Exarchate of the British Isles
The Celtic Church
St. Joseph of Arimathea – a brother of Joseph of Nazareth travelled as a tin merchant through Gaul (France) and England. Although many doubt the wonders of God, yet it is not impossible (if we truly believe that he is God) that the young Jesus travelled with his uncle on one of his trade expeditions through those lands. Joseph is also an apostle of the 70 and after Holy Pentecost thus brings the Gospel to Glastonbury as its first bishop. 35AD
Apostle St. Philip - travels with St. Joseph of Arimathea after the Holy Pentecost sharing the carrying of the Gospel amongst the Roman British both in France and England in 35AD before moving on to Greece and Turkey where he is martyred in 80AD
St. Aristobulus - brother of Apostle St. Barnabas and being an Apostle of the seventy, was chosen by the Apostles St. Paul and St. Barnabas to minister amongst the Brits (56AD) as a bishop. The mission was short lived for he suffered many humiliations at the hands of the non-believers, yet through his love and resilience – the gospel was embraced by a few tribes.
King St. Lucius – from Welsh linage writes to the bishop of Rome St. Eletherius to be catechized and baptized 152AD along with his people. St. Eletherius bestows a Deacon of the local church Timothy the mandate of serving baptism and then sends two high presbyters (bishops) St. Fagan and St. Dyfan (Deruvian) to reignite apostolic succession in those perilsome lands – strengthening the Church in Glastonbury. St. Lucius sent an ambassador to Rome bestowing an account of the local church - in turn he St. Elfan (153AD) became a bishop of London.
St. Patrick – arrives in Ireland as bishop of Armagh in 432AD on the Eve of Holy Pascha and gradually converts the druids (worshipers of creation) through the blessing of flame (Easter Fire) which could not be extinguished by them. The sanctified flame resembled the burning bush on the slopes of Sinai (Ex 3:1-17) which glowed with the uncreated energies of God!
St. Brigid of Kildare – was the daughter of a chieftain in the region of Leinster who adopted the faith via her mother Broicsech, who was baptized by St Patrick. St. Brigid became a leading champion for women amongst the Celts as women were rightfully seen equal to men and embraced the monastic call via the life of the desert fathers – opening the portals to female monasticism in 480AD.
St. Columba of Iona – religious from youth was called to serve the Lord and in due course founded various monasteries (546AD) in Doire Calgach and in 563AD sailed with 12 holy monastics. Thus, docking into the isle of Hy, labouring in converting the Pict (Caledonii natives bearing body art/painting) and via their contribution - establishes the grand centre of Celtic monasticism in the tradition of the Desert Fathers: Iona!