Saint Of The Day

Aidan of Lindisfarne (d. 651) Bishop and monastic founder

Little is known about Aidan's early life. He is of Irish origin, and it is only through the favorable writings of the Venerable Bede that we know his story at all. In 635 Aidan a monk at St. Columba's Monastery on the island of Iona walked to Northumbria in Britian to serve as bishop at the request of St. King Oswald of Northumbria. Aidan founded Lindisfarne monastery which is viewed as his greatest achievement.

Aidan, accompanied by King Oswald serving as his translator, would walk all over Northumbria gaining converts and serving the poor. He freed the Anglo-slave boys and educated them for the church. Aidan lived a life of poverty and detachment from worldly pleasures. He died in 651 and was buried in the Lindisfarne cemetery.