Saint Alban was the first Christian martyr in Britain. Though he is no longer listed in the Roman Catholic calendar, he continues to be venerated in the Anglican Communion. The first mention of St Alban is by Constantius, in his Life of St Germanus of Auxerre, written about 480. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. ... Historically, a martyr is a person who dies for his or her religious faith. ... This is not the 6th century bishop of Paris, canonized as Saint Germain of Paris, who founded an abbey in the fields near Paris, now the church of Saint-Germain-des-Pres. ... Events Odoacer defeats an attempt by Italy, and has Julius killed; Odoacer also captured Dalmatia. ...

According to Bede's Ecclesiastical History, I.vii and xviii, Alban was a pagan living at Verulamium (St Albans}, who converted to Christianity, and was executed by beheading on a hill above the Roman settlement of Verulamium. St Albans Abbey at St Albans, Hertfordshire, England was later founded near this site. Depiction of Bede from the Nuremberg Chronicle, 1493 Bede ( Latin Beda), also known as Saint Bede or, more commonly, the Venerable Bede (c. ... Within a European Christian context, paganism is a catch-all term which has come to connote a broad set of not necessarily compatible religious beliefs and practices (see Cult (religion)) of a natural religion (as opposed to a revealed religion of a text), which are usually, but not necessarily, characterized... Remains of the city walls Verulamium was the third largest city in Roman Britain. ... Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. ... Roman Empire between AD 60 and 400 with major cities. ... Remains of the city walls Verulamium was the third largest city in Roman Britain. ... Abbey gateway St Albans Abbey was an abbey at St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, dissolved in 1539 during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. ... St Albans (thus spelt, no apostrophe or dot) is the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans in southern Hertfordshire, England, around 22 miles (35. ... Hertfordshire (pronounced Hartfordshire and abbreviated as Herts) is an inland county, officially part of the East of England Government region. ... Royal motto: Dieu et mon droit (French: God and my right) Englands location within the UK Official language English de facto Capital London de facto Largest city London Area  - Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population  - Total (2001)  - Density Ranked 1st UK 49,138,831 377/km² Religion...

Shrine of Saint Alban in St Albans Cathedral

The date of the execution is best left to the venerable Bede: "when the cruel Emperors first published their edicts against the Christians". In other words, sometimes after the publication of the edicts by Eastern Roman Emperor Diocletian in 303 and before the proclamation of the toleration Edict of Milan by co-ruling Roman Emperors Constantine I and Licinius in 313. The year 304 has been suggested. Download high resolution version (685x1041, 123 KB)Shrine of Saint Alban, St Albans Cathedral. ... Download high resolution version (685x1041, 123 KB)Shrine of Saint Alban, St Albans Cathedral. ... St Albans Cathedral from the west. ... This is a list of Byzantine Emperors. ... Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus ( 245- 313 AD/CE), born Diocles, was Roman Emperor from November 20, 284 to May 1, 305. ... Events Diocletian launched the last major persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire; Hierocles was said to have been the instigator of the fierce persecution of the Christians under February 24 - Galerius, Roman Emperor, publishes his edict that begins the persecution of Christians in his portion of the Empire. ... The Edict of Milan (313 AD) declared that the Roman Empire would be neutral with regard to religious worship, officially ending all government-sanctioned persecution especially of Christianity. ... Roman Emperor is the title historians use to refer to the ruler of the Roman Empire. ... Constantine. ... Coin of Licinius For other Romans of this name, see Licinius (gens). ... Events February - Conference of Milan. ... Events Major Wu Hu (barbarian) uprising in China; the Hun Liu Yuan establish the Han kingdom, beginning the Sixteen Kingdoms era in China. ...

Alban sheltered a Christian priest, (Geoffrey of Monmouth's later interpolation giving his name as "Amphibalus" the name for the cloak) in his home, and was converted and baptised by him. When the "impious prince" as Bede has it sent Roman soldiers to Alban's house to look for the priest, Alban exchanged cloaks with the priest and was arrested in his stead. Alban was taken before the magistrate, where he avowed his new Christian faith and was condemned for it. He was beheaded on the spot where St Albans Cathedral now stands. Geoffrey of Monmouth was a clergyman and one of the major figures in the development of British history. ... Saint Amphibalus was formerly venerated as the Christian priest traditionally sheltered by Saint Alban, who was converted by him, as a consequence of which Alban was martyred. ... St Albans Cathedral from the west. ...

A cult connected with Alban was already in existence in the 6th century, for Bede quotes a line from one of the Carmina of Venantius Fortunatus, Albanum egregium fæcunda Britannia profert ("Fruitful Britain holy Alban yields"). (5th century — 6th century — 7th century — other centuries) Events The first academy of the east the Academy of Gundeshapur founded in Persia by the Persian Shah Khosrau I. Irish colonists and invaders, the Scots, began migrating to Caledonia (later known as Scotland) Glendalough monastery, Wicklow Ireland founded by St. ... Venantius Honorius Clementianus Fortunatus (approx. ...

Bede tells several legends associated with the story of Alban's execution. On his way to the execution, Alban had to cross a river, and finding the bridge full of people, he made the waters part and crossed over on dry land. And the executioner was so impressed with Alban's faith that he also converted to Christianity on the spot, and refused to kill him. Another executioner was quickly found (whose eyes dropped out of his head when he did the deed), and the first was killed after Alban, becoming the second British Christian martyr. Christianity is an Abrahamic religion based on the life, teachings, death by crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth as described in the New Testament. ...

Feast day: June 22. The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organising a liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with a saint, and referring to the day as the saints day of that saint. ... June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 192 days remaining. ...

Some details added to St Alban's tradition come from confusing him with another St Alban, or Albinus, who was martyred at Mainz.

Alban is represented in art as carrying his head between his hands, having been beheaded.

External links

• Bede, Ecclesiastical History Book i.vii (http://kingsgarden.org/English/Organizations/LCC.GB/LCIS/Scriptures/LivesOfSaints/SaintAlban/BedeTheVenerable.html): the story of Saint Alban
• Catholic encyclopedia: (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01252b.htm) St Alban