Thursday, February 14, 2013

This Week's Lesser Feast Days

February 14: Cyril and Methodius

While most people think of St. Valentine on the 14th, on the Episcopal Church's calendar we remember Sts. Cyril and Methodius, remarkable brothers who were priests, missionaries, and the creators of the Slavic language.  It's a good story, and well renedered at this link.

Almighty and everlasting God, by the power of the Holy Spirit you moved your servant Cyril and his brother Methodius to bring the light of the Gospel to a hostile and divided people: Overcome all bitterness and strife among us by the love of Christ, and make us one united family under the banner of the Prince of Peace; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


February 15: Thomas Bray


Although he only spent a brief time in the colonies, Bray established the two organizations that built missions and parishes throughout the New World, including the original Christ Church.  Those organizations, now 300 years old, remain active to this day.  More may be read of him at their site.  He also, among other endeavors, founded a number of lending libraries that enabled the Church of England in the colonies to champion colonial literacy and education; and was also responsible for the creation of what would become the state of Georgia.  Not bad for a parish priest in England.

O God of compassion, you opened the eyes of your servant Thomas Bray to see the needs of the Church in the New World, and led him to found societies to meet those needs: Make the Church in this land diligent at all times to propagate the Gospel among those who have not received it, and to promote the spread of Christian knowledge; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.