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'''Holy Hierarch of Christ Chad, Intercede for us sinners!'''
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==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''
-===Heterodox-===
+cleanup, some formatting
{{cleanup}}Our father among the saints '''Saint Chad of Lichfield and 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]]. ==Saint Chad the Wonderworker of Lichfield and Mercia==
==Life==
===The Simple Monastic===
Everything we know of this great hierarch comes from the writings of St . [[Bede]] in his "Ecclesiastical History", written in 731.
St. Chad, the 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 saints, these four men studied under the great sainted-hierarch and monk, [[Aidan of Lindisfarne]]. Saint Aidan was a great source of spiritual insight to these four men, all four became priests of the holy Church. They were sent to Ireland under the great [[geronda]] (elder) and saint, [[Egbert]], at the monastery of Rathmelsige (Melfont), for advanced study and training in the monastic life.
Chad worked tirelessly with his brother 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.
===The Humble Bishop===
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 of Chad, called for his election as Bishop of York, to which place the [[See]] of Lindisfarne had been transferred.
St. Chad was [[consecrate]]d ([[uncanonical]]lyuncanonically) by Bishop +[[Wini]] of [[Worchestor]] Worcester and two [[schismatic]] british British bishops to the See of York.
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 huge role in unifying the Church in 664 by accepting and recommending to his fellow bishops the 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. While 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>
'''2.''' The bishops were out of communion with the Universal Church. <br>
'''3.''' An improperly performed consecration ceremony.
===The Wonderworker===
His exploits were known throughout all Mercia, St. Chad was known to have retired, from time to time, 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 despised 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 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. AfterwordsAfterwards, 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 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.
===The Seer of Angels===
His holy relics are preserved in the Roman Catholic Cathedral that bears his name in Birmingham, England.
after=[[Winfred]]}}
{{end box}}
==Sources and External links==
<!-- This section should be separated into "Sources" and "External links" --->-===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.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 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 Reader Isaac Lambertson''
*[http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/akatchad.htm The Akathist Hymn to St. Chad the Wonderworker] ''by Reader Nectarios Chad Yangson''
[[Category:Bishops]]