Celtic and Old English Saints 26 May =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= * St. Bede the Venerable * St. Becan of Cork * St. Odulvald of Melrose * St. Eleutherius of Rome * St. Fugatius and Damian =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
St. Becan of Cork ------------------------ 6th century. The Irish Saint Becan lived as a hermit near Cork during the time of Saint Columba (Benedictines). Troparion of St Becan Tone 4 O holy Becan, kinsman of Saint Colum Cille and partaker of his sanctity,/ from thy monastery at Kill Baggan thou didst glorify Christ our God./ Entreat Him to save our souls. St. Odulvald of Melrose, Abbot ------------------------------------------ Died 698. Odulvald was a Scottish nobleman--the governor of the province of Laudon. He renounced the world in order to enter Melrose Abbey, where he found his joy in singing the verses of the Psalmist about our delivery from slavery. Eventually, he became abbot of Melrose, where he was noted for his continued advancement in spiritual fervour, his gift of tears, and constant prayer. His sighs after heaven were crowned with a joyful and happy death ten years after that of Saint Cuthbert (Benedictines, Husenbeth). St. Eleutherius, Pope of Rome & Martyr ------------------------------------------------------ A Greek, born in Nicopolis, Epirus, Greece; died in Rome, May 24, c.189. Although Eleutherius, son of Habundius, was Greek, he became a deacon in Rome and was elected pope about 174 to succeed Saint Soter. He is known only for his decree that any food fit for humans was suitable for Christians-- probably issued against the rigorism of the Gnostics and the Montanists. He is credited with sending missionaries to Britain. (Benedictines, Delaney). St. Fugatius and Damian ---------------------------------- (also known as Phaganu, Fagan, or Ffager and Diruvianus, Deruvian, Dyfan) 2nd century. Fugatius and Damian are the missionaries sent by Pope Saint Eleutherius to Britain (Benedictines). Sources: ======== Attwater, D. (1983). The Penguin Dictionary of Saints, NY: Penguin Books. Benedictine Monks of St. Augustine Abbey, Ramsgate. (1947). The Book of Saints. NY: Macmillan. Benedictine Monks of St. Augustine Abbey, Ramsgate. (1966). The Book of Saints. NY: Thomas Y. Crowell. Delaney, J. J. (1983). Pocket Dictionary of Saints, NY: Doubleday Image. Duckett, E. S. (1955). St. Dunstan of Canterbury. Gill, F. C. (1958). The Glorious Company: Lives of Great Christians for Daily Devotion, vol. I. London: Epworth Press. Hamilton Thompson, A. (ed.). (1936). Bede: His Life, Times and Writings. Husenbeth, Rev. F. C., DD, VG (ed.). (1928). Butler's Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints. London: Virtue & Co. Roeder, H. (1956). Saints and Their Attributes, Chicago: Henry Regnery. White, K. E. (1992). Guide to the Saints. NY: Ivy Books. For All the Saints: http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/ss-index.htm These Lives are archived at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints