Updated often. Last update - April 29th. 2008
Events Calendar 2008
Sunday May 4th: Bealtaine sunrise, 5.36 am BST
Midway between Vernal Equinox and Summer Solstice, when the sun rises at az. 62.8º down the Michael/Mary line.
Thursday May 1st: Mayday / Ascension Day
Friday April 25th: Orthodox Holy Friday
Had the outcome of the Synod of Whitby been different, and the Celtic church prevailed, we would be celebrating Pascha/Easter this weekend. Seems like an appropriate time to offer last year's Lughnassadh Bridie doll (aka corn dolly), and its grains of wheat, back to the earth. Sunset: 8.24 pm BST.
Thursday March 20th: Vernal Equinox, 5.48 am.
At twilight, twenty-five minutes before sunrise which makes Wednesday night almost exactly equal in length, this is a very special time to honour Brighde who is the point of balance between all polarities. The almost full-moon is visible throughout the night and during sunrise.
Saturday March 15th: Feast of St. Aristobulus, - Apostle of Britain (1st. century)
Contemporary of Joseph of Arimathea, and often identified with him, Aristobulus was one of the seventy ordained by St. Paul - as First Bishop to the Britons. He would certainly have encountered the druids at Beckery and may well have been responsible for the first shrine to Mary Magdalene there. Mass at Glastonbury Abbey, 10.30 am. (Coptic, - Liturgy of St. James in English).
Sunday March 2nd: Mothering Sunday. Glastonbury Abbey
The fourth Sundy of Lent. Traditionally when pilgrims would travel to their "mother church" - from which their own parish church was governed. Since the chapel at Bride's Mound came under the jurisdiction of the abbey, pilgrimage to the Ealde Churche honours this tradition. The original dedication of the ancient shrine to the Mother of God gives this occasion deeper meaning.
Saturday March 1st: Feast of St. David of Wales (d. ca. 588)
Saint David was to build the the first abbey church at Glastonbury, immediately to the east of the original Ecclesia Vetusta said to have been built by Joseph of Arimathea. The new chapel housed a great sapphire altar stone - given to the Celtic St. David by the Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem and which remained one of the abbey's most sacred treasures until it was looted by Henry VIII in 1539. Synonymous with the Holy Grail, the actual sapphire is said to have ascended into the etheric plane to remain at the abbey, while the physical relic is rumoured to be one of the crown jewels kept at the Tower of London.
Saturday February 2nd: Candlemas
Third anniversary of the perpetual Brighid/Avalon flame. Traditionally, the day that candles are blessed for use during the coming year. The presentation in the temple signifies the joining of the soul with the spirit.
Friday February 1st: Feast of St. Brighde (d. 523)
Commemoration of the saint's transition into paradise, and also that of the second abbess of Kildare, St. Darlugdach (c 524).
Tuesday January 22nd: Celebration of Imbolc
On the full moon closest to the mid-point between solstice and equinox (February 4th) - the traditional time for Celtic, cross-quarter rites. This year participants celebrate independently, yet in harmony - together with the Company of Avalon who are particularly active at this time in restoring Glaston's Glory.
Sunday January 6th: Theophany
Pilgrimage to the Parish Church of St. John of Kronstadt, Bath, where a tiny relic of St. Mary Magdalene is kept. The liturgy, and the great blessing of the waters, is followed by the planting of the tree of re-memberance - dedicated at this time last year.
