Saint
Brigid
Venerable Brigid (Bridget) of Ireland
New Calendar February 1 Old Calendar February 14
Why they are a saint
Her name is also spelled Brigit or Bridget; she is considered, equally with St Patrick (March 17), patron of Ireland. The Orthodox Church commemorates Brigid on February 1.
Life
Saint Brigid, 'the Mary of the Gael', was born around 450 at Faughart near Dundalk in County Louth. According to Tradition her father was a pagan named Dubthach and her mother, Brocessa, one of his slaves. As a child she gave away food, clothing and even her father's possessions to the poor, once giving his sword, a gift from the king, to a beggar.
She received monastic tonsure from Saint Mael of Ardagh and founded a monastery at Kildare, 'the church of the oak', on land given by the King of Leinster; this was the beginning of women's cenobitic monasticism in Ireland. Many miracles are told of her.
She fell asleep in the Lord in 523 after receiving Holy Communion from Saint Ninnidh. She was buried at Kildare, and her relics were later moved to Downpatrick during the Viking invasions. The custom of making Saint Brigid's crosses from rushes and hanging them in the home is still kept in Ireland.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
The cited source names no specific patronage.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Brigid as a patron when they bear the name Brigid at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on February 1. As a monastic, she is also asked for help in prayer, fasting, and repentance.
Prayer
O holy Brigid, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.