We celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day every year on March 17th. The holiday has evolved into a global celebration of the Irish, with people donning green everything (including beer), along with shamrocks and leprechauns.
But, did you know that Saint Patrick isn’t even Irish? He was from Britain.
This blog post aims to show you who Saint Patrick was and how he became connected to the Irish. We will also look at the deeper meaning of the holiday, or St. Patrick of Ireland’s Feast Day.
Finally, we will explore how to properly commemorate our Orthodox Saint. I hope to offer a unique lens through which to appreciate the day’s significance as an Orthodox Christian.
History of Saint Patrick
It’s true, Saint Patrick of Ireland was not Irish. He actually grew up in Britain in the late 4th century. His grandfather was an Orthodox Priest, while his father was a Deacon.
As a young man, he wasn’t really interested in Christianity. When he was 16 years old, Irish pirates raided and pillaged his father’s villa, capturing Patrick. He was then taken to Ireland and sold as a slave.
Patrick remained enslaved there for six years and turned to his Christian faith for strength. This deepened his faith, and eventually, he was visited by an angel of God telling him to escape.
The angel said there was a boat waiting for him just down the cliff. Young Patrick found the boat and successfully escaped. Later in life, he began studying to become a priest but again was visited by an angel telling him it was God’s wish for him to go back to Ireland and enlighten his Irish captors to the Christian faith.
St. Patrick decided to follow God’s command. After more studying and preparing himself, he made his way back to Ireland. He spent years teaching the Irish about the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit), as well as converting and baptizing thousands of them.
More Resources on the life of Saint Patrick of Ireland:
Current celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day
Today, we see people celebrating St. Patrick’s Day by wearing green (to avoid getting pinched) and decorating everything in green. They use shamrocks, four-leaf clovers, rainbows, and leprechauns to proclaim their Irish pride.
There’s also a lot of drinking that goes on because, what else are the Irish most well known for? They even make green beer… Yuck! Cities around the world hold festivals and lavish parades.
However, as the secular world goes about celebrating his feast day, you rarely see anything about St. Patrick, who he was, what he believed, or what he accomplished in Ireland. How unfortunate!
Orthodox Christian Perspective
Shifting to our Orthodox Christian viewpoint, we certainly want to celebrate Saint Patrick on his feast day, but it will likely look different from the secular world’s celebration. Of course, you can dress in green and decorate with green and shamrocks to your heart’s content.
You can even have a green beer if you so choose! However, we should begin by attending Divine Liturgy on his feast day if there is one available (check your local parish). It’s also a wonderful idea to read about St. Patrick and his life’s mission, learning about his dedication to spreading the Christian faith and his accomplishments.
Your children are sure to love a brief lesson on the Holy Trinity and how St. Patrick used the shamrock (not a clover) as a tool for converting the Irish. You can even do some crafts with your kiddos such as a St. Patrick coloring sheet, or cutting out and decorating your own Trinity Shamrock.
Most importantly, remember to pray. If you have an icon of St. Patrick, you can display it in your icon corner during the week of his feast day.
Shamrock Symbolism
The symbolism of the shamrock in St. Patrick’s teachings is a captivating aspect of his legacy. Saint Patrick employed this three-leaved shamrock as a potent visual metaphor to demonstrate the concept of the Holy Trinity.
Each of the shamrock’s leaves represented a distinct person within the Trinity – the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit – yet all interconnected as one God. Through this simple yet powerful illustration, Saint Patrick successfully taught about the Holy Trinity to those he sought to evangelize in Ireland.
The shamrock became a compelling symbol that transcended linguistic barriers, enabling Saint Patrick to convey the core tenets of the Christian faith. As a result, the shamrock has remained associated with St. Patrick and his feast day for centuries.
FUN FACT: Shamrocks always have three leaves and are found growing in patches together. Four leaf clovers are different. They are usually found growing as just one individual plant and are relatively rare.
Reflection and Application of Saint Patrick’s Day Celebrations
As we participate in the festivities of St. Patrick’s Day, it’s an opportune moment to pause and delve into the deeper spiritual dimensions that this celebration holds, especially through the lens of an Orthodox Christian.
Encouraging readers to think deeply about the significance of St. Patrick’s Day, we invite contemplation on the Orthodox Christian perspective regarding the Trinity and the lessons derived from St. Patrick’s remarkable life.
This might involve incorporating moments of prayer, gratitude, or discussions on Christian teachings during family gatherings. Crafting activities that symbolize unity, akin to the Trinity, can serve as both educational and spiritually enriching experiences for you and your children.
Take a moment to reflect on the interconnectedness of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as symbolized by the shamrock, and consider how these teachings can enrich one’s spiritual journey. Saint Patrick’s dedication to spreading Christianity and his use of symbols offer valuable insights, making this day not only a celebration of Irish culture but also an opportunity for spiritual self-reflection and growth within the context of Orthodox Christian beliefs.
More Holiday Related Posts:
- Saint Valentine: An Orthodox Christian Perspective on Valentine’s Day
- New Year’s Resolutions for Homemaking, Homeschooling and Orthodox Christianity
- Orthodox Christian Christmas Gifts – The Best of 2023
Final Thoughts on Saint Patrick..
All in all, we’ve explored the complex celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, touching briefly on the historical context and current customs. However, its primary focus has been on unraveling the spiritual significance within an Orthodox Christian perspective.
By delving into St. Patrick’s life, teachings on the Holy Trinity, and the symbolism of the shamrock, we found a deeper layer of meaning beyond the vibrant festivities. Viewing Saint Patrick’s Day through the lens of Orthodox Christianity provides a unique opportunity for spiritual reflection and growth.
It encourages readers to move beyond the surface-level celebrations, inviting them to contemplate the Trinity, appreciate the lessons from Saint Patrick’s life, and weave these reflections into their own celebrations. Ultimately, St. Patrick’s Day becomes more than just a cultural event; it becomes a moment for individuals and families to continue on a journey of spiritual development and deeper connection with their Christian faith.
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I like how this blog post combines the fun aspects of St. Patrick’s Day with a deeper look at the holiday’s meaning from an Orthodox Christian perspective. It’s interesting to learn about the historical context and symbolism, especially the part about the shamrock representing the Holy Trinity.After visiting Ireland in 2018 with my mother, I would like to return to research my ancestry. (Side note: my father-in-law was a band director for a local high school, and they were able to play in Ireland in a parade for St. Patrick’s Day back in the 70’s.) It would be great to be able to visit there at this time of year to see the holiday from a new perspective, as I know it’s much different than in the States.
I would LOVE to go to Ireland some day! That sounds amazing.