The Didache and the Culdees: A Guide for Christian Guilds

and Self-Sustaining Communities

The Didache, one of the earliest Christian texts, serves as a foundational guide for believers seeking structured spiritual and community life. Its principles align closely with the traditions of the Culdees, a unique order within Celtic Christianity, known for their dedication to both spiritual and practical survival.

The Didache: A Blueprint for Christian Community

The Didache provides moral instruction, liturgical guidance, and community organization rules that have been used by ascetic monastic orders, Christian guilds, and self-sustaining religious communities. Among its key teachings:

• Ethical Living & Communal Support: The text emphasizes generosity, hard work, and mutual aid within a faith-based community.

• Self-Sufficiency & Hospitality: Visitors are welcome but must contribute to the community. Leaders must be tested and uphold integrity.

• Liturgical Consistency: The Eucharist follows a set structure, fasting is prescribed on specific days, and worship is held on Sabbath.

• Leadership & Governance: Bishops and deacons are to be appointed from within, emphasizing local control and accountability.

These principles resonate deeply with the traditions of the Culdees, whose influence has persisted across generations.

Historical Context and Preservation

The Didache was written in the First Century and remains part of the Orthodox Canon in many jurisdictions. The text has been upheld by various churches, including the Culdee Church, as a valuable guide to Christian life.

Notably, the original Greek text of Chapter 14 does not use the word “day” but rather “Lord’s way”, which aligns with Biblical Sabbath teachings from Leviticus 23. This has implications for Orthodox worship traditions, which historically honored both Saturday and Sunday. The Orthodox Church continues to commemorate Saturday as a day of rest, a practice that was standard for nearly 1,000 years. The Culdees encourage fellowship churches to recognize the holiness of both days, urging Sabbath-keeping churches to open their doors on Sundays and vice versa.

Additionally, the Didache upholds the dietary laws, reinforcing the connection between early Christianity and its Hebraic roots. These teachings, long acknowledged in Orthodox and Celtic traditions, reflect the continuity of the faith before later theological developments altered certain practices.

As validated in Orthodox Celtic history and established Celtic Orthodox worship practices (for example, commemorating over 1,000 Celtic Saints who flourished before Augustine arrived), the Didache played a significant role in the faith of the early Celtic church. Even St. David of Wales was consecrated in Jerusalem himself. These practices are reflected in more than 400 confirmed Celtic saints, whose teachings validated their full communion with the Eastern traditions, some even instructing the Eastern Church. St. John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople, affirmed this unity when he wrote: “The British Isles which lie beyond the sea, and which lie in the ocean, have received the virtue of the Word. Churches are there found and altars erected. Though thou should’st go to the ocean, to the British Isles, there thou should’st hear all men everywhere discussing matters out of the Scriptures.”

Similarly, Bishop St. Irenaeus wrote around 178 AD: “For though languages differ throughout the world, the content of the Tradition is one and the same. The Churches established in Germany have no other faith or Tradition, nor do those of the Iberians, nor those of the Celts, nor those of the East, of Egypt, of Libya, nor those established at the centre of the world.” These testimonies reinforce the oneness of the early faith, confirming that the Celtic Church followed the universal Christian Tradition without deviation. Even Saint Columbanus, in his famous letter to the Pope, defended the Celtic Church against false accusations, stating that heretics were never recognized within Celtic Christianity, as figures like Pelagius had been rejected outright.

The Culdee Tradition and Succession

The historical connection between the Culdees and early Orthodox Christianity is well-documented. Many early Celtic saints, recognized across various Orthodox jurisdictions, adhered to Culdee principles. Their governance was often hereditary, ensuring stability and continuity within their communities.

Following the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, remnants of Culdee leadership persisted in families like the Nott lineage, who safeguarded elements of the tradition. Notably:

• John Nott of Glastonbury (Lord Prior, refused Henry VIII’s Act of Supremacy, secured Charter from Queen Mary in 1556, recognized by Elizabeth I)

• Rep. John Nott (Founder of Glastonbury, Connecticut, and Representative of the New England Confederation, 1617-1681)

• Various descendants who preserved the tradition and maintained influence in the region

Artifacts from early Glastonbury England—including artwork known mainly to priests in the sanctuary and autographed by the Nott family—are preserved in Connecticut museums, indicating a tangible link to the past.

The Didache & The Modern Culdee Movement

Today, the principles of the Didache continue to influence St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church of the Culdees (

https://st-andrewsocc.org

), which actively promotes its teachings. The text provides a model for:

• Faith-based self-governance

• Economic and communal resilience

• Maintaining hereditary traditions while adapting to modern challenges

Conclusion: Preserving a Living Tradition

The Didache remains a guiding document for those seeking to build Christian guilds, monastic communities, and self-sufficient spiritual societies. The Culdees, with their emphasis on autonomy, faith, and practicality, embody its principles in a lasting and adaptable way.

For more information on the Culdee traditions and the role of the Didache in modern practice, visit St. Andrew’s Orthodox Church of the Culdees and explore how these ancient teachings continue to shape communities today.

More info at: https://celticorthodoxy.com/2015/09/the-didache-accepted-by-tcaww-the-culdee-and-greater-fellowship-of-churches/