​When we talk about Celtic saints in particular – these followed the Copto-Syriac style of spirituality which was not the Roman style (Roman style before the Schism which then changed) nor Benedictine which came later on via the French in particular (expelling of English monastics replaced by French) due to political gain. This ancient observance is evident in the beehive monastic stone dwellings found in various counties resembling that of the desert fathers.

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Although this fact has been violently tarnished (as was endeavoured in Alaska amongst the Native Americans) via the Latin heresy, but the fact is that Syro-Coptic and later Byzantium worship were the styles the Early Church of the Celts rendered to God. Proof of that is mirrored in the expeditions via St. Joseph of Arimathea reflected in a controversial hymn lyricised by the poet William Blake (1804AD) entitled JERUSALEM:

“And did those feet in ancient times walk upon England’s mountains green – and was the Holy Lamb of God on England’s pleasant pastures seen.” A reference point for England as a place where the early Christians and their worship flourished however tainted with the political aspirations of Latin Crusadership and reformations to come.

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St. Joseph was a presbyter of the temple and as we know – all clergy worked to sustain themselves; he was a tin merchant by trade and often travelled to keep himself afloat. He knew the Holy Family very well (a brother of Joseph of Nazareth) and observed the young Jesus as he grew up and knew that he was the one whom the scriptures foretold.

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Furthermore, Apostolic Tradition tells us that St. Joseph caught the Lord’s blood (that which flowed from his side which was still fresh) in a goblet he made out of tin when he hoisted the Lord’s body down from the cross for the preparation rite of entombment. It was not kosher for blood to be seeping through the corps; most of the wounds had partially dried and the last wound (side wound) which was still fresh was drained into that tin vessel – the grail controversies.

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After the Pentecost, Joseph was ordained a presbyter of the New Testament Church and was elected bishop to Britain where he first brought the faith to the English. Hence, after many years of service to the newly erected Church, he reposed in his risen Lord in the city of Glastonbury to where his relics remain within the Syriac chapel (early monastic missionaries that came from Syria to strengthen the faith) consecrated to his episcopacy.

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Therefore, amongst the early saints of these isles, we have the much loved Patrick - cultivating the faith via worship in the Syro-Coptic and quasi Byzantine traditions. These were well suited considering accommodation of ancient spiritualties like the druids who then came and received the true faith which is Orthodox.

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Thus, considering that such spiritualties rendered occult in darkness, Patrick offered true worship in the evening; those who worshiped fire which in time came and bowed down - illumined by HE who is fire unquenchable and light that pierces through the darkness of deceit and oppression.

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Hence, in the year 444 on the Hill which belonged to the Sovereign Laoire of Tara entitled Sla’ine, Patrick defied the pagan fire festival via blessing the new Paschal flame which erupted into a fire that illumined the whole country side. However grand the opposition was, the fire like that which guided the Hebrews in the Exodos, this same fire and presence of Christ illumined the minds of the Celtic pagans to the freedom that true worship to the living God ushers forth!

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Moreover, opposition was a constant theme and it does resemble the ancient rebellion that orchestrates persecution on the infant new churches that sort and continue to seek in rendering the gospel to their own. Thus, when Patrick missioned through the Celtic Isles, many were hiding in secret to ambush him, but his faith was so great that he asked the Lord to intervene. The Lord always graces the prayers of those who truly believe and render service onto him (The prayer of the faithful is energised by the Holy Spirit... Jam 5:15) and as a testament to this, Patrick wrote a hymn of thanksgiving for the Lord’s intervention: Lorica – the deer’s cry.

We need to remember that THE CHURCH in such places was small and were governed by Local Synods. Unfortunately now days, there tends to be obsessions with small churches regarding CANONICITY/APOSTOLIC SUCCESSION and done so most of the time with either limited understanding or covering up truths that have been conveniently laid aside!

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However brushed to the side due to taking on western thought; the Universal Church (catholic – meaning dispersed everywhere) which is and always has been Orthodox, has always kept the notion in question in two categories: (a) dogmatic canonicity (b) canonicity in practice. The first means that the Church however large or small can trace their roots back to the Apostles, and the second – the majority of churches which are large in scale and thus accepted via a few sees (Ecclesial centres/patriarchies) in contrast to the small self-governed ones (autocephalous/autonomous)

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These were not so large, nor accepted by the majority due to the opposition of the ecclesial government of such – these resisted to be swayed by the larger groups in order to keep a sense of purity; the retaining of local rites, customs and traditions – the Church within Celtic lands that stemmed from the monastic tradition of THE SYRIAC CHURCH (which grew yet was annihilated via the prevailing culprit bodies) is the par excellence for this example! The Great Shift began to take place in full force towards the late Norman Period of the Church!

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In addition, holy iconography throughout the Middle East, Eastern, and Western Europe tells us a good amount of what the practice of the liturgical past was – many of the holy even throughout England were arrayed with either Syriac or Byzantine vesture – all this begins to change shortly after the Great Schism of 1054AD!

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Yet for those monastic missionaries who had done the hard yards - - the Holy Spirit who breaks through all of those piety stall misconceptions and odd devotions began bringing them back to where they started; the desert of holy darkness where the light of the presence slowly begins to emerge! By now, many of you should be familiar with the Desert Fathers of Egypt and Syria who came to Europe and the British Isles at a time the world needed renewal.

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Various monastic communities (hermitages) throughout Roman Britany were indeed Syro-Coptic; there are similarities when we look at monastic dwellings taking the shape of a beehive – present in Egypt, Sicily, and the British Isles. Further evidence is rendered via the ancient iconography of grotto churches; the original grotto temple of Vallepietra (400AD) is such an example which was transformed via the monastics into the grotto church of the Holy Trinity - the icon in the Syro-Coptic style testifies to their presence.

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Furthermore, when one comes to terms with the truth regarding western liturgical practice, another sensitive hurdle must also be overcome; the affirmation that within Holy Orthodoxy (the New Testament Church) there is no such concept of branch theory – meaning that the present supposed Western Church in its various denominations is the same from the time of the Pentecost - existing within its former rites, along with its theological and doctrinal concepts:

Hence, the Venerable Western Church indeed ceased and dissolved with the Great Schism of 1054AD rapidly fragmenting and withering universally as unveiled in the following historical sequence!