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[[Image:chadgeorgeinfo.jpg|right]]'''Saint Chad of Lichfield''' (+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]].

Everything we know of this great hierarch comes from the writings of St [[Bede]] "Ecclesiastical History", written in 731.

Chad worked tirelessly with his broher 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.

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 called for the election of Chad as Bishop of York, to which place the See of Lindisfarne had been transferred.

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.

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 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.

His exploits were known throughout all Mercia, St. Chad was known to have retired to the bottom of a smalll well where he could contemplate and "pray without ceasing." The people would say that they knew when St. Chad was in his well, "a light like that of the 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.

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 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 of monastic discipline, announced that he would soon die.