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ALBUM 17: Kursk-root Icon Visit, November 2025

We recently helped host a tour through Ireland of the 800-year-old wonderworking Kursk-root Icon. As icon “of the sign,” it fittingly illustrates the current season of Advent as prophesied by Isaiah 7:14, “The Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (God with us).” Carried from priest to priest, this marvel of God’s faithfulness and affection for mankind visited Saint Colman’s Orthodox Church in Stradbally, Saint Patrick Orthodox Church in Clifden, the Parish of Saint John of Shanghai in Belfast, and toured several ancient Patrician sites in Downpatrick.

Delighted to honour the earthly legacy of our Patron Saint, we first visited his grave (also the grave of Saints Bridget and Comcille). We then visited the Saul Church, which was the first church he established in Ireland, in a barn donated by a local farmer (saul is a corruption of the Irish word for “barn.”) Next, we visited Slieve Patrick, the hilltop where he began his ministry. Finally, at nightfall, we visited the Holy Well complex which St. Patrick had blessed in the nearby town of Struell.

ALBUM 16: Ecological Efforts 2025

As part of our ecological goals, and with the generous support of volunteers, we planted nearly 1,000 baby native trees in March. Moreover, two ecologists to visited the farm to catalogue our potential and advise us on how to move forward. They found that our pastures host patches of nearly pristine bogland as well as several rare and valuable native species, including creeping juniper, oak-forest ferns, and Saint Dabeoc’s heather. With their encouragement, we are transitioning to small, well-adapted Dexter cattle, including our female calf Frieda, who was born in the Spring. We look forward to furthering these plans in 2026.

ALBUM 15: Pilgrimage to Durham Oxford and Lindisfarne 2025

As part of our summer travels, we visited Orthodox holy sites in the UK, including the Holy Island of Lindisfarne, where Celtic Saints Aidan and Cuthbert led the spiritual conversion of the previously pagan Anglo-Saxon tribes of that area. We also visited the graves of Saints Cuthbert, Oswald, Bede, and Frideswide, all of whom were influenced and inspired by Celtic forms of Christianity.

ALBUM 14: Pascha 2025 with Baptism

Pascha 2025, at the end of a long and strenuous fast, included the baptism of another catechumen into the Faith. As our chapel lacks the space to baptise adults, we conducted the immersion part of the service in the Atlantic. High winds and incoming tides made the service a rather fluid one, as the table shifted under us and rains threatened to extinguish the incense. However, the essential tasks of blessing the waters, anointing the candidate, and baptising him was beautifully done. Welcome to the Faith, Dearly Beloved!

Meanwhile, our older sons wanted to try leading an all-male choir for the Feast of Feasts. We are working on Vladimir Morosan’s Appalachian-style melody of “Christ is Risen” and will hopefully be able to integrate more voices in the future:

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ALBUM 13: Iveron-Hawaii Icon and Theophany

In November 2024, we welcomed the Iveron-Hawaii Icon to Saint Colman’s Orthodox Church in Stradbally. In January 2025, we celebrated the Feast of Theophany at a local beach. We also celebrated our church’s first baptism. Though cold and wet, we followed the examples of our early Holy Celtic Mothers and Fathers, many of whom prayed in open water as a form of ascesis. In this way, the blessing of the waters proved to be a delightful way to recall the Irish saints and retrace their spiritual legacy in our earthy surroundings.

ALBUM 12: History of Shanakeever Valley, Oct. 2024

Hoping to better understand our locality, we recently looked into the history of the Shanakeever Valley. The heritage of the land offers a glimpse into the experience of the people who lived in this wild and remote corner of Ireland.

ALBUM 11: Native Wildflowers of the Valley, Aug. 2024

In an effort to inventory some of the valley’s plant species and ecological potential, we have been using free plant ID tool PlantNet. It has helped us identify and sort through which flowers are native, edible, medicinal, useful to wildlife, etc.

ALBUM 10: Saint Ita’s Farm Updates, July 2024

This year, on Saint Ita’s Community Farm, we started a few small projects, beginning on St. Modomnoc‘s feast day by blessing a hive of Black Irish honeybees. In Spring, we planted buckwheat and we also sowed a crop of potatoes; so far looking healthy. Lately, we acquired two Dexter heifers with the goal of dairy production:

ALBUM 9: 1st Pascha in St. Patrick’s Chapel, May 2024

Christ is Risen! Our first Pascha in the Saint Patrick’s chapel meant a lot of preparation, learning the texts, memorising new melodies, and building the base of the cross. The Paschal lilies bloomed very beautifully for several weeks thereafter:

ALBUM 8: Irish Orthodox Pilgrimage to Croagh Patrick, April 2024

During Lent, under a beaming April sun, we climbed Croagh Patrick together with a group of Orthodox young people in Ireland. Gathering from many corners of the island, we traced the footsteps of our Venerable Father Saint Patrick, who fasted there on the mountain for 40 days and nights during the Lent of 441 AD. Fr. Robert led a Moleben to Saint Patrick near the peak, and we pray for his continued blessing upon the Irish people and land. Holy Bishop Patrick pray to God for us!

ALBUM 7: First Saint Patrick’s Day, March 30, 2024

On March 30, 2024, we celebrated our first Patron’s Feast Day with a Divine Liturgy. May Saint Patrick continue to strengthen and inspire us as he intercedes for our salvation.

ALBUM 6: The Holy Well of Saint Gregory Ceannanach, March 23, 2024

A few days before Saint Patrick’s feast day, we celebrated the feast of Saint Gregory of Ceannanach († c. 490 AD).  Among the few martyrs who died in bringing the faith to Ireland, he’s a local saint for whom the nearby town of Cleggan is loosely named. There remains a standing stone from the 6th C near the place where he was martyred, and where a church was founded in his name. The old church eventually became a graveyard, like the many graveyards found around these early Christian foundations. Located about 10 minutes walk from the church, the Holy Well continues as a fresh, running spring with watercress and other herbs marking its sweetness.

ALBUM 5: Winter in Clifden, Feb. 2024

Though hard work, our first months in Ireland have been rewarding. Even in deep winter, the beauty of the Connemara scenery inspires and encourages us. Our primary focus has been to fine tune plans, build up a liturgical team, and offer services. Accordingly, we have celebrated many Divine Liturgies this winter. These include the feasts of Saint Anastasia, Saint Seraphim of Sarov, Saint Genevieve, local Saint Féchín of Fore and Omey Island, Saint Ita, Saint Xenia, and Saint Brigid. Father Robert also waded into the waters of the Atlantic to extend the blessing of Theophany. As we pray, the glow of the candle against the long dark winter nights offers reassurance of God’s promise:

Let my prayer be set before Thee as incense,
The lifting up of my hands as an evening sacrifice.”

Psalm 141:2

ALBUM 4: First Divine Liturgy October 29, 2023

After lengthy preparation, we joyfully celebrated our first Divine Liturgy in the Chapel of Saint Patrick in Clifden, Ireland.  Archpriest Paul Elliott, Chancellor of the Diocese, blessed the altar. Then, we celebrated the Feast of Saint Longinus, the Roman centurion who stood at the foot of the Cross. The Lord gave us a beautiful day, starting with the sunrise, a joyous liturgy, homemade soda bread scored with an Orthodox cross, and, finally, a sunset at the nearby site of Saint Patrick’s bed at Mám Éan.  Glory to God!

ALBUM 3: Saying Goodbye to Germany, July and August 2023

With the Apostel-Thomas-Kirche, we celebrated one of our last Orthodox Divine Liturgies in Germany. We celebrated in what locals call the Ähndl—the “ancestor” church, and oldest in Oberbayern.  Founded by Celtic Christian missionaries in the 7th Century, Saint George’s in Murnau am Moos houses one of the oldest Christian bells in Europe. It is thought to have originated in Ireland, like those made at the time of Saint Patrick. At the ensuing farewell picnic, prepared by many loving hands, we received a special gift, which we now carry with us to Ireland: an outpouring of prayers, well-wishes, and affectionate greetings from Germans who still recall with gratitude the faith of early Irish missionaries! 

ALBUM 2: Building the Chapel of Saint Patrick, June 2023

While commemorating the Feast of Pentecost, Father Robert and some friends of the mission built the altar and iconostasis for the Chapel of Saint Patrick. We hope to be able to use the chapel for worship starting in Autumn 2023.

Album 1: Ordination of Father Robert, February 2023

Axios! God called Fr. Robert into the service of priesthood after many years of prayer and preparation. Ordained just before the season of Lent, the Sunday also happened to fall on the Feast of Saint Modomnoc. A fellow beekeeper, Fr. Robert felt particularly blessed by this Irish saint. May the Lord continue to bless his mission work in Western Ireland!