There isn’t exactly a ton known about St. Richard of Wessex (alternately known as St. Richard of Swabia and St. Richard the Pilgrim), whose feast is celebrated today. All we really know for sure is that he was an English saint who, after reposing in Italy, was venerated in Germany. There is far more known about his children, Ss. Walpurga, Winebald, and Willibald, and his brother, St. Boniface (aka St. Wilfrid) than about him. Nonetheless, here is a fairly reasonable summary of what can be said about St. Richard, from this website.Died 722. Perhaps Saint Richard was not really a king–early Italian legend made him a prince of Wessex–but his sanctity was verified by the fact that he fathered three other saints: Willibald, Winebald (Wunibald), and Walpurga (Walburga). Butler tells us that “Saint Richard, when living, obtained by his prayers the recovery of his younger son Willibald, whom he laid at the foot of a great crucifix erected in a public place in England, when the child’s life was despaired of in a grievous sickness. . . . [he was] perhaps deprived of his inheritance by some revolution in the state; or he renounced it to be more at liberty to dedicate himself to the pursuit of Christian perfection. . . . Taking with him his two sons, he undertook a pilgrimage of penance and devotion, and sailing from Hamble-haven, landed in Neustria on the western coasts of France. He made a considerable stay at Rouen, and made his devotions in the most holy places that lay in his way through France.”
He fell ill, died suddenly at Lucca, Italy, and was buried in the church of San Frediano. A later legend makes him the duke of Swabia, Germany. Miracles were reported at his tomb, and he became greatly venerated by the citizens of Lucca and those of Eichstatt to where some of his relics were translated. The natives of Lucca amplified accounts of his life by calling him king of the English. Neither of his legends is especially trustworthy–even his real name is unknown and dates only from the 11th century. A famous account of the pilgrimage on which he died was written by his son’s cousin, the nun Hugeburc, entitled Hodoeporicon (Benedictines, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Gill, Husenbeth, White)
In art, King Saint Richard is portrayed as a royal pilgrim (ermine- lined cloak) with two sons–one a bishop and one an abbot. His crown may be on a book (Roeder). He is venerated at Heidenheim and Lucca (Roeder).
Some additional information about St. Richard and his family can also be found here. I hope that at some point I can visit the church of San Frediano in Lucca (pictured) to venerate his relics. I almost had a chance to go a few years ago, but it didn’t pan out.
Leitourgeia kai Qurbana: Contra den Zeitgeist 
Happy Name’s Day, my dear friend.
Xronia Polla! Many years!
Well, I’m super late on this, but Happy Name’s Day Richard!
Right, because I’m soooooo good at remembering yours (16 November, right?)… thank you!
Hopefully next year it might actually work out to have a party, since 7 February will be on a Saturday. We’ll see.
Happy Feast Day!
Many thanks, Father!
Hi,
I’m another orthodox “Richard” and I just thought you might like to know that I have the original Icon from the top of the page (it was commissioned for me by my wife and painted by Benjamin Carver).
I was able to visit Lucca some years ago (it’s a bit nearer from here!). I hope you manage to get there some day!
Well, hello there! Glad to make your acquaintance. Do you happen to have any pictures of Lucca you’d be able to share?
I am to be received as an Orthodox catechumen on St Richard’s day this year (2010). So there will be one more Richard saying the troparia of the saint – and in this case with the whole parish. It also happens to be my 60th birthday, but strangely Richard is a family name, and I’m sure my parents had never heard of St Richard the Saxon.
Accepting Christ our God as King, O Father Richard, thou didst leave thy native Wessex to be a pilgrim. Pray that in our pilgrimage we may find salvation for our souls.
InXC, Richard.
Many years on the occasion of your being blessed as a catechumen!
A strong name with character and feeling and travels the world well.
Hi,
I am updating the Feast Days of saints that I pray to daily, of whom St. Richard, father of Sts. Wilibald, Walburga & Winibald, and came across your site. Just wanted you to know that I pray to these saints daily as I am a mother of 10 and always pray to “families of saints” that ours may become a family of saints. I still didn’t find out when his Feast Day is!
Sounds like a great strategy!
St. Richard’s feast day is 7 February, the day the piece was posted. Hope that helps!
We visited Lucca for a week in late April-early May. (What a lovely place!) His relics are under an altar in a large side altar area in a place the average person cannot get into in St. Frediano’s church. There are a couple of pictures of him in the church, one a fresco. (St. Zita’s mummified remains are in a glass coffin in another side altar of this same church.)
I too am a Richard! I have never heard of St Richard of Wessex. I know that there was a later St Richard of Chichester who was a medieval bishop and I thought he was the only one. Interesting to hear of a previous Saint Richard and I will make a note of his name day.
Hi there, in the interest of spreading the word about St Richard (and maybe getting your nameday a little more play), I’m hoping feature him in an upcoming men’s group through my parish. I appreciate your post here. I’m wondering also whether you’ve managed to track down any hymns honoring the saint, be they Orthodox or not.
Thank you!