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[[Image:chadgeorgeinfo.jpg|right]]{{cleanup}}Our father among the saints '''Saint Chad of Lichfieldand Mercia''' (+672) also called ''St. Caedda'' was a [[missionary]], [[bishop]], [[healer]], and [[wonderworker]] who spread the Orthodox Catholic Faith throughout the British Isles. His [[feast day ]] is commemorated on [[March 2]].

==Chad, the Life=====The Simple Monastic===Everything we know of this great hierarch comes from the writings of St . [[Bede]] in his "Ecclesiastical History", written in 731.

St. Chad, the youngest of four brothers, was born into a humble Northumbrian family near the beginning of the seventh century. His brothers, St. [[Cedd]], St. [[Cynebil ]] and righteous [[Caelin ]] all became monks. A family of saints, these four men studied under the great sainted-hierarch and monk, [[Aidan of Lindisfarne|Bishop Aidan]]. Saint Aidan was a great source of spiritual insight to these four men, all four became priests of the holy Church. They were sent to Ireland under the great [[geronda]] (elder) and Saint saint, [[Egbert]] , at the monastery of Rathmelsige (Melfont), for advanced study and training in the monastic life.

Chad worked tirelessly with his broher brother Cedd (who had been made bishop of London), they established the monastery of Laestingaeu, now Lastingham in Yorkshire. Upon the death of his brother Cedd in 664, Chad succeeded him as abbot.

==Chad, the =The Humble Bishop===St. [[Wilfrid]] was chosen to become bishop of [[Lindisfarne]] after the death of bishop Tudi. He travelled to Gaul for consecration and remained so long absent that King Oswiu (ruler of Northumbria) demanded a bishop. Having learned of the missionary exploits and great humility of Chad, called for his election as Bishop of York, to which place the [[See]] of Lindisfarne had been transferred.

St. Chad was [[Wilfridconsecrate]] was chosen to become bishop d (uncanonically) by Bishop Wini of Worcester and two [[Lindisfarneschismatic]] after the death of bishop +Tudi. He travelled British bishops to Gaul for consecration and remained so long absent that King Oswiu (ruler of Northumbria) demanded a bishop. Having learned of the missionary exploits and great humility called for the election of Chad as Bishop See of York, to which place the See of Lindisfarne had been transferred.

Saint Chad was hesitant to be bishop, he wanted no part of it, but ultimately he was obedient. As bishop of York, he was much beloved by his flock, travelling great distances on foot to care for his "little sheep." When St. Wilfrid returned to York and found out his See was given away, he made no objection and retired to a monastery in peace. Saint Chad was [[consecrate]]d ([[uncanonically]]) , a Celtic Bishop, played a huge role in unifying the Church in 664 by Bishop +[[Wini]] of [[Worchestor]] accepting and two schismatic british recommending to his fellow bishops to the See adoption of Yorkthe Orthodox Nicaean calendar.

In the year 668, Saint Chad was hesitant to be bishop, he wanted no part [[Theodore of Tarsus]] assumed the central [[Cathedra]] and became [[Archbishop of itCanterbury]] and immediately sought about reforming the churches in England and Ireland. Up until this time, but ultimately he the Church in the Isles was obedientnot following proper canonical order set down by the Ecumenical Councils. As bishop St. Theodore of York, he Tarsus was much beloved sent by his flock, travelling great distances on foot the Pope of Rome to care for his "little sheeprestore order in the British and Irish churches." When StSaint Theodore was a wise bishop and a deeply spiritual monastic. Wilfrid returned While travelling to York and found out his See he was given away, he made no objection and retired shocked to a monastery in peacefind that St. Wilfrid was not the [[canonical]] bishop of York. Saint The consecration of St. Chad, a Celtic Bishop, played a large role in unifying the Church in 664 was uncanonical due to three points made by accepting and recommending adoption of the Orthodox Nicaean calendarSt.Theodore:

In the year 668, Saint [[Theodore of Tarsus]] assumed the central [[Cathedra]] and became [[Archbishop of Canterbury]] and immediately sought about reforming the churches in England and Ireland. Up until this time, the Church in the Isles was not following proper canonical order set down by the Ecumenical Councils. St. Theodore of Tarsus was sent by the Pope of Rome to restore order in the British and Irish churches. Saint Theodore was a wise bishop and a deeply spiritual monastic. When travelling to York he was shocked to find that St. Wilfrid was not the canonical bishop of York. The consecration of St. Chad was uncanonical due to three points made by St. Theodore:  '''1.''' The british British bishops refused to acknowledge the canonical (Julian) Church calendar established by the Ecumenical Council of Nicea (of which Rome and the four Eastern Patriarchates adhered to)<br>

St. Theodore decided that in good church order, St. Chad must give up the See of York to it's rightfully elected bishop, St. Wilfrid. St. Chad in astounding humility responded, "If you decide that I have not rightly received the episcopal character, I willingly lay down the office; for I have never thought myself worthy of it, but under obedience, I, though unworthy, consented to undertake it." Seeing in him a true bishop, a man of such humble and angelic character, St. Theodore pleaded with Chad to continue in his archpastoral ministry. St. Theodore provided what was lacking from St. Chad's consecration ''("ipse ordinationem ejus denuo catholica ratione consummavit''" - Bede, Hist. Eccl. IV, 2)'' and completed the rite according to the Orthodox Roman [[Rubricon]]. St. Wilfrid remained as bishop of York and St. Chad returned to his monastery in Lastingham. ==Chad, the =The Missionary===

In 669, King Wulfere demanded a bishop for his people in MericaMercia. St. Chad was called on by St. Theodore of Tarsus to be archpastor of the Mercian people. This Mercia was a land of deeply rooted pagan beliefs, and a large area at that. St. Chad considered this to be his true work, bringing the Mercian people to Christ. He soon discovered that a great persecution occured occurred on the plains of Lichfield, deep within the Mercian lands. The Roman emperor [[Diocletian]] had exterminated 1000 martyrs on the plains of Lichfield in the year 303A.D, they are know known as the [[Martyrs of Lichfield]]. St. Chad considering this to be a holy place move moved the See of Mercia from [[Wikipedia:Repton|Repton]] to the exact spot of the massacre in Lichfield , where his new diocesan Cathedral and Monastery were to built. St. Chad is considered the first bishop of Lichfield.

As Bishop of Lichfield, Chad carried out his missionary and pastoral work with zeal. The kingdom of Mercia was huge, and Chad spent much of his time travelling by foot. In accordance with the Celtic tradition , in which he had been brought up, he at first insisted on making all journeys on foot, following the example of the apostles. However, St. Theodore insisted that Chad used a horse for long journeys. St. Chad, unwilling to do anything that he felt would put him above the common man, refused, but Theodore, St. Bede tells us, "lifted Chad bodily onto the horse himself. "

===The Wonderworker===His exploits were known throughout all Mercia, St. Chad was known to have retired, from time to time, to the bottom of a smalll well where he could contemplate and "pray without ceasing." The people would say that they knew when St. Chadwas in his well, "a light like that of the Wonderworker==sun, would shine from the bottom of the well." St. Chad was seen in the uncreated light by countless many. His humble prayers could easily cure illnesses and demonic possession. A gifted man of prayer he was also a source of forgiveness even to those who would seek his destruction.

His exploits were known throughout all MerciaKing Wulfere was a pagan, Stbut also a good statesman. Chad was known to have retired He used Christianity to control his subjects, he secretly despised the Faith. One day, the bottom sons of Wulfere, Princes Wulfade and Ruffin were out hunting a smalll well where he could contemplate dear near the saint's cell, when they approached the saint and asked about "the One called Jesus"pray without ceasing." The people would say that So struck by the holy elder's words they knew when Stboth asked to be immediately baptised into Christ's holy Church. Chad was in Wulfere, so enraged by the actions of his wellsons, "a light like that of killed them with his own hands. Afterwards, filled with such remorse the sun, would shine from King suffered in both body and spirit by the bottom loss of his children. He was counselled by his queen to ask the well[[holy elder]] to forgive him and to hear his confession." St. Chad As he approached the holy hierarch's cell he was seen in witness to a great sight, the [[uncreated light by countless many]] of [[Tabor]] that shown upon the saint's visage. His humble prayers could easily cure illnesses The king fell down in prostrate and begged his forgiveness and demonic possessionto '''truly''' bring him into the Orthodox Christian faith. A gifted man of prayer he was also As a source [[penance]] for the murder of forgiveness even his children, the saint told him to those who would seek his destructionbuild churches and monasteries in the name of Jesus Christ. He did so, and up until the end of the saint's earthly life, King Wulfere remained a humble servant of the holy elder.

King Wulfere, was a pagan, but also a good statesman. He used Christianity to control his subjects, he secretly dispised the Faith. One day, the sons of Wulfere, Princes Wulfade and Ruffin were out hunting a dear near the saint's cell, when they appraoched the saint and asked about "the One called Jesus". So struck by the holy elder's words they both asked to be immediately baptised into Christ's holy Church. Wulfere, so enraged by the actions of his sons, killed them with his own hands. Afterwords, filled with such remorse the King suffered in both body and spirit by the loss of his children. He was counselled by his queen to ask the [[holy elder]] to forgive him and to hear his confession. As he appraoched the holy hierarch's cell he was witness to a great sight, the [[uncreated light]] of [[Tabor]] that shown upon the saint's visage. ===The king fell down in prostrate and begged his forgiveness and to '''truly''' bring him into the Orthodox Christian faith. As a penance for the murder of his children, the saint told him to build churches and monasteries in the name of Jesus. He did so, and up until the end of the saint's earthly life, Wulfere remained a humble servant Seer of the holy elder.Angels===

==Owini, a novice monk under St. Chad's care, was working alone in the fields near Chad's residence. When he heard the sound of singing apparently descending from the sky to the rectory where the saint was praying. The angelic [[chanting]] could be heard for half an hour before returning heavenwards. Chadthen summoned his monks and, after urging them to live good Christian lives and to continue in keeping the rules of monastic discipline, announced that he would soon die. When the other fathers had gone away, Owini returned to Chad and begged to know what the singing had been that he had heard. St. Chad replied that he had been visited by angelic hosts summoning him to heaven and that the angels would return in seven days to take him to heaven. He then commanded the Seer young monk to tell no one of Angels==this until after his death.

Owini, a novice monk under St. Chadwas quickly taken ill ''(probably by the plague)'s care' and on the seventh day (March 2, 672), ''"his holy soul was working alone in released from the fields near Chad's residence. When he heard prison-house of the sound of singing apparently descending from body and, one may rightly believe, was taken by the sky angels to the rectory where the saint was prayingjoys of heaven"''. Owini had heard angelic voices. The angelic [[chanting]] could be heard for half an hour before returning heavenwardsSt. Chad then summoned his monks was bishop of Lichfield andMercia for just three years, after urging them to live good Christian lives and to continue in keeping the rules his emulation of monastic discipline, announced that he would soon dieChrist ended as it began.

When the other fathers had gone away, Owini returned to Chad and begged to know what the singing had been that he had heard. St. Chad replied that he had been visited by angelic hosts summoning him to heaven and that these spirits would return in seven days to take him to heaven. He then commanded the young monk to tell no one of this until after his death. St. Chad was quickly taken ill and on the seventh day (March 2, 672), ''"his holy soul was released from the prison-house of the body and, one may rightly believe, was taken by the angels to the joys of heaven"''. St. Chad was bishop of Lichfield and Mercia for just three years, his emulation of Christ ended as it began. Bede goes on to tell us that he was called "saint" immediately following after his death. Miracles and cures of all ailments occured occurred at the place of his death, his reliquary, his well and anywhere his holy relics travelled.

{{s-ecc}}{{succession box | before=[[Paulinus|Paulinus of York|Paulinus]] | title=[[Bishop of York]] | years=664-669|after=[[Wilfrid|St. Wilfrid|Wilfrid]] | years=664&ndash;669}}{{succession box | before=[[Jaruman ]]| title=[[Bishop of Lichfield (Mercia and Lindsey)]] | years=669-672|after=[[Winfred (bishop)|Winfred]] | years=669&ndash;672}}

-===Heterodox-===

 ===Orthodox Churches dedicated Dedicated to Saint Chad===

[[Category:Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Saintsof the British Isles]][[]Category:Missionaries7th-century saints]]