St John Chrysostom, St Valentine, Manchester – what’s the connection?

Bees in the Prayer Tree

What connects St John Chrysostom, St Valentine, and Manchester? 

Busy Bees!

Among the many activities the children enjoyed at our St Valentine’s Children’s days was making prayer bees for our indoor Prayer Tree. The bees rest in the tree as signs of the children’s activity and prayer.

There are many wonderful stories and legends about bees. Not least is the one concerning St John Chrysostom who’s Goldenmouth for preaching was said to come from bees flying into his mouth and leaving their honey there. St Valentine, as well as being associated with romantic love is also the Patron Saint of beekeepers.

Children in Birchfields Park

Bees are also the symbol of the hard work and industry of Manchester and can be found on the City’s Coat of Arms. Many things in life, not least prayer, have the capacity to surprise us. At St Chrysostom’s we often say we never know who is coming through the door next!

It is often the least expected ‘visitors’ that are the most important. There is an old wives tale that says a bee flying into the house means that a visitor is on his/her way. If you kill or mistreat the bee the visit will not be a pleasant one. If, however, you greet the bee with kindness your visitor will do the same to you.’