"Augustine was the Apostle of Kent, but Aidan was the Apostle of the English." - Bishop Lightfoot

Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne, the Apostle of Northumbria (died 651), was the founder and first bishop of the monastery on the island of Lindisfarne in England. A Christian missionary, he is credited with restoring Christianity to Northumbria. Saint Augustine of Canterbury Augustine of Canterbury (birth unknown, died May 26, 604) was the first Archbishop of Canterbury, sent to Ethelbert of Kent, Bretwalda of England by Pope Gregory the Great in 597. ... Joseph Barber Lightfoot (April 13, 1828–December 21, 1889) was an English theologian and Bishop of Durham. ... Events End of Yazdegard IIIs attempts to drive out the Saracens. ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ... Monastery of St. ... Lindisfarne Castle Lindisfarne (Grid reference NU125421, , ), also called Holy Island (variant spelling, Lindesfarne), is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England, which is connected to the mainland of Northumberland by a causeway and is cut off twice a day by tides — something well described by Sir Walter... Motto: (French for God and my right) Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital London Largest city London Official language(s) English Government Constitutional monarchy  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification    - by Athelstan AD927  Area    - Total 130,395 km² (1st in UK)   50,346 sq mi   - Water (%) Population... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centred on Jesus of Nazareth, and on his life and teachings as presented in the New Testament. ... A missionary is a propagator of religion, often an evangelist or other representative of a religious community who works among those outside of that community. ... Section from Shepherds map of the British Isles about 802 AD showing the kingdom of Northumbria Northumbria is primarily the name of a petty kingdom of Angles which was formed in Great Britain at the beginning of the 7th century, from two smaller kingdoms of Bernicia and Diera, and...

An Irishman, possibly born in Connacht, Aidan was a monk at the monastery on the island of Iona in Scotland. Irish ethnicity is common in the world, as many people are descended from Ireland or share an Irish heritage. ... Connaught redirects here. ... A monk is a person who practices asceticism, the conditioning of mind and body in favor of the spirit. ... Iona village viewed from a short distance offshore. ... Motto: (Latin for No one provokes me with impunity)1 Anthem: Multiple unofficial anthems Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official language(s) English, Gaelic, Scots2 Government Constitutional monarchy (as part of the UK)  - Queen Queen Elizabeth II  - Prime Minister of the UK Tony Blair MP  - First Minister Jack McConnell MSP...

The Roman Empire had spread Christianity into England, but due to its decline, paganism was seeing a resurgence in Northern England. Oswald of Northumbria had been living at the Iona monastery as a king in exile since 616 AD. There he converted to Christianity and was baptised. In 634 he gained the crown of Northumbria, and was determined to bring Christianity to the mostly pagan people there. The Roman Empire was a phase of the ancient Roman civilization characterized by an autocratic form of government. ... Paganism (from Latin paganus, meaning a country dweller or civilian) is a blanket term which has come to connote a broad set of spiritual or religious beliefs and practices of natural or polytheistic religions, as opposed to the Abrahamic monotheistic religions. ... Oswald (c. ... Events Eadbald succeeds Ethelbert as king of Kent. ... Baptism is a water purification ritual practiced in certain religions such as Christianity, Mandaeanism, Sikhism, and some historic sects of Judaism. ... Events The Arabs invade Palestine. ...

Due to his past at Iona, he requested missionaries from that monastery instead of the Roman-backed monasteries in England. At first the monastery sent a new bishop named Corman, but he returned to Iona and reported that the Northumbrians were too stubborn to be converted. Aidan criticised Corman's methods and was soon sent as a replacement in 635. Events Saint Aidan founds Lindisfarne in Northumbria, England Nestorian China Births Pippin of Herstal, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia (approximate date) 23 May - Chan Bahlum II, king of Palenque Deaths Categories: 635 ...

Aidan chose the island of Lindisfarne, close to the royal castle at Bamburgh, as his diocese. King Oswald, who spoke Irish, often had to translate for Aidan and his monks, who did not speak English at first. When Oswald died in 642, Aidan received continued support from King Oswine of Deira and the two became close friends. Lindisfarne Castle Lindisfarne (Grid reference NU125421, , ), also called Holy Island (variant spelling, Lindesfarne), is a tidal island off the north-east coast of England, which is connected to the mainland of Northumberland by a causeway and is cut off twice a day by tides — something well described by Sir Walter... Bamburgh is a large village on the coast of Northumberland, England. ... Pope Pius XI blesses Bishop Stephen Alencastre as fifth Apostolic Vicar of the Hawaiian Islands in a Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace window. ... Events August 5 - In the Battle of Maserfield, Penda king of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald, king of Bernicia. ... Oswine or Osuine (d. ...

An inspired missionary, Aidan would walk from one village to another, politely conversing with the people he saw and slowly interesting them in Christianity. According to legend, the king gave Aidan a horse so that he wouldn't have to walk, but Aidan gave the horse to a beggar. By patiently talking to the people on their own level Aidan and his monks slowly restored Christianity to the Northumbrian communities. Aidan also took in twelve English boys to train at the monastery, to ensure that the area's future religious leadership would be English.

In 651 a pagan army attacked Bamburgh and attempted to set its walls ablaze. According to legend, Aidan prayed for the city, after which the winds turned and blew the smoke and fire toward the enemy, repulsing them. Events End of Yazdegard IIIs attempts to drive out the Saracens. ...

Aidan was a member of the Irish branch of Christianity instead of the Roman branch, but his character and energy in missionary work won him the respect of Pope Honorius I and Felix of Dunwich. Honorius I (died October 12, 638) was pope from 625 to 638. ... Saint Felix of Burgundy is a saint widely credited as the man who introduced Christianity to East Anglia in Eastern England. ...

Aidan's friend Oswine of Deira was murdered in 651. Twelve days later Aidan died, on August 31, in the 17th year of his episcopate. He had become ill while at the Bamburgh castle and died leaning against the wall of the local church. Events End of Yazdegard IIIs attempts to drive out the Saracens. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining. ... A bishop is an ordained member of the Christian clergy who, in certain Christian churches, holds a position of authority. ...

The monastery he founded grew and helped found churches and other monasteries throughout the area. It also became a center of learning and a storehouse of scholarly knowledge. Saint Bede the Venerable would later write Aidan's biography and describe the miracles attributed to him. Saint Aidan's feast day is on August 31st. Bede, commonly known as the Venerable Bede, (c. ... August 31 is the 243rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (244th in leap years), with 122 days remaining. ...

The episcopal see of Lindisfarne was founded in 635 by Saint Aidan. ... Events Saint Aidan founds Lindisfarne in Northumbria, England Nestorian China Births Pippin of Herstal, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia (approximate date) 23 May - Chan Bahlum II, king of Palenque Deaths Categories: 635 ... Events End of Yazdegard IIIs attempts to drive out the Saracens. ... Finan of Lindisfarne (died February 17, 661), also known as Saint Finan, was Bishop of Lindisfarne from 651 until 661. ...

See also

• St Aidan's College at the University of Durham is named for Aidan.

St Aidans College is a college of the University of Durham in England. ... Durham University is a university in England. ...

External links

• Image of a modern statue of Aidan on Lindisfarne
• Irelandseye.com biography of Saint Aidan
• Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne by Reverend Canon Kate Tristram
• Early British Kingdoms: St. Aidan
• A History Of The Church (around the time of Aidan) by Philip Hughes