September 30th - St. Midan
(Also known as Nidan)
Died c. 610.
Two of those who accompanied Kentigern on his return from Cwymru (Wales)
to
Strathclyde were St Nidan and St Finan. Nidan is still remembered in
Wales,
having had his name attached to the parish of Llanidan on the Menai Strait
in Anglesea.
Nidan was the grandson of Pasgen, son of Urien Rheged, and was thus a
cousin
of St Kentigern who was the son of Owain, another of Urien's sons. This
might suggest that he may have been one of Mungo's companions when he
journeyed to Wales to escape from the dangers which threatened his safety
in
the kingdom of Strathclyde. It is also said that Nidan followed his master
as abbot of the Andat (parent community) of Kynor near Huntly.
The two churches bearing Nidan's name, at Strathdon and Midmar, are
certainly of ancient origin. Both, interestingly, lie near to, or as part
of, a model of Norman origin. There was a chapel within the walls of the
Norman motte and bailey at Invernochty which is known to have served as
the
parish church for many years. However, the mound is known as the Doune of
Invernochty-doune, from the Celtic word dun, a fort, tells us that this
was
a seat of power for the Picts long before the Anglo-Norman infiltration of
Alba. It is entirely probable then that this dun would have been an
irresistible magnet to the missionaries who came with Kentigern and who
looked to found their churches at im****tant Pictish settlements. At
Midmar,
the church lies a little to the east of a mound known as the Cunningar
which
served as the centre of administration for that part of the Pictish
province
of Mar known as Midmar.
Somewhat to the north of this site there is a very ancient druidic stone
circle with its re***bent stone. Obviously, this was an im****tant centre
of
population for the local Pictish tribes and would have been a natural
focus
for the missionary work of Nidan. In the same way, Nidan's colleague St
Finan established a church at another of the im****tant administration
centres of the province at Migvie, from which Cromar was governed.
For a map and some photographs please see
http://www.cushnieent.force9.co.uk/CelticEra/Saints/saints_nidan.htm
Troparion of St Midan tone 8
Amongst Angelsey's adornment of Saints,
/ thy virtuous life ****nes forth to illumine these islands, O Father
Midan.
/ We pray thee to intercede with Christ our God
/ that His mercy, and not our weakness, will prevail that our souls may be
saved.
Quote:
For you should have kept before your eyes the warnings which Our
predecessors have constantly given, namely, that, if the sacred books are
permitted everywhere without discrimination in the vulgar tongue, more
damage will arise from this than advantage.... Since in vernacular speech
we notice very frequent interchanges, varieties, and changes, surely by an
unrestrained license of Biblical versions that changelessness which is
proper to the divine testimony would be utterly destroyed, and faith
itself
would waver, when, especially, from the meaning of one syllable sometimes
an
understanding about the truth of a dogma is formed.
-Pope Pius VII (1800-1823)
Bible Quote
7 But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the
giving of Christ. 8 Wherefore he saith: Ascending on high, he led
captivity
captive; he gave gifts to men. (Ephesians 4:7-8)
<><><><>
An act of perfect contrition:
O my God! confessing my guilt and with a contrite heart I
kneel before Thee and implore Thee to look upon me
according to the multitude of Thy mercies. I detest and am
heartily sorry for all my sins, not only because I dread the
loss of heaven and the pain of hell, but also and principally
because by them I have offended Thee, Who are infinitely
good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the
help of Thy grace, to confess my sins and to amend my life.
I acknowledge Thee, O God, to be the Supreme Good, and I
love Thee with all my heart. Be merciful to me, a poor
sinner. I beseech Thee, by the passion and death of Jesus
Christ, Thy Son, to forgive me my sins. Amen.
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