Saint Aidan

Alfred Webb

A Compendium of Irish Biography

1878

Aidan, Saint, born in Ireland early in the 7th century. Oswald, King of Northumberland, induced him to go over to England to help in the conversion of his subjects to Christianity. Oswald at first translated into Saxon, Aidan's Gaelic. We are told that he wrought a great conversion, and that he travelled up and down, persuading those who were infidels, and comforting and strengthening the Christians. He founded the monastery of Lindisfarne, and governed it for seventeen years, and was the first in the line of bishops that take their title from Durham. Greatly to the disgust of his biographer Bede, he sided with the Irish Church in the differences regarding the celebration of Easter. St. Aidan died in 651. His festival is 31st August.

Sources

234. Martyrology of Donegal: Edited by J. H. Todd, D.D., and William Reeves, D.D. (I.A.S.) Dublin, 1864.

235. Martyrology of Tallaght, with Notices of of the Patron Saints of Ireland: Rev. Matthew Kelly, D.D. Dublin, 1857.

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