Saint Aidan of Lindesfarne
![[Saint Aidan statue]](sainta24.gif "22kb gif photo of a statue of Saint Aidan from an old holy card; artist unknow, photographer unknown, date unknown; please do not write to ask about the image")
- Also known as
- Apostle of Northumbria
- Memorial
- 31 August
- Profile
- Monk at Iona, Ireland.
Studied under Saint Senan at Inish Cathay.
Bishop of Clogher, Ireland.
Resigned the see to became a monk at Iona c.630.
Evangelizing bishop in Northumbria, England at the behest of his friend the king, Saint Oswald of Northumbria.
Once when pagans attacked Oswald's forces at Bambrough, they piled wood around the city walls to burn it; Saint Aidan prayed for help, and a change in wind blew the smoke and flames over the pagan army.
Known for his knowledge of the Bible, his eloquent preaching, his personal holiness, simple life, scholarship, and charity.
Miracle worker.
Trained Saint Boswell.
Founded the Lindesfarne monastery that became not only a religious standard bearer, but a great storehouse of European literature and learning during the dark ages.
Saint Bede is lavish in his praise of the episcopal rule of Aidan.
- Born
- Irish
- Died
- 31 August 651 at Bamborough of natural causes;
the young Saint Cuthbert, a shepherd in the fields at the time, saw Aidan's soul rise to heaven as a shaft of light;
buried at Lindesfarne
- Name Meaning
- fire
- Representation
-
calming a storm
extinguishing a fire
holding up a lighted torch
with a stag at his feet
- Images
- Gallery of images of Saint Aidan [4 images, 100 kb]
- Storefront
- Commercial Site
- Additional Information
-
Catholic Encyclopedia
Ecole Glossary
For All The Saints, by Katherine Rabenstein
Google Directory
Little Book of Celtic Saints
New Catholic Dictionary
Wikipedia
Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
Dictionary of Saints, by John Delaney
Our Sunday Visitor's Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson
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- Readings
- O holy Bishop Aidan, Apostle of the North and light of the Celtic Church, glorious in humility, noble in poverty, zealous monk and loving missionary, intercede for us sinners that Christ our God may have mercy on our souls.
- troparion of Saint Aidan
Thou didst teach and preserve Christ's doctrine and didst spread the faith throughout Northumbria, O holy Hierarch Aidan.
Unceasingly pray to God for us for thou dost worship before His throne for ever.
- kontakion of Saint Aidan