Alexandra Zhirnova

PhD grad @Department_ASNC. @Churchofengland Everyday Faith Editor. Cemetery enthusiast. More often on Instagram: @ dralexzhirnova

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

So wonderful to see how many people are resonating with Old English - 100k here and even more on Instagram! Keep an eye on the CoE socials for a follow-up where I'll be answering your questions from the comments☺️

[The Church of England @churchofengland]

Have you heard the Nicene Creed in Old English? How recognisable is it to us today?

This summer, we are celebrating the 1700th birthday of the Nicene Creed, one of the most enduring statements of Christian faith. 📜

Find out more at https://t.co/cjN8MQ1Qkv.

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

@timothy_stanley Thanks so much for sharing! I still can't believe how much impact this video continues to have. I post more like this on my Instagram (@ dralexzhirnova) - just finished filming something for Good Friday :)

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

P.S. more vids like this over on Instagram @ dralexzhirnova

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

More Old English for your timeline 💚

[The Church of England @churchofengland]

Have you heard the Bible in Old English?

This Creationtide, listen to the Old English translation of the Genesis story of creation, made by the Anglo-Saxon monk Ælfric in the tenth century - the first time people in England heard the Bible in church in their native language.

[Eleanor Parker @ClerkofOxford]

According to Bede, the early Anglo-Saxon name for September was Haligmonað, 'holy month' - perhaps because of rituals celebrating the end of harvest, or because it's the time of the autumnal equinox, when summer gives way to the dark half of the year.

[Dr Gillian Kenny @medievalgill]

It is #InternationalDogDay, and I love dogs so let’s have a look at dogs in medieval Ireland. Dogs weren’t just pets then —they were enshrined in law& legend. They were status symbols & even place-names. From lap-dogs to war hounds, their pawprints are everywhere. A thread

[The Church of England @churchofengland]

Our new printed resources for Advent and Christmas - including a heart-warming retelling of the Christmas story for children - are now available to pre-order.

Find out about all the resources for your church at https://t.co/tzyiu19MLQ.

[Thijs Porck @thijsporck]

Bayeux Tapestry vs BBC's #KingAndConqueror on Harold and William's facial hair #moustachemismatch

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

Wrote about it here: https://t.co/0DPopc1r4f

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

In Carolingian France, there was a conspiracy theory among peasants that aliens in flying ships are stealing their crops, and they’d kill anyone they thought was an alien. It got bad enough that a bishop had to intervene.

[Megan | @megievalist @megievalist]

share your favorite piece of medieval lore

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

Here we go! A short q&a about the Old English Nicene Creed below. If you want to know more, ask away in the comments 😊

[The Church of England @churchofengland]

You had a lot of questions about the Nicene Creed in Old English, and we have some answers. 📜

Alexandra explains why the Filioque is included, why we call it 'Old English', and why you might recognise some Old English words.

You can find her at https://t.co/ocLhsGGXLs.

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

reunited with my bandit

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

trying to explain to the neighbours’ cat that he cannot come in while my allergic friend is visiting. it is not going well. he is screaming outside like i owe him money 😭

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

@Black_Kettle @DrFrancisYoung Should we rename it to Fifgeare Ræd?

[Wylfċen @wylfcen]

“It is now known that the goo secreted by these frogs contains antimicrobial compounds which inhibit bacterial growth”

Score one million for Germanic wisdom

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

I had surprisingly many moments like this teaching the bible to teenagers! My favourite is when we read about the Crucifixion. I finished the class, and one student jumped up and said: No way this is it?! (Right there with the apostles?)

[Mthr Cara @A_living_stem]

Best form of lectio divina: reading the gospel with people who have memory loss. The woman I took Communion today GASPED when she heard what the robbers did in the story of the Good Samaritan, & sighed with relief at the end. She helps keep the scriptures fresh and surprising.

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

And an opportunity to remind the world that this awful haircut has been around since at least 1066...

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

Thrilled to see the Bayeux Tapestry will be at the British Museum in autumn 2026! An opportunity for an Anglo-Norman heritage exhibition?

[BBC News (UK) @BBCNews]

Bayeux Tapestry to return to UK after 900 years https://t.co/1mNYTSQKpJ

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

@Moufridji Exciting stuff! Not going to Leeds this year but would love to see your slides / paper when it comes out:)

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

Very curious what you need this for but happy to help 🙈
I think it works great as an Exeter Book riddle:

[Fergus Butler-Gallie @_F_B_G_]

Has the Hokey Cokey ever been translated into Old English? If not, why not?

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

The manuscript is Bodleian Library MS. Hatton 114

[Alexandra Zhirnova @margin_alien]

In the meantime, here's the beginning of the Old English Nicene Creed from an 11th-century manuscript. As you can see, not only the pronunciation, but also the writing was quite different, too!