10/13/21, 3:52 AM Saint Bertram, King and Hermit of Mercia

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Saint Bertram, King

and Hermit of Mercia
  (7th - 8th c. AD)
Source:
 http://www.orthodoxdoncaster.co.uk/ilam.html

A first approach to the indigenous Orthodox Saints and Martyrs of the Ancient
Church who lived and who propagated the Faith in the British Isles and Ireland
during the first millennium of Christianity and prior to the Great Schism is being
attempted in our website  in our desire to inform our readers, who may not be aware
of the history, the labours or the martyrdom of this host of Orthodox Saints of the
original One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church of our Lord.

"The Church in
The British Isles
will only begin
to grow when
she begins to
venerate her
own Saints"    
(Saint Arsenios
of Paros †1877)

Saint Bertram -  Bertram was King of Mercia sometime around the 8th
century. He is said to have traveled to Ireland in order to discern his
feeling of having a religious calling. However, when he arrived in Ireland
he fell in love and eloped with a beautiful princess who he brought back
to Mercia with him while she was pregnant with his child. They lived a
nomadic life with the baby being said to have been born in the shelter of
the forest near to present day Stafford. Tragically, whilst Bertram was
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away hunting for food for them, some wolves came upon their camp
killing both his beloved wife and their infant child.

Overcome with grief, he once again turned to God. Renouncing his royal
heritage he sought now a life of prayer. It is reported that many pagans
from the area were converted to Christianity by the example he gave in
his new life.

Without revealing his royal lineage, and presumably in disguise, Bertram

approached the court of Mercia asking for, and being granted, land (near
to modern day Stafford) where he could build a hermitage.

Meanwhile, a new king took the throne of Mercia but, not being a
religious man, he demanded back the land on which the hermitage stood.
It was decided to settle the matter by man to man combat. Bertram,
obviously not wanting himself to fight being now a religious and
peaceable man, prayed that someone might come forward to fight for the
hermitage. Somewhat surprisingly, a dwarf came forward offering to fight
but Bertram, remembering the story of David and Goliath, readily
accepted the dwarf's offer; which was just as well: the hermitage kept its
land!

Another story is told of Bertram that, having dedicated his life to Christ,
he was sought out by the Devil who tried to tempt the saint to turn some
stones into bread. Bertram, though, prayed that some bread would
instead be turned to stones. In 1516 it was said that those self same stones
were still to be found in the church at Bartomely, near Audley in present
day Cheshire.

Being known in the area as a wise and holy man, many sought him out
for spiritual advice. As with most holy men and women, though,
constantly beset by people and needing to refresh his soul, he sought
solitude in a cave near to what is now the village of Ilam in Staffordshire*
where he lived until his death.

His tomb lies in Ilam Church (images below). Though originally within
the village the church now lies just outside the village.

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Ilam Church

Saint Bertram's Tomb with cover

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Jesse Watts Russell, anxious to improve his view from the hall he built
there in the 1820s, had the village moved to its present location though
left the Church where it was. Evidence of Saxon architecture can still be
found on the south wall including a walled-up old Saxon doorway. There
are also the stumps of two Saxon crosses in the churchyard and, inside the
church, there is a magnificent Saxon font. (images above)

Much of the church is Norman and early English, (including the 13th
century tower), but with some notable later additions. St Bertram's
Chapel was built in 1618 by the Meverell family of Throwley Hall to
house the saint's tomb, and this is still a regular place of pilgrimage. The
Meverell family's own tomb, a fine early 17th century edifice, almost
hidden by the organ, can also be found in the chapel.  The Chantry
Chapel, a much more recent addition, was added by Jesse Watts Russell.
This was completed in a Victorian gothic style which  fails to comlement
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the rest of the church. This chapel is a mausoleum to Jesse Watt Russell's
father-in-law, David Pike Watts, and includes a fine marble statue
depicting David Pike Watts on his deathbed.

St Bertram's well, just south of the church, is said to have been a source of
fresh water ever since Saxon times. A little further on is St Bertram's
bridge, for a long while the main crossing of the river until a new bridge
was built further downstream in 1828. (images below)

(A life of St Bertram can be found in the 1516 edition of the Nova Legenda
Angliae.)

(*The village of Ilam is in Staffordshire and not Derbyshire as most people believe
and most searches on the internet would seem to indicate. Although its postal
location is given as: Ashbourne, Derbyshire and it also has a Derby postcode, it
is located just over the border in Staffordshire.)

WWWWWWWW
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10th August
 
Commemoration of Our Righteous Father Bertram,
Wonderworker of Ilam & Stafford
(From: http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/servbert.htm)

3 stichera of the venerable one

When, in search of food in the forest, O righteous

Bertram, thou didst leave thy wife and child
behind, they were set upon by savage wolves and
cruelly ravaged and slain; wherefore, overcome
with grief at thy great loss, thou didst dedicate thy
life to Christ, Who as the Chief Shepherd driveth
away from us the spiritual wolf.

Giving thyself wholly over to ascetic feats, thou

didst dwell as a hermit by Ilam's river, O Bertram,
and like the tree planted by the streams of water
thou didst bring forth spiritual fruit; wherefore, all
thy struggles truly prospered, and Christ, Who
loveth mankind, hath transplanted thee to His
garden in paradise.

Forty days before His crucifixion Christ our

Redeemer was transfigured in glory on Mount
Tabor; and Bertram, His chosen servant, was laid to
rest, as is meet, in the Church of the Holy Cross of
Christ, where his sacred shrine shineth with the
uncreated light of the divine grace of Jesus, the
Saviour of our souls.

Glory, of the venerable one: Idiomelon, in Tone II

O village of Ilam, not least among the habitations

of England art thou, for thy bosom long sheltered
the sacred relics of the holy Bertram, who with
boldness offereth entreaties for us before the throne
of God Most High. And amid the darkness of our
age his shrine shineth forth spiritually, like a lamp
full of the oil of loving-kindness, guiding the
faithful along the path of righteousness, that they
may reach the kingdom on high, avoiding the
snares of the enemy.

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Glory: Idiomelon of the venerable one,

in Tone VI

Rejoice with humble Ilam, O city of Stafford, for

the sacred relics of the wondrous Bertram were
transferred unto thee and placed in thy midst, like
as a precious stone is set in a jewel shining with
beauty and lustre, to delight the eyes of those who
behold it. And let all England likewise exult, for
the prayers of the saint are ever made in its behalf,
to deliver it from all tribulation and affliction, and
from the malice of its every foe. Wherefore, let all
Christians be glad, for by the grace of the Lord we
truly find safe shelter beneath the wings of his holy
supplications.

Troparion of the saint, in Tone VIII

Like newborn lambs are we lacking in any defense,

unable to withstand the onslaughts of the spiritual
wolves who seek ever devour us; but do thou, O
righteous Bertram, come unto our aid, and with the
staff of God's grace which abideth in thee drive far
from us the savage minions of Satan, that by thine
entreaties we may find safety and rest in the fold of
Christ in paradise.

And this canon of righteous one, with 4 troparia,

the acrostic whereof is Save us from the noetic
wolves, O Bertram, in Tone III

Irmos: To God, Who alone saved His people in the

sea and engulfed the adversaries, let us sing, for He
hath been glorified.
Spiritual songs and hymns let us offer unto
Bertram; for, glorified by God, he saveth His
people from all perils.
Assailed by afflictions and tribulations, we are
engulfed by the sea of our sins; but save us, O
Bertram, saint of God.
Vainglory and all the passions didst thou
overcome, O holy one, chanting continually unto
God, Whom thou didst glorify.
 

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Canon of the Saint

Irmos: Be thou established in the Lord God, O my

soul, and cry aloud in praise: There is none holy
save Thee, O Lord!
Utterly bereft of family, the righteous Bertram set
his hope on God alone, crying: There is none holy
save Thee, O Lord!
Sorrow and grief befell the saint, but Bertram did
not despair, crying: There is none holy save Thee,
O Lord!
Fleeing this vain world, Bertram, Prince of Mercia
put his trust in God, crying: There is none holy
save Thee, O Lord!

Kontakion of the saint, in Tone II: Spec. Mel.: Seeking the highest

When wolves slew thy wife and child, O righteous

Bertram, thou didst withdraw from the fellowship
of men for piety's sake dwelling in forest glades
and by rushing torrents; wherefore, for thy feats
thou hast received a crown from thy Lord.

Ikos: Fleeing the tumults of the world and the

tempest of life, abiding in solitude Bertram soared
aloft to the heights of heaven like an eagle; and as
for many years he hid himself from the sight of
men, dwelling in the caves and forests of Ilam, he
ever looked to the Saviour and fulfilled His sacred
precepts: wherefore, he hath received abundant
grace from Him, and shineth forth in splendour,
for his feats having received a crown from his
Lord.

Sessional hymn of the saint, in Tone I: Spec. Mel.: Thy tomb, O Saviour

Striving toward thy Lord, O godly Bertram, by

mortification of the flesh thou didst bury the
rebellions of the passions; and after death hast
received never-ending life from God. Wherefore,
the Church of Christ doth celebrate thy most
honored memorial today, O adornment of the
righteous.

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Canon of the Saint

Irmos: Thou hast shown us constant love, O Lord,

for Thou didst give Thine only-begotten Son over
to death for us. Wherefore, in thanksgiving we cry
to Thee: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
Overcoming all the passions by thine ascetic
struggles, O Bertram, thou wast filled with
constant love for the Lord, crying out to Him
without ceasing: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
Mediator, advocate and intercessor art thou for us
who honor thee, O righteous one; and delivered by
thee from evils, in thanksgiving we cry unto God:
Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
Thou didst lay waste to thy body, O saint of God,
mortifying all the carnal passions, that, purified
and hallowed, thou mightest cry unto Him with
gladness: Glory to Thy power, O Lord!
 

Canon of the Saint

Irmos: Having dispelled the gloom of my soul with

Thy light, O Christ Who alone art full of loving-
kindness, receive me. Out of the night I cry unto
Thee: Illumine my thoughts!
Ever dispelling from his soul the darkness of the
passions by grace divine, the glorious Bertram,
shaking off the gloom of despondency, entered into
the uncreated light.
Now the light which once shone forth from thy
holy relics, O saint, shineth forth from thine empty
sepulcher, driving gloom from our souls and
illumining our thoughts.
O Christ Who art full of loving-kindness, accept the
intercessions of the holy Bertram: Stave off the
passions from us, and mercifully illumine our
minds.

Canon of the Saint

Irmos: With unceasing groans I cried unto our

compassionate God, and He hearkened unto me
from the uttermost depths of hades, and hath
raised up my life from corruption.
The pain of guilt and despair would have brought
thee down into the uttermost depths, O Bertram,
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but our compassionate God raised up thy life from

corruption.
In penitent sighs and groanings the righteous
Bertram cried unto the Lord, Who with great
compassion hearkened to his lamentations, and
raised him up unto life.
Compassion and mercy did the righteous Bertram
seek from the all-holy Spirit, Who heard his ardent
pleas, and sent His consolation upon his troubled
soul.
 

Canon of the Saint

Irmos: Blessed art Thou, O God of our fathers, Who

cooled the flame of the furnace and preserved the Virgin
Theotokos who gave Thee birth!
O the ascetic feats undertaken by the blessed one!
For by his struggles he cooled the furnace of carnal
passions and preserved his soul from their fire.
Love for God and neighbor filled thy soul, O
Bertram, wherefore, thou makest bold entreaty to
the Lord, that He spare us from fiery torment.
Valiantly did the holy Bertram do battle against the
adverse foe, prevailing mightily over the demonic
hordes, and cooling their fiery darts with prayer.

Canon of the Saint

Irmos: O ye works of the Lord, bless the Lord, Who

appeared in the guise of an Angel and cooled the
children in the midst of the burning furnace.

Sing ye praises unto the favorite of God, Bertram

most rich, who, doing the works of the Lord,
cooled the burning furnace of the carnal passions.

O ye servants of the Lord, sing ye to the righteous

Bertram, who in the midst of the earth led an
angelic life, and hath passed over unto God.

Bless ye the saint of God, O ye children of the

Church, for like an angel he cooleth the burning
furnace of all our temptations by his supplications.

Canon of the Saint

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Irmos: O ye faithful, in oneness of mind let us

magnify with hymns the Mother of the Light, the
haven of salvation for our souls, who remained a
Virgin after giving birth.

Truly the tomb of the holy and righteous Bertram

is a sure haven of salvation for our souls;
wherefore, in oneness of mind let us magnify the
favorite of God with hymns.

Remembering the ascetic feats wherewith the

godly Bertram trampled the passions underfoot
and put the demons to flight, let us honour his
sacred memory with hymns.

All our sorrows let us set before the man of God,

laying them upon his stone-wrought sepulcher,
that he may lift from our shoulders the burden of
our griefs.

Exapostilarion of the saint:

The shrine of thy holy tomb is for us like a

heavenly banquet-table, O righteous Bertram,
richly set with spiritual food for us who hunger
and thirst after righteousness.

Glory: Idiomelon of the saint, in Tone VIII

Come, ye Christians of these latter days, and let us

lift up our voices in hymnody, giving utterance to
goodly laudation, praising our righteous father
Bertram. For, bereft of his family by the inscrutable
providence of God, he cast aside his princely rank
and wealth, and amid great privation and
voluntary poverty, withdrew into the wilderness,
and there struggled against the weakness of his
nature, prevailing over the delusions of the
demons. Wherefore, in heaven he hath received the
wreath of victory from the hand Christ his Master,
and there prayeth with boldness in behalf of those
who honor his holy memory with love.

Holy Father Bertram, pray to the Lord for us!

 

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Article published in English on: 20-3-2011.

Last update: 20-3-2011.

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