Welcome Walpurgis Night!

Walpurgis Night Bonfire in Sweden, 2006. Photo by David Castor,

Wikimedia Commons.

Happy Walpurgisnacht! 


The night of April 30 is a major celebration, especially in central, northern and eastern Europe. The vigil of the Fire Feast of Belteinne, it was a time that the followers of the old ways would gather to begin their Belteinne celebrations.

Today it is a major folk holiday in many countries. Although there are certain aspects of some local celebrations that are negative holdovers (e.g. the burning of witch effigies in the Czech Republic), for the most part the celebration is a positive continuity with its Mediaeval and much older roots.

Sint-Walburgakerk, built 1641, was the Jesuit church
of Bruges. Photo by LimoWreck, Wikimedia Commons.

The name comes from the Western Christian commemoration of  the canonization of St. Walburga or Walpurga on May 1, 870 by Roman Pope Adrian II. She was an Nun, an English missionary to the Frankish Empire.

On the Byzantine Christian Calendar, there are several commemorations on April 30, including:

• Holy Apostle James, the brother of St. John the Theologian
• St. Donatus, Bishop of Euroea in Epirus
• Martyr Maximus of Ephesus
• Opening of the Relics of St. Nicetas, Bishop of Novgorod
• Translation of the Relics of St. Sabbas, abbot of Zvenigorod Monastery
• St. Clement the Hymnographer, abbot of the Studion
• Neomartyr Argyra of Prussa
• Icon of the Most Holy Theotokos "Of the Passion" (Strastnaya)
• Repose of Schema-abbess Martha (Protasieva), disciple of St. Paisius Velichkovsky (1813)
• Repose of Bishop Ignatius (Brianchaninov) (1867)
• St. Cynwl, Hermit

Most importantly, Walpurgisnacht and Belteinne (more tomorrow on this) are the actual correspondences with Pascha (April 24 in 2011)!

In all instances, this is yet another example of how a modern monotheistic tradition (Christianity) was meant to harmoniously blend with the older wisdom traditions. The kinder, gentler monotheism of Alexander the Great and Emperor Julian II also point to this, still a vibrant possibility today.

Enjoy the feast!

Congratulations to Miss Middleton and HRH Prince William

Congratulations and prayers for a wonderful day and life together. You have an admirable legacy of social reform and justice in the history of your Kingdom, and we pray that your leadership in the years to come will be part of the movement to a much better life for our Planet! May God Grant You Many Years!

A note to Donald Trump

Dear Mr. Trump,

If you want to be taken seriously as a candidate, you must stop this Reality TV-style buffoonery. Harping on the silly birther issue was a repeat of the trumped up (hmmm... interesting word!) lies of the Swift-Boat slurs. Everyone (including you) who was using the birther slur knew full-well that there was no real issue, just a club to (1) beat President Obama over the head, (2) exploit the always just-below-the-surface xenophobia of the confused and frightened 40% of the electorate, and (3) distract people from the real issues. So we can conclude first that you are an opportunistic provocateur.

Now you blatantly accuse the President of having only gotten into the Ivy League through Affirmative Action. So we can add opportunistic racist to your list of vices: (1) Nego suppositum: I do not accept your unsubstantiated presumption that Affirmative Action is unfair or misguided; (2) This is particularly galling after 8 years of mis-rule by a "legacy admission" to my Alma Mater and a draft-dodger; (3) The end-product of his education has made President Obama an incredibly intelligent, perceptive and capable leader, inspired by not only his education, but also his Christian Faith.

Stop it now.

Rev. Steven A. Armstrong, M.A. Hum., M.Div., M.A.
Yale College '76

Christ is Risen!

Christ is Risen!
Christos Anesti!
Al-Massihu Qam!
Christos Voskrese!