ABOUT US
We are a small group of Orthodox Christians, based in Glastonbury, UK. In addition to our community activities, we also engage in some missionary work in the area.
For the past sixteen years, since our arrival in the area, we have been consistently looking out for ways to reignite the flame of Orthodox Christianity in the area, and we have been exploring several ideas of how to achieve our goal.
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​"We recently received a prophecy of Saint Porphyrios of Kavsokalyvitis, which was conveyed to us through the son of the late Konstantinos Ganotis, a Greek Orthodox professor, philologist, and writer who was the spiritual child of the Saint and also composed the first Celtic service of all the Celtic and British Saints, which was approved by the Holy Synod of the Church of Greece."
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His son, Fr. George Ganotis, who served for 14 years in the holy chapel of St. Xena in lower Patisia in Athens, founded within the chapel of St. Xena, guided by his father, the holy chapel of the Celtic Saints, decorated with the iconography of the abbess of the holy Monastery of Panagia of Vryoula Milesi Oropos, gerontissa Philotheiksi, published the book with the synaxaria of twenty-one Celtic, Irish, and British saints of the Celtic Church.
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He also informed us, as his father told him, that St. Porphyrios prophesied that,
"when the Greeks begin to discover the Celtic Saints, the Anglicans will become Orthodox."
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This was likely the reason the Saint instructed the construction of a unique and little-known chapel dedicated to the Orthodox Celtic Saints within the Holy Convent of Metamorphosis Sotiros at Milesi in Attica.
The presence of the Celtic Saints is intense and continues.
In the holy church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary of Kypriadou in Athens, a large Celtic shrine is currently being built with the great Irish Saints and missionaries: Saint Patrick, Saint Kevin, Saint Columba, Saint Bridget, and Saint Melangel.
It will open for the first time in early July 2027, on the second Sunday of Matthew after Pentecost, when the Celtic Saints are officially celebrated.
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​​We believe that one of the main reasons for the fragmentation of Orthodoxy in Europe and the ineffectiveness of most missionary work in the UK and Ireland, is that orthodox diaspora isolate itself, hiding behind national languages and customs. We shouldn’t. As Orthodox Christians we all have an obligation to spread the Good News of the Kingdom in Heaven. We possess both the knowledge and experience of Orthodoxy, along with the fervent enthusiasm to share it. While such enthusiasm is commendable, it is simply not enough.
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One of the biggest mistakes made by emigrants of the diaspora when they come to the UK and Ireland is that they often establish churches solely in the name of their national Saints, using only their native language and customs, and venerating only the saints from their own countries. This approach overlooks the remarkable efforts and sacrifices of pre-schism native saints, effectively dismissing their contributions and spiritual struggles in spreading the Holy Gospel throughout these islands.
Our missionary efforts must begin by establishing a connection through prayer, seeking guidance from those ancient saintly protectors of the Islands. We believe these saints continue to inspire and safeguard the lost in this land, even after a thousand years.
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They can assist us in our missionary endeavors and shield us from evil and ignorance. We need to momentarily set aside our national pride and introduce ourselves to the Christian forefathers of this Kingdom—the radiant Holy Sons and Daughters of the British and Irish Isles.
We should learn about them, seek their blessings, and show respect before attempting to gain personal benefits from these countries. This, I believe, is the least we can do.
We should not seek assistance from the leaders of various denominations. Instead, we must turn for guidance to the pre-schism Saints and advice every other denomination to do the same. The way to do this is through study, prayer, and veneration in our churches. By doing so, we can reestablish our connection and become brothers and sisters in Christ and in Faith once more.​
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Seeing the above prophecy as a sign for our times, we decided to undertake the wonderful task of learning more about the British and Irish saints. Our goal is to compile an online synaxarion/agiologion by gathering as much information as we can find. This effort aims to provide a glimpse into the lives and stories that shaped Orthodox Christianity up until the schism of the Christian Church in 1054 AD.
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We hope you find it inspirational.
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​PS: We welcome all types of contributions, particularly those related to information about Saints prior to the schism.
