Chapel of Sts. Elizabeth and Etheldreda

Feast of the Life-Giving Spring - Vrancea, Romania - Bright Friday

Hierarchs and Clergy from Romania, Greece, Cyprus, Africa, and Russia

Icon from Holy Transfiguration Monastery 

Apolytikion of

St. Elizabeth

Plagal of First Tone - Let us worship the Word

Emulating the Lord's self-abasement on the earth,*thou didst forsake royal mansions to serve the poor and disdained,*overflowing with compassion for the suffering.*And taking up a martyr's cross,*thou in meekness didst perfect the Saviour's image within thee.*Wherefore, with Barbara, entreat Him to save us all, O wise Elizabeth.

Apolytikion from Holy Transfiguration Monastery Menaion

Apolytikion of

St. Etheldreda

Third Tone - Thy confession

Let us praise the virgin Etheldreda, *flame of faith above the church of Ely, *Mother Abbess, intercessor and protector for all. * In her the image of God was restored to shine, *and she was crowned with great glory by our Saviour Christ,* ever praying in the Spirit before the Father's throne* that His great mercy may be granted unto us.

Apolytikion from St. Anthony's Monastery - Arizona

Chapel of Sts. Elizabeth & Etheldreda

Coat of arms of the Holy Passion-bearer

Harold,

Last Orthodox King of England

Sanctus Harold, ora pro nobis

Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set.

-Proverbs 22:28

The wise man will seek out the wisdom of all the ancients, and will be occupied in the prophets...

-Ecclestiasticus 39:1

St. Matthew, pray to God for us.

From the Writings of St. Maximus the Confessor:

"An Icon of the Triadic God is the Holy Church, as she operates the very union among the faithful to God, albeit to those who happen to be of different speech and from different places and customs, according to which [union], by the faith, are made one." (Patrologia Graeca, vol. 91 “Mystagogy,” ch. i, p. 668 B)

In the above, St. Maximus calls the Church an "icon" of the Holy Trinity, insofar as the union of faithful is concerned. But if the Church can be called the “icon” of the Holy Trinity, it therefore means the Holy Trinity can be called the "prototype" of the Church. For that is the very meaning of "icon," that it is based on a “prototype.” Therefore it is not unpatristic to call the Holy Trinity the “prototype” or figuratively the "First Church."

From the Writings of St. Photius the Great:

"...Wherefore, on the one hand, the unity of the Trinity towards itself, it is lawful to say, FORMED A CHURCH [Greek: ἐκκλησιάσασα, i.e. “was congregated”], while on the other hand, it is lawful to say, that, at the moment of the creation of mankind, the term “let us make man in our image and after our likeness,” was bestowed upon created man in oneness of opinion, and thereby the creation of mankind from shattered creation was prepared..." (Homily 9:9)

From the Writings of Metropolitan Epiphanius of Citium:

"As witnessed by the Fathers, the Church always preexisted in the beginninglessly preexisting eternal Word and Son of God. [The Church] was later revealed through creation, and guides us towards every Truth, towards Salvation and Theosis. Of [the Church’s] existence, brightness and glory, there shall be no end."  (Metropolitan Epiphanius of Citium, A Few Things Regarding the Calendar, Second Edition, Larnaca, Cyprus, 1998, p. 1.)

Now Etheldreda shines upon our days,

Shedding the light of grace on all our ways.

Born of a noble and royal line,

She brings to Chist her King a life more fine.

 - St. Bede the Venerable

Holy Mother Etheldreda,

pray to God for us!

Sancta Mater Etheldreda,

ora pro nobis Deum!