing intercessor of Christians. Prokeimenon of the Sunday, and of the Saints: Tone 7: Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints. Apostle of the Sunday and of the Saints: Hebrews 11.33-12.2: Brethren, all the Saints by faith... Gospel of the Sunday and of the Saints: Matthew 4.25-5.12. Communion hymn: Praise the Lord... and of the Saints: Rejoice in the Lord, O ye righteous; praise is meet for the upright.