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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]].
===St. Chad, the Simple Monastic===Everything we know 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 this saints, these four men studied under the great sainted-hierarch comes from and monk, [[Aidan of Lindisfarne]]. Saint Aidan was a great source of spiritual insight to these four men, all four became priests of the writings of St holy Church. They were sent to Ireland under the great [[geronda]] (elder) and saint, [[BedeEgbert]] "Ecclesiastical History", written at the monastery of Rathmelsige (Melfont), for advanced study and training in 731the monastic life.
St. Chad, the youngest of four brothers, was born into a humble Northumbrian family near the beginning of the seventh century. His brothers, St. [[worked tirelessly with his brother Cedd]], St. [[Cynebil]] and righteous Caelin all became monks. A family (who had been made bishop of saintsLondon), these four men studied under they established the great sainted-hierarch and monk, [[Aidan monastery of Lindisfarne|Bishop Aidan]]. Saint Aidan was a great source of spiritual insight to these four menLaestingaeu, all four became priests of the holy Churchnow Lastingham in Yorkshire. They were sent to Ireland under great [[geronda]] (elder) and Saint [[Egbert]] at Upon the monastery death of Rathmelsige (Melfont)his brother Cedd in 664, for advanced study and training in the monastic lifeChad succeeded him as abbot.
Chad worked tirelessly with his broher Cedd (who had been made ===The Humble Bishop===St. [[Wilfrid]] was chosen to become bishop of London), they established the monastery of Laestingaeu, now [[LastinghamLindisfarne]] in Yorkshireafter 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. Upon Having learned of the death missionary exploits and great humility of Chad, called for his brother Cedd in 664election as Bishop of York, Chad succeeded him as abbotto which place the [[See]] of Lindisfarne had been transferred.
===St. Chad, was [[consecrate]]d (uncanonically) by Bishop Wini of Worcester and two [[schismatic]] British bishops to the Humble Bishop===See of York.
St. [[Wilfrid]] Saint Chad was chosen hesitant to become be bishop , he wanted no part of [[Lindisfarne]] after the death it, but ultimately he was obedient. As bishop of bishop +TudiYork, he was much beloved by his flock, travelling great distances on foot to care for his "little sheep. " He travelled When St. Wilfrid returned to Gaul for consecration York and found out his See was given away, he made no objection and remained so long absent that King Oswiu (ruler of Northumbria) demanded retired to a bishopmonastery in peace. Having learned of the missionary exploits and great humility called for the election of Saint Chad as , a Celtic Bishop of York, played a huge role in unifying the Church in 664 by accepting and recommending to which place his fellow bishops the See adoption of Lindisfarne had been transferredthe Orthodox Nicaean calendar.
St. Chad was In the year 668, Saint [[consecrateTheodore of Tarsus]]d (assumed the central [[uncanonicallyCathedra]]) by Bishop +and became [[WiniArchbishop 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. While travelling to York he was shocked to find that St. Wilfrid was not the [[Worchestorcanonical]] and two schismatic british bishops to the See bishop of York. The consecration of St. Chad was uncanonical due to three points made by St. Theodore:
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, a Celtic Bishop, played a large role in unifying the Church in 664 by accepting and recommending adoption of the Orthodox Nicaean calendar. 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>
===In 669, King Wulfere demanded a bishop for his people in Mercia. St. Chad was called on by St. Theodore of Tarsus to be archpastor of the Mercian people. 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 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 known as the [[Martyrs of Lichfield]]. St. Chadconsidering this to be a holy place 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 Wonderworker===first bishop of Lichfield.
His exploits were known throughout all MerciaAs Bishop of Lichfield, St. Chad was known to have retired to the bottom of a smalll well where he could contemplate carried out his missionary and "pray without ceasingpastoral work with zeal." The people would say that they knew when St. Chad kingdom of Mercia was in his wellhuge, "a light like that and Chad spent much of his time travelling by foot. In accordance with the sunCeltic tradition, in which he had been brought up, he at first insisted on making all journeys on foot, would shine from following the bottom example of the wellapostles." However, St. Theodore insisted that Chad was seen in the uncreated light by countless manyused a horse for long journeys. His humble prayers could easily cure illnesses and demonic possessionSt. A gifted man of prayer Chad, unwilling to do anything that he was also a source of forgiveness even to those who felt would seek his destructionput him above the common man, refused, but Theodore, St. Bede tells us, "lifted Chad bodily onto the horse himself. "
King Wulfere===The Wonderworker===His exploits were known throughout all Mercia, St. Chad was a paganknown to have retired, but also a good statesman. He used Christianity from time to control his subjects, he secretly dispised the Faith. One daytime, to the sons bottom of Wulfere, Princes Wulfade and Ruffin were out hunting a dear near the saint's cell, when they appraoched the saint smalll well where he could contemplate and asked about "the One called Jesuspray without ceasing.". So struck by the holy elder's words The people would say that they both asked to be immediately baptised into Christ's holy Churchknew when St. WulfereChad was in his well, so enraged by "a light like that of the actions of his sonssun, killed them with his own hands. Afterwords, filled with such remorse would shine from the King suffered in both body and spirit by bottom of the loss of his childrenwell. " He was counselled by his queen to ask the [[holy elder]] to forgive him and to hear his confessionSt. As he appraoched the holy hierarch's cell he Chad was witness to a great sight, seen in the [[uncreated light]] of [[Tabor]] that shown upon the saint's visageby countless many. The king fell down in prostrate His humble prayers could easily cure illnesses and begged his forgiveness and to '''truly''' bring him into the Orthodox Christian faithdemonic possession. As A gifted man of prayer he was also a penance for the murder source of forgiveness even to those who would seek his children, the saint told him to build churches and monasteries in the name of Jesusdestruction. He did so, and up until the end of the saint's earthly life, Wulfere remained a humble servant of the holy elder.
===ChadKing Wulfere was a pagan, but also a good statesman. He used Christianity to control his subjects, he secretly despised the Seer Faith. One day, the sons of Angels===Wulfere, Princes Wulfade and Ruffin were out hunting a dear near the saint's cell, when they approached 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. Afterwards, 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 approached 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 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.
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. Owini had heard angelic voices. ===The angelic [[chanting]] could be heard for half an hour before returning heavenwards. Chad then summoned his monks and, after urging them to live good Christian lives and to continue in keeping the rules Seer of monastic discipline, announced that he would soon die.Angels===
'''Holy Hierarch of Christ Chad, Intercede for us sinners!'''
==Liturgics==
* [http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/servchad.htm The Divine Service to St. Chad of Lichfield] ''by Reader Isaac Lambertson''
* [http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/akatchad.htm The Akathist Hymn to St. Chad the Wonderworker] ''by Reader Nectarios Chad Yangson''
-Orthodox-
*[http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/chad.htm Icon of St. Chad]
-===Heterodox-===
link
==Saint Chad Life=====The Simple Monastic===Everything we know of this great hierarch comes from the Wonderworker writings of Lichfield and Mercia==St. [[Bede]] in his "Ecclesiastical History", written in 731.
'''2.''' The bishops were out of communion with the Universal Church. <br>
'''3.''' An improperly performed consecration ceremony.
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 Merica. St. Chad was called on by St. Theodore of Tarsus to be archpastor of the Mercian people. This was a land of deeply rooted pagan beliefs. St. Chad considered this to be his true work, bringing the Mercian people to Christ. He soon discovered that a great persecution occured 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 as the [[Martyrs of Lichfield]]. St. Chad considering this to be a holy place move the See of Mercia from Repton to exact spot of the massacre in Lichfield where his diocesan Cathedral and Monastery were 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.
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. Chad then 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 these spirits the angels 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 ''(probably by the plague)'' 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.
His holy relics are preserved in the Roman Catholic Cathedral that bears his name in Birmingham, England.
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==Sources and External links==
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===Orthodox===
*Icons of St. Chad [http://www.dur.ac.uk/StChads/icon.html 1] [http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/chad.htm 2] [http://www.aidanharticons.com/saints/western_saints_large/St%20Chad.jpg 3]
*[http://www.aqwf12.dsl.pipex.com/church/stchad.html The Life of St. Chad] by Fr. Athanasios (Ledwich)
*[http://www.roman-britain.org/chase/_bede_st_chad.htm Life of St. Chad] ''from St. Bede's "The Ecclesiastical History of the English Nation"''
*[http://www.antiochian-orthodox.co.uk/lichfield98.htm Pilgrimage to Lichfield Cathedral]
*[http://www.britannia.com/bios/saints/chad1.html Life of St. Chad from the Britannia Biographies]
*[http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/saintc24.htm The Roman Catholic Patron Saints Index]
*[http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/briefing/9606/s006.htm An examination of the relics of St. Chad]
===Orthodox Churches dedicated Dedicated to Saint Chad===
*[http://www.ascensionchurch.org.uk The Orthodox Community of St. Chad (Rugby, Warwickshire)]
*[http://www.nottinghamorthodox.org.uk Parish of Ss. Aidan and Chad (Nottingham)]
===Liturgics===
*[http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/servchad.htm The Divine Service to St. Chad of Lichfield] ''by Rdr. Isaac Lambertson''
*[http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/akatchad.htm The Akathist Hymn to St. Chad the Wonderworker] ''by Rdr. Nectarios from Hawaii''
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:7th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Bishops of York]]
[[Category:Bishops of Lichfield]]
[[Category:Wonderworkers]]
[[Category:Missionaries]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Celtic and Anglo-Saxon Saintsof the British Isles]][[Category:Missionaries7th-century saints]]
