The holy and right-believing '''King Edward the Martyr''' (c. 962 – [[March 18]], 978/979) succeeded his father Edgar of England as King of England in 975, but was murdered after a reign of only a few years. As the murder was attributed to "irreligious" opponents, whereas Edward himself was considered a good Christian, he was [[glorification|glorified]] as ''[[Saint]] Edward the [[Martyr]]'' in 1001; he may also be considered a [[passion-bearer]]. His [[feast day]] is celebrated on [[March 18]], the uncovering of his [[relics]] is commemorated on [[February 13]], and the elevation of his relics on [[June 20]].

Edward's accession to the throne was contested by a party headed by his stepmother, Queen Elfrida, who wished her son, Ethelred the Unready, to become king instead. However, Edward's claim had more support—including that of St. [[Dunstan of Canterbury|Dunstan]], [[Archbishop of Canterbury]]—and was confirmed by the Witan.

On [[March 18]], 978, the king was hunting with dogs and horsemen near Wareham in Dorset. During the hunt the king decided to visit his younger brother Ethelred who was being brought up in the house of his mother Elfrida at Corfe Castle, near Wareham. Separating from his retinue, the King arrived alone at the castle. While still on his horse in the lower part of the castle Elfrida offered Edward a glass of mead. While he was drinking it, Edward was stabbed in the back by one of the queen's party. Ethelred himself was then only ten years old, and so was not implicated in the murder.

The stories of the relics of St. Edward began at the moment of his death (martyrdom). Immediately following the murder, the body of the murdered king slipped from the saddle of his horse and was dragged with one foot in the stirrup until the body fell into a stream at the base of the hill upon which Corfe Castle stands (the stream was found thereafter to have healing properties—particularly for the blind). The queen then ordered that body be hurriedly hidden in a hut nearby. Within the hut, however, lived a woman who was blind from birth, and whom the queen supported out of charity. During the night, a wonderful light appeared and filled the whole hut. Struck with awe, the woman cried out: "Lord, have mercy!" and suddenly received her sight. At this she discovered the dead body of the king. The church of St. Edward at Corfe Castle now stands on the site of this [[miracle]]. At dawn the queen learned of the miracle and was troubled. Again she ordered disposal of the body, this time by burying it in a marshy place near Wareham. A year after the murder, however, a pillar of fire was seen over the place where the body was hidden, lighting up the whole area. This was seen by some of the inhabitants of Wareham, who raised the body. Immediately, a clear spring of healing water sprang up in that place. Accompanied by what was now a huge crowd of mourners, the body was taken to the church of the Most Holy [[Mother of God]] in Wareham and buried at the east end of the church. This took place on [[February 13]], 980.

During the sixteenth century, under King Henry VIII of England, monasteries were dissolved and many holy places were demolished, but St. Edward's remains were hidden so as to avoid desecration. In 1931, the relics were recovered by Mr. Wilson-Claridge during an archaelogical excavation; their identity was confirmed by Dr. T.E.A. Stowell, an osteologist. In about 1982, Mr. Wilson-Claridge donated the relics to the [[Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia]], which placed them in a church in Brookwood Cemetery, in Woking, Surrey. The [[St. Edward the Martyr Orthodox Brotherhood (Surrey, England)|St. Edward Brotherhood]] of monks was organized there as well. The church is now named St. Edward the Martyr Orthodox Church.

*[[St. Edward the Martyr Orthodox Brotherhood (Surrey, England)]]

*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_the_Martyr Edward the Martyr] on Wikipedia

*[http://www.saintedwardbrotherhood.org/edward.html King Edward the Martyr] on the website of the St. Edward Brotherhood

*[http://www.tbcs.org.uk/edward.htm St Edward the Martyr] from the Brookwood Cemetery Society