February 11, the Akathist to St Brigid
From the Orthodox Church in America: Saint Brigid, “the Mary of the Gaels,” was born around 450 in Faughart, about two miles from Dundalk in County Louth. According to Tradition, her father was a pagan named Dubthach, and her mother was Brocessa, one of his slaves. Even as a child, she was known for her compassion for the poor. She would give away food, clothing, and even her father’s possessions. One day he took Brigid to the king’s court, leaving her outside to wait for him. He asked the king to buy his daughter from him, since her excessive generosity made her too expensive for him to keep. The king asked to see the girl. Outside, they were just in time to see her give away her father’s sword to a beggar. This sword had been presented to Dubthach by the king, who said, “I cannot buy a girl who holds us so cheap.” There is so much more to the story of St Brigid, the founder of women's monasticism in Ireland. While her feast day was February 1, the Women's Gathering will be praying The Akathist to St Brigid of Kildare at their February 11 meeting, 10:15am. Much more about her life will be revealed through the beautiful akathist recently composed by celebrated English writer Paul Kingsnorth, who lives in the west of Ireland. Mr Kingsnorth was received into the Orthodox Church in 2020.
