The Celtic Orthodox Church (COC; ), also called the Holy Celtic Church, It also claims historic continuity with ancient Celtic Christianity.

History

Foundation

The Celtic Orthodox Church was founded in the 20th century by . He was ordained priest by the Mariavite bishop of France in 1951, after failing to obtain an ordination from any Russian, Romanian or Greek Orthodox bishop. However, he doubted the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic churches would recognize the validity of his ordination. Thus, he "received all the orders again on 1 March 1953" from Metropolitan Lutgen of Antwerp of the Église catholique du rite dominicain. Lutgen had received his episcopal consecration from Hugh George de Willmott Newman. After this, Danyel decided to work to restore the ancient Celtic Church of Brittany and took the name of one of the Christian founding saints of Brittany, Tugdual.

Danyel founded the Abbaye de la Saint Présence at Bois-Juhel, Saint-Dolay, "where he lived as an hermit in emulation of the ancient Celtic monks". He "soon attracted disciples" and was elected as the first bishop of the restored Celtic Church. He was consecrated bishop in 1957 by Archbishop Irenaeus of Arles (Comte Charles-Borromée d'Eschevannes), primate of the Sainte Église catholique Gallicane autocéphale. Danyel received the title of "Bishop of Redon". On 19 December 1959, Danyel proclaimed himself metropolitan under the title Tugdual I, Archbishop of Dôl. Danyel "revived Druidic rites" and added to his title "Sa Blancheur l'Humble" ("His Whiteness the Humble") which he claimed was of Druidic origin. His full title was therefore: "His Whiteness the Humble Tugdual I, Archbishop of Dôl, Abbot of Saint-Dolay, Kayermo and Keroussek, primate of the Holy Celtic Church, President of all the non-Roman Christian and Apostolic Churches".

Death of the founder to today

On 11 August 1968, Danyel died. After his death, his hermitage was abandoned.

Paul-Edouard Fournier de Brescia was consecrated bishop under the name Mael in 1980 by the primate of the Celtic Orthodox Church, bishop Seraphim (Newman-Norton). The current primate is since 2014 Metropolitan Marc (Jean Claude Scheerens).

In 1996, the Celtic Orthodox Church canonised Danyel, its founder. in Europe, it has a monastery in France; 3 churches in the United Kingdom; 1 church in Switzerland; and 1 church in Australia.

See also

  • Ancient British Church in North America
  • Neo-Celtic Christianity

References

  • Official website