Servant of the Servants of God
By Matt Horgan

AD 608

To the most blessed and apostolic Boniface, bishop of the city of Rome; Prestivius, bishop, servant of the servants of God. Most holy brother, I fear we may find this task to be impossible. When I ventured to Hibernia, country of the Scots, I did so in the belief that these people had not strayed from a life of sanctity according to the custom of the universal church, as have the Britons and the Picts.

Mellitus, bishop of London, has acquainted you with the errors of the Britons, and it is with sinking heart that I must inform you, on behalf of myself and Bishop Dagan, that the occupants of this aforesaid island have strayed as well, and will be as difficult, if not more so, to bring to the cup of life and salvation, the Gospel of Christ.

Our Lord has blessed this land, for its beauty and peacefulness far surpass that of Britain. I have found milk and honey to be in abundant supply, as are fish, fowl and all variety of vines. When snow lands upon this green and fertile landscape, it scarcely ever lies more than three days before being vanquished. Whilst Mellitus and Justus lead the Britons in prayer that their provisions outlast the winter, no man hath the need to make hay for such a purpose here, nor to provide shelter for beasts of burden.

Perhaps it is this bounty and lack of hardship that has led the Scots astray. Forasmuch as Bishop Dagan has poured forth from himself the faith and wonder of our Lord, the people of the Gailican church hold to many beliefs and customs handed down from generations of Celtic and Druidic leadership. Inasmuch as some claim the word of the faithful, many of these same continue to participate in the pagan fire festivals.

Upon Bishop Dagan's advice I set out to make example of the most knowledgeable in the Celtic and Druidic beliefs, he who practiced their dark arts and made claim to visions of the future, his name being Aedh Ilchealgach. This man is held in high esteem since the battle of Slaibhre whence his knowledge of future events is said to have led the Ui Neill in victory over Bran Dubh, son of Eochaidh, King of Leinster.

It was on a day clear of sky and air whence I led a contingent of the recently converted, which grew larger and noisier as we progressed, to the outskirts of our settlement where the devilish practitioner makes his home amongst those of ill fortune and low character. He himself stood in the midst of a small crowd as he cast bones to the ground and reflected upon their placement then proceeded to enter marks into a thick volume at his side. Aedh is large for a Scot, with skin pale as parchment, but with a blooded glow in his cheeks that bespeaks of strength and hardiness.

"Aedh Ilchealgach," I began, "there is but one path to everlasting salvation, through the words of our Savior, Christ, the Son of God."

My congregation murmured approval, whilst fire rose in the pagan's face and hands as he pushed stray locks of red hair to the side, silencing all behind me with eyes that burned with green fire. He stood to his full height, fully a hand taller than any other found in these parts, and closed his book, giving pretense to relax and smile.

"Bishop Prestivius. You seek to conquer what you already have, for Rome still holds sway over these lands, does it not?" He placed his hands on his hips and rolled to his heels, full of love for himself and not accustomed to being challenged.

But challenge him I did, dear brother. "I speak to you not from the mouth of Rome politics, but with the voice of the one true church, with the authority of the most holy and blessed Boniface, server of the servants of God."

A squat man with hunched back and fingers like claws handed the bones to Aedh, them now being collected into a hide satchel pulled closed with a thong. With his gaze affixed on me, he shook the bag as he bound it to his waist, the clanking bones drawing fearful breaths behind me.

"Why do you fear me so?" he asked. "If your god is so powerful, I cannot stand in your way." He turned to the crowd behind him, which nodded and murmured unintelligible support, but I was determined, and cast my hands upward, inspiring the faithful to observe God's heaven above.

"I have been commanded, through the word of the Lord, to bring your people to His light. It is for the souls of your countrymen, that they not burn in the fires of damnation for all eternity, that I beseech you to denounce the teachings of your heathen past and join us."

"Leave me in peace and I shall do the same," was his response.

"I cannot, for you foul and muddy the minds of your fellows. You bless the marriage of man to his kindred and advise against proper custom, stating it unnecessary for women to avoid church during their monthly courses."

With this, the fiend bared his teeth in a jagged grin. Beholden to the devil, he is. He goes as far as telling men to freely enter the house of God after joining in flesh with their wives, that they need not wash nor await the setting of the sun. Upon my word to seize the property of this unbeliever, my followers did hesitate and as time seemed to slow, I feared the man held more sway over these people than I'd counted on. Evil danced in his eyes as he held them fast to mine, but I prayed to the Son and, after a moment, his smile broadened and he spread his arms grandly. "Take what you will, for my needs are simple, and shall be met through the generosity of my folk."

Near twenty days have past since then and though he now be without shelter and belongings of his own, he appears none the worse for the loss. Perhaps the looming cold shall do much to change this.

Brother, I broach this last subject with reluctance and shaking hands, it being the title of Universal Father, which word hath reached me has now been bestowed upon you. As your venerable Holiness knows, not one of your predecessors ever consented to such a profane appellation. I fear you forget our time together in Rome, whence we did have such opportunity to listen chastely to our most holy Gregory speak on this very subject, wherein he decried that to call oneself Universal Priest was to place himself above all others, lessening the honour of his brethren. Should the world have changed so much since the passing of Gregory, I beseech you share with those of us so far removed from Rome and the Apostolic See, that we may make sense of your acceptance of this name.

With Bishop Dagan abroad, I seek you your guidance and wisdom in these matters. May the Son keep you well and safe.

Dated the seventeenth day of November, in the sixth year of the reign of our most pious and august lord, Phocus, the thirteenth indiction.

AD 609

To his most reverend and holy brother and fellow bishop Prestivius; Boniface, Universal Father, the servant of the servants of God. Forasmuch as it may seem better to have never begun such a good yet difficult work, it behooves you, dear brother, to fulfill that which you have undertaken in the name of our Lord. You must not lose faith, nor envy the worldly rewards God has bestowed upon others, for eternal reward awaits those that labour in the name of our Savior.

Whilst you may have stumbled, it appears our Father has led you to the proper path, though your restraint in dealing with Aedh Ilchealgach shall only delay your holy cause. Break this soothsayer, and I am confident you will bring the Scots forth into the light of the word of Christ, and they will desist in observing their godless festivals. It is unfortunate that Rome may have fostered some of their continued beliefs, for, Feralia, the Roman holiday commemorating the passing of the dead, only serves to reinforce their past heretic ideas that spirits walk the earth, in particular near the Celtic festival once described to me as Samhain.

Inflexibility with this Aedh must be countered with your flock, for to bring the damned to His light, the church must evolve to meet the needs of its congregation. With regard to issues you have raised, it is well understood that women are forbidden to approach their husbands during their monthly courses, just as the Law also condemns to death any man that shall approach a woman during this period.

However, whilst a woman’s monthly courses are a distemper, they result from the superfluity of nature, brought upon us through original sin, and cannot be imputed to her as a crime. For this reason, whilst she suffers from her uncleanness, we must not forbid her to enter the house of God. Nor should we deny her the body of Christ. This is not to say that we shall not commend said woman, should she decide to deny herself Holy Communion out of profound respect for the one Lord and Savior.

The Law also prescribes that after approaching his wife a man shall not enter the church unless first washed with water, and only after the setting of the sun. This is necessary to wash the body and mind of the fire of concupiscence. In this regard I suggest to forego the requirement to wait for the setting of the sun, so long as the man has properly washed, for it is this washing with water that serves to cleanse the mind, and body, which shall be of no small favor to those others in attendance.

Be not tolerant with those that stand in the way of the word of God, yet more so with those accepting of His bounty.

Dated the eighth day of March, in the seventh year of the reign of our most pious and august lord, Phocus, the thirteenth indiction.

AD 609

To his most blessedness, Boniface; Prestivius, bishop, servant of the servants of God. Your sage counsel, as provided in your last epistle, has been most helpful.

When even the cold of winter failed to dispel Aedh Ilchealgach from his evil practices, I did order the faithful to bring him forth to the church so as to convene a just and pious trial for his crimes against the Lord and his own people, as evidenced by his continued practice of the dark customs of his ancestors.

The fervor of my congregation, in their devotion to the true Son of God, did find the process of a formal trial to be too consumptive of time, and did take it upon themselves to discuss with me options to expedite the process. Prior to advising them, I did confer with your written response and reflect upon my previous leniency, praying to the Father above to guide my tongue. I was not to be disappointed as at the very hour of my conference a young boy from my flock did bring to me a stone of unusual magnificence. This stone, being the size of my balled hand, did shine with the light of God's eyes, sparkling in the sun and glittering in all colors available through His grace. It was a holy sign, and before the sun could drop below the heather and ivy crusted hills to the west, more than a hundred stones did rain upon Aedh, cast by his kindred and carried by God's own wrath, until such time as his soul was cast to the heavens to be judged for his crimes.

It is said, for this was relayed to me through the witness of several faithful followers as I thought it inappropriate for the church leadership to officially observe lest it be taken as an endorsement of violence, that during his condemnation, Aedh remained quiet and still save for a few incoherent incantations, as well as those sounds and movements directly resulting from the striking of a stone to his person.

Whilst his demise is truly an act of Christ, it has not led to the cessation of all dark practice. For as the cold draws near yet again, and shadows grow long, so, too, I fear, do the shadows of an unholy mischief lengthen and grow deep upon these lands. I detect an undercurrent of superstitious belief centered about the fire festival of Samhain, which falls at the onset of the icy breeze.

This pagan event proves most difficult to squash, having been observed for hundreds of years in these parts, led by the most unholy Druids of the Celtic people. It is during this time that the Scots believe the boundary between the living and the dead is made transparent, and recently departed spirits and those yet born are free to roam the land in search of living flesh to possess. Most reverend brother, the devil uses this festival to weaken the power of our Supreme Deity whilst men and women adorn themselves in the heads and hides of animals.

Boniface, Rome must no longer be content to observe and counsel, but must bring to bear the universal power and authority recognized in the title you accept from Emperor Phocus, forsooth, only through your direct intervention may we hope to squelch this demonic celebration. If I may, dear brother, be so presumptuous as to make a suggestion, perhaps you could dedicate a new church observance in close proximity to Samhain? One that is diametrically opposed to the local beliefs, that will remove the stain of the devil from these souls. A celebration, dear Boniface, involving our most holy saints in the hope that their memory and power shall help drive these heathens to salvation.

Most holy and revered Boniface, I also seek your guidance on the appointment and guiding rules to be applied to new bishops as we ordain them throughout this island. You and I share, dear brother, the honour and inner peace wrought from our upbringing under monastic rule. I still hold my belief that such restrictions lead a man to the true nature of God's power, however, these ideas have been met with no small amount of disapproval.

Dated the seventh day of June, in the seventh year of the reign of our most pious and august lord, Phocus, the thirteenth indiction.

AD 609

To his most reverend and holy brother and fellow bishop Prestivius; Boniface, Pope, Universal Father, the servant of the servants of God. I send this letter on swift courier, dear brother, in the hopes that it shall arrive in time for you to make use of it yet this season.

Prestivius. After much consideration and discussion with the Apostolic See, we have decided upon action to assist in delivering the Scots from the way of darkness to that of light.

To this end, the holy Roman church sanctifies November 1 as Alholowmesse, the feast of all saints, in observance of respect for the saints of the world.

As part of this celebration, you shall encourage the replacement of skins and heads with other costume dress. This will ease the Scots from their pagan beliefs and within a few short years, even this practice will be seen to be without merit and will fall from observance.

In addition, I will dedicate the Pantheon, the ancient Roman temple of false gods, to the Blessed Virgin, Mary, and all our martyred saints. As you well know, this temple has become a strain on the eye and thorn in the side of the church. Dedicating it to Mary and the saints will provide a center of worship for Alholowmesse, while providing the necessary motivation to Emperor Phocus to address the many required changes to the structure itself.

Your question concerning monastic rules is most troublesome to me, Prestivius, for whilst we were taught and raised in a monastic way, you must remember that this is not the natural condition of man. Some may have the God-given strength to live by these rules, but we know most do not, and forced to live as such, will invariably sink to actions of depravity with all manner of child and beast. Your knowledge of this does not escape me. Also remember that many of our most holy brethren are directly sired from previous brethren, leaders we would be without should the monastic rules be made more than a personal decision.

Iniquity lies not in the union of the married couple, but in copulation, in pleasure, because the pleasure cannot be had without sin. Such a man as you would appoint bishop, should he be led by the desire to beget children and not by desire of pleasure, is not to be judged harshly and shall be left to his own judgment.

The church will never folly to push man to give up that which God has made too tempting to avoid, for it would lead to our ruin.

Dated the twenty-seventh day of August, in the seventh year of the reign of our most pious and august lord, Phocus, the thirteenth indiction.

AD 609

To his holiness, Boniface; Prestivius, bishop, servant of the servants of God. Brother, there is so much to tell of events here, that I stumble over my own thoughts. Your wisdom in selecting a swift courier did bear fruit, as your letter arrived less than seven days from the beginning of November, and the inaugural celebration of Alholowmesse. I am in the midst of preparing for the hallowed event, but, alas, I get ahead of myself.

Since the time of my last correspondence, whence my flock did bring to an end the unholy life of Aedh Ilcheagalch, our efforts here have been rewarded a hundred fold, and the church can no longer accommodate all that come to worship. As soon as Bishop Dagan returns, I shall discuss with him a plan to address the needs of my growing congregation.

As the reach of His word expands, I have found two of the faithful prepared to serve our Lord. I have discussed the trials of a bishop's life with these men, and, against your latest advice, did counsel them to adopt the monastic rules under which I guide my own life. Boniface, please consider this a testament to His will in this matter, forasmuch as you may have doubted, neither of these men did so much as raise a brow when presented with this. Being raised as sheepherders, and as such accustomed to a solitary existence, they shall now guide the flock of man to the Son of God.

As often happens, with such rapid growth come problems. On several occasions the church walls have been desecrated with patterns unfamiliar to me, drawn in blood still warm and wet. I maintain my belief that these acts stem from the pagan beliefs and customs surrounding Samhain, which leads me to describe the preparations I make for Alholowmesse, now only two days away.

Whilst many of my congregation make preparations for this devilish celebration, inflicted on them by their Celtic and Druidic ancestors, I have gathered a group of the faithful to go into the night with me, without animal skin or other adornment, to disprove to their brethren the beliefs handed down to them. Seventeen there will be of us, for that number holds some special significance here I do not yet understand.

Time runs short, Brother, and I must finish my preparations, so I leave the rest of this page open that I may describe to you the glorious results of our Alholowmesse celebration.

AD 609

To the most blessed and apostolic Boniface, Universal Father, Pope of the city of Rome; Dagan, Archbishop of Hibernia, land of the Scots, servant of the servants of God.

It is with heavy heart, most reverend brother, that I must inform you of the loss of Bishop Prestivius.

I see from his unfinished letter that Prestivius described to you his plans for Alholowmesse, so it is here that I shall begin with the story, as relayed to me by the surviving members of our brother's party.

Upon the onset of darkness, Prestivius and his faithful came upon another group in costume too realistic to be worn above the skin. Prestivius, beseeching this group to throw down their sacrilegious ways, was besot by a floating spectre. Felled to the ground, he shook violently for numerous minutes as additional spectres befell those in his party still without adornment, for it seems some in his party had quickly covered themselves in the animal skins commonly worn by their people during this time.

Six of the original seventeen, including our saintly brother, Prestivius, did not return and have not been seen since.

Most alarming in this recanting is the description given to me of the spectre that attacked our fellow in Christ, for, as I peruse the contents of the church sacristy, which has been desecrated with all manner of blood and foul matter, I find your letters and fear you shall recognize this unworldly being with red locks twisted into the shape of horns and eyes that burned with a fire both red and green. The eyes, most holy one, of the Celtic priest known as Aedh Ilcheagalch.

I have since traveled to where these events transpired, and, even now, find my hands quiver with the memory. It was here, in a rocky clearing where not even the hardiest of grasses hold root, that I found Prestivius' prayer beads. I did not recognize them at first, for the pearls, once white and pure, had transformed to a depthless black, like the pits of some evil fruit, without lustre, from which no light escaped. Boniface, it was only as I drew a trembling breath into my lungs that I noticed the ground itself had been transformed, and I realized I stood in a circle of crimson stones, which appeared wet and sticky, though surely they be dry in the afternoon sun.

Universal Father, I fear the dark one himself at work here hampering our efforts to bring these people to His word, and pray that the observance of Alholowmesse and your wise counsel shall lead us to salvation, and the end of devilish traditions practiced here.

I will see to the immediate needs of the church and its congregation, then will follow this letter to Rome. Dated the third day of November, in the seventh year of the reign of our most pious and august lord, Phocus, the thirteenth indiction.

The End

Story copyright Matt Horgan, published by the Fortean Bureau
http://www.forteanbureau.com