Origin of Traditional Orthodoxy in the West

THE ORIGIN OF
TRADITIONAL ORTHODOXY
IN THE WEST

Following the crucifixion of Jesus, St Joseph of Arimathea was driven from his home and began a
journey of conversion. He traveled to Glastonbury in an attempt to bring Christianity to the Britons.
Joseph was the owner of the tomb in which Jesus Christ's body lay from Good Friday till the third day,
Easter.

Upon their arrival and tired from the journey, he and his 12 Companions laid down to rest. As he did so,
he thrust his staff into the hill. When he woke up, the staff had taken root and begun to grow. It flowers
every Christmas (Old Style) and every spring. This became the site of the Glastonbury Abbey.

The original thorn was cut down by a Puritan soldier in 1653 and he was blinded when struck in the eye
by a splinter. Many cuttings were taken from the original before its destruction. The current thorn on the
grounds of Glastonbury Abbey is said to be a cutting from the original plant which was planted in secret
after the original was destroyed. Botanically, the Glastonbury Thorn is a hawthorn, which usually blooms
only in the spring. Blooming at Christmas that falls in January is considered a miracle by God to honor
the faith of Joseph of Aramathia.

Joseph of Arimathea was the Virgin Mary's uncle. It was he, along with St. John who buried Jesus after
the crucifixion. Joseph, in the tin trade, made a lot of trips to Britain, where being a rich merchant made
close contact with British Royalty; namely Kings Beli, Lud, Llyr and Arviragus, who gave Joseph and his
companions some 2000 acres of land, tax free. On these trips to Britain, Joseph took Jesus, as we know
through many geographical, historical and traditional references. The details of this study are taken
mainly from "The Drama of the Lost Disciples", by George F. Jowett.

Historians William of Malmesbury, Maelgwyn of Llandaff and Polydore Vergil all place Joseph of
Arimathea at Glastonbury. Even the four Church councils of Pisa 1409, Constance 1417, Sienna 1424
and Basle 1434, mention that "the Churches of France and Spain must yield in points of antiquity and
precedence to that of Britain as the latter Church was founded by Joseph of Arimathea immediately after
the passion of Christ."

Joseph, with many disciples traveled from the holy land by boat and landed at Marseilles, in the Vienoise
province of the Gauls (France). From there he went on to England established seminaries, sent out
missionaries, and helped in the conversion of the Royal family. In his "Ecclesiastical Annals", Cardinal
Baronius, Curator of the Vatican library, gives this account. "In that year the party mentioned was
exposed to the sea in a vessel without sails or oars. The vessel drifted finally to Marseilles and they were
saved. From Marseilles Joseph and his company passed into Britain and after preaching the Gospel there,
died." The reason for the boat having been set adrift was that the Jews wanted to get rid of these
Christians, but couldn't get away with murder.

How many of the disciples were with Joseph of Arimathea during his short stay in Gaul, before going on
to England, is hard to say.   Various existing records agree in part with the Cardinal Baronius
Record, naming among the occupants of the castaway boat Mary Magdlene, Martha, the hand-maiden
Marcella, Lazarus whom Jesus raised from the dead, and Maximin the man whose sight Jesus restored.
Other records state that Philip and James accompanied Joseph. Others report that Mary, the wife of
Cleopas, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were also in the boat. Here's Baronius' complete list of
passengers:

          St. Mary, wife of Cleopas
          St. Martha
          St. Lazarus
          St. Eutropius
          St. Salome
          St. Cleon
          St. Saturninus
          St. Mary Magdalene
          Marcella, the Bethany sisters' maid
          St. Maximin
          St. Martial
          St. Trophimus
          St. Sidonius (Restitutus)
          St. Joseph of Arimathea

True to God's way, Philip was waiting for the travelers in France. There is a wealth of uncontroversial
testimony asserting his commission in Gaul, all of which alike state that he received and consecrated
Joseph, preparatory to his embarkation and appointment as the Apostle to Britain.

Although there are some who would argue for France being first, most records agree that Britain, at
Glastonbury was the Root of the Christian movement. One would expect that history would show that the
missionary activities would flow out of the well-spring of Christianity. And well does history record this.
The Gaelic records state that for centuries the Archbishops of Trees and Reams were all Britons supplied
by the mother church at Glastonbury-Avalon. St. Cavil, a famed British missionary, going out from
Glastonbury, founded the church of Tarentum, Italy, A.D. 170. Did you notice that this was four hundred
years before St. Augustine? And as we'll see later, even this date was at least fourteen years after King
Locus Christianized all of Britain in A.D. 156! ! ! Nobody really wants to play "Who was First" with the
British.

Converts literally flooded into Glastonbury for conversion, baptism, instruction and missionary
assignment. Philip sent, from Gaul alone, one hundred sixty disciples to assist Joseph and his team with
the crowds. And it is surely known that helpers were sent from other places beside France.

One of the first to go out from Glastonbury was Mary and Martha's brother Lazarus. He headed straight
back to Marseilles where he held the Bishopric for seven years. But that was only natural. France was a
Family thing for the Bethany household. Mary and Martha both lived out their lives, preaching and
teaching in the south of France. "The Coming of The Saints," by Taylor is a good book on the subject.

Many famous names are recorded as having been associated with Glastonbury-Avalon.

Sidonis, Saturninus, and Cleon taught and supported other Missionaries in Gaul, then returned to
Britain. Martial's parents, Marcellus and Elizabeth were there along with St. Zacchaeus. Many faithful
Judeans moved to Britain. Parmena, disciple of Joseph, was appointed the first Bishop of Avignon.
Drennalus, helped Joseph found the church at Morlaix. He was then appointed to Treguier as its first
Bishop.

Beatus founded the church in Helvetia, after receiving his baptism and education at Avalon. Beatus was
baptized by St. Barnabas, the brother of Aristobulus. Beatus was sent in advance by St. Paul to Britain.
He is referred to in scripture as Joses, the Levite.

Mansuetus was consecrated the first Bishop of the Lotharingians A.D. 49, with his See at Toul. He also
founded the church at Lorraine.

Mansuetus was a constant visitor at the Palace of the British at Rome after Claudia had married Pudens.
He was a friend of Linus, the first Bishop of Rome, and brother of Claudia. After the death of St. Clement,
Mansuetus became the third official Bishop of the British Church at Rome. Thus we have three disciples
of Avalon, instructed by St. Joseph, to become, in succession, Bishops of Rome.

Iltigius, in "De Patribus Apostolicis", quotes St. Peter as saying;
"Concerning the Bishops who have been ordained in our lifetime, we make known to you that they are
these. Of Antioch, Eudoius, ordained by me, Peter. Of the Church of Rome, Linus, son of Claudia, was first
ordained by Paul, and after Linus's death, Clemens the second, ordained by me, Peter."

There are some very good superficial reasons why all this took place in England. Because of Joseph's
merchant business it was a known location, where Royal friends could help, and far from persecution.
The deeper levels of meaning require broader levels of perspective. Without going into detail again, I'll
mention that the Lost Tribes were headquartered in Britain. Ephraim and Judah, were already running
the country. These folks, and their cousins that would come in later, are the very ones who God drafted to
take His message to the world. We're looking at a plan that God set up to run almost four thousand years
ago.

God called Abraham to father the nation that would supply the stock and the wealth for the Zarah line to
precede the Israelites into Europe, from whence they would take the Message of Christ to the rest of the
world. Please remember when reading the following Bible references that the House of Israel is distinct
from the House of Judah. All are Israelites (descendents of Israel/Jacob), but only the Tribe of Judah are
the Jews.

Although many of the Jews were scattered, Jeremiah, in 50:17 is talking about the House of Israel. We
know from the context, in which he clearly separates "the children Israel", from the "children of Judah."
(v.4,20)

Hosea echoes the scattering in chapter 1 verse 4.   First Peter is addressed to the "scattered expatriates."
The places he names are just the locations of Israelite groups of the northeast Mediterranean.

An astounding prophecy is made by the High Priest Caiaphas in John 11:51-52. Jesus would die for the
Jewish nation AND the ones scattered abroad. Jesus says he has other sheep "not of this (geographical
Israel) fold." John 10:16. Jesus says that he is sent, and he sends his apostles to the "lost sheep of the
House of Israel."   Why not just say Israel? Jesus was specifying a particular group of Israelites.

Looking up the word gentiles in Strong's reveals the definition, "a tribe; specifically a foreign(non-Jewish)
one." The Jews of Jesus' time called the Celts and Scythians Gentiles, along with all the other folks that
didn't worship God. Yet a few understood. Like Peter and Paul.

Paul writes to the Roman Church. The church that was headed up by the Royal British family, a few of
which were related to him by law. He says in, Romans 15:8-12, that Jesus, as well as minister to "the
circumcision", but also came that the Gentiles might Glorify God.