February Quiz for Scottish Episcopalians and Friends

The start of February sees St Bride (aka Brigid of Kildare) being celebrated on 1 February. She is a rather odd figure in that despite being an Irish saint of the sixth century she was said to have been miraculously transported to Bethlehem to attend on Mary at Jesus’s birth. The fact that St Bride of Kildare shares her name with a pre-Christian Irish deity only adds to the confusion.

Here’s one of the best loved portrayals of her from the National Gallery of Scotland. It is by John Duncan and shows her being transported over the sea.

But is this picture reproduced here the right way round or the wrong way round?

When Jesus was presented in the temple by his parents – kept now as the Feast of Candlemas, which we celebrate on 2 February, someone said this: ‘This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be opposed so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul too.’

Who was it?

The day after Candlemas on 3 February, some priests offer to bless people’s throats on the feast day that falls on this day using candles that have been blessed the day before. (It is important not to light the candles or you burn people’s ears.

So who is this saint who is the patron saint of throats, whose day falls on 3 February?

Thanks to Joseph Shaw for sharing this on Flickr – https://www.flickr.com/photos/josephshaw/24188908304 – CC Attributions- Sharealike

This should be easy. Which cathedral is further West – St Andrew’s Cathedral in Inverness or Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff?

The church remembers Martin Luther on 19 February. He famously proposed a number of different ideas (theses) for disputation which were seen as a major challenge to the church and which were a significant moment in kickstarting the Reformation. He nailed these theses to a door in Wittenberg, depicted below. How many were there?

What line comes after this one in the Magnificat?

He hath put down the mighty from their seat…

One of the cities in Scotland has a Roman Catholic Church which claims to have relics of St Valentine contained in this rather splendid reliquery?

Which is Scotland’s city of love?

Thanks to Anne on Flickr for this pic. CC – Attributions-NonCommerical-NoDerivs

One of the saints that has been mentioned in this quiz is linked to oyster-catchers. Who is it?

One of the things that bishops are given when they are consecrated is an Episcopal ring. Which finger do they wear it on?

February is LGBT History Month. When did first weddings of same-sex couples take place in the Scottish Episcopal Church?