06.17 Life of Martyr Nectan of Nectan

Feast Day: 17 / 30 June

Reposed: 6th century

Life of Martyr Nectan of Hartland

St. Nectan was the eldest of St. Brychan of Brycheiniog's twenty four children. Whilst still a young man he was inspired to imitate the example of St. Anthony the Great and the other great ascetics. To that end he and several companions left Wales by boat landing on the northern coast of Devonshire at Hartland.

One day St. Nectan found a stray pig, and returned it to its owner. In gratitude the owner gave St. Nectan two cows, which were soon stolen from him. He found the robbers and attempted to teach them about Christ, however this enraged the robbers and one of them beheaded St. Nectan. The saint then picked up his head and carried it about one kilometre back to his cell and laid it down near a spring. Seeing this caused the robber who cut St. Nectan's head off to go mad, but the other robber buried the saint. There is a tradition that foxgloves grew wherever the saint’s blood fell to the ground. Since then the site of his tomb has been a place of many miracles.

In 937, on the eve of the Battle of Brunanburgh, a young man from Hartland who was in a tent near King Athelstan’s pavilion suddenly felt himself afflicted with the plague which was then destroying the English army. 

The young man wept and called upon God and Saint Nectan to help him. His cries were so loud that he woke the king and others around him.

Saint Nectan came to the young man just after midnight and touched the afflicted area of his body, healing him. In the morning, he was brought before the king and admitted that it was he who had disturbed Athelstan’s sleep. The king asked why he had been crying out during the night.

The young man explained that he felt himself stricken with the plague, and was afraid that he would die. Therefore, he entreated God and Saint Nectan to help him, and his prayer was answered.

Athelstan asked for more information about the life and martyrdom of Saint Nectan, which the young man provided. He also urged the king to turn to Saint Nectan with faith, promising that he would be victorious in battle if he did so.

The king promised to honour God and Saint Nectan, and so his faith was rewarded. Not only did he win the battle, but the plague disappeared and his soldiers recovered. The first time that King Athelstan visited Hartland in Devonshire, he donated property to the saint’s church. For the rest of his life, the king placed great confidence in the intercession of Saint Nectan.

Troparion (Tone III)

As from a blossom of surpassing beauty let us drink the nectar of grace, which floweth from the holy life of the venerable martyr Nectan; for the fragrance of his virtues doth ever perfume all of the land, and filleth the Church of Christ with the sweet savor of his glorious witness.

+

Жизнь Прмч. Нектана Хартлэндского

Валлийского святого Нектана (Nectan), или Найтона (Nighton) из Хартлэнда (Hartland) всегда почитали как мученика, убитого грабителями, хотя не имеется никаких деталей о его жизни. Он является покровителем Хартлэнда, что в Девоншире, который находился неподалёку от его отшельнического убежища. Его самое полное житие относится только к XII столетию и изложено в рукописи Готы (Gotha).

В этой работе Нектан описан как самый старший из 24 детей святого Бричана (Brychan) из Брекнока (Brecknock). Там же сообщается, что Нектан уже был монахом, когда он и многие его родственники приплыли из южного Уэльса в северный Девоншир. В поисках уединения он обосновался в непроходимых лесах. Его семейство посещало его в обители последний день каждого года. Через несколько лет он нашёл ещё более отдалённую долину с ручьём. Там он помог свинопасу найти свиней, за что их владелец наградил Нектана двумя коровами, которых позднее украли. Нектан нашел краденое и, укорив воров, пытался обратить их ко Господу. Они вознаградили его усилия тем, что отсекли ему голову.

После своей кончины, по преданию, он нёс свою голову пол мили до ручья, где стояла его хижина.

Тропарь (глас 4)

O, святой Отче Нектан, ты последовал зову Господню/

И оставил своих отца и мать Его ради, чтобы вести жизнь отшельника./

Преданный последователь Христа до твоей кончины/

Моли Христа Бога спастися душам нашим.