Feast Of St. Edmund The Martyr

Image:The Wilton Diptych(Edmund detail) from Wiki.

Pagan hordes, the Angles, the Saxons, and the Jutes, invaded England and killed Christians before they became christianized, and then more pagan hordes, the Danes, invaded England and killed Christians before they became christianized.

In the ninth century, St. Edmund was King of East Anglia, after the first wave of invaders had become Christian. When the next wave of pagan invaders conquered his territory, he was given a chance to submit to the Danes, on the condition that he forbid the practice of the Christian faith, but he refused and was abused and killed. He was buried in the town of (have a guess) Bury St. Edmonds in East Anglia.

From James Kiefer at the Lectionary.


READINGS:

Psalm 21:1-7 or 126
1 Peter 3:14-18
Matthew 10:16-22

PRAYER

O God of ineffable mercy, who gave grace and fortitude to blessed Edmund the king to triumph over the enemy of his people by nobly dying for your Name: Bestow on us your servants the shield of faith, with which we can withstand the assaults of our ancient enemy; through Jesus Christ our Redeemer, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.