Aidan of Lindisfarne

Life events

1. Other

   Aidan, of Irish descent and possibly born in Connacht, entered the monastery on the island of Iona — founded by Columba — from a relatively young age, where he became known for strict asceticism. According to Catholic tradition, he was a disciple of Saint Senan on Inis Cathaigh in his early years.

2. Council — 634

   When the monk Cormán returned to Iona in failure after his Northumbrian mission — having alienated the Northumbrians by his harshness — Aidan criticised Cormán's methods at a community assembly and was chosen as his replacement.

3. Consecrated — 635

   Aidan was consecrated bishop in 635 and, allying himself with King Oswald of Northumbria, chose the island of Lindisfarne — close to the royal castle at Bamburgh — as the seat of his diocese.

4. Other — 635

   Aidan founded a monastery on Lindisfarne that served as a centre of learning and a training ground for clergy, and oversaw the construction of churches, monasteries, and schools throughout Northumbria. His work earned him the respect of Pope Honorius I and Felix of Dunwich.

5. Other — 642

   After King Oswald's death in 642, Aidan received continued patronage from King Oswine of Deira; the two became close friends and his evangelistic ministry across Northumbria continued largely unchanged until the rise of pagan hostilities in 651.

6. Other — 651

   During a Mercian siege of Bamburgh led by Penda, Aidan was residing on the Isle of Farne, approximately two miles from the city. Bede records that he prayed aloud against the attack, at which point the wind shifted and drove the flames back upon those who had set them.

7. Died — 651

   Aidan died on 31 August 651; his body was buried at Lindisfarne beneath the abbey he had helped found.

8. Translated

   In the 11th century, Glastonbury monks obtained supposed relics of Aidan; through their influence, Aidan's feast entered early Wessex calendars, which constitute the principal evidence for his cult after the age of Bede.

Relationships

Documented claims

• Aidan is known as the Apostle of Northumbria and is recognised as a saint by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. (certain)
• Aidan consistently travelled on foot rather than horseback throughout his evangelistic work, stopping to speak with both rich and poor he encountered along the way. (likely)
• Aidan used monetary gifts from wealthy patrons to purchase the freedom of enslaved people, then educated and ordained many of those he had ransomed into the priesthood. (likely)
• King Oswald of Northumbria, who had lived in Irish exile since 616 and spoke Irish fluently, served as Aidan's interpreter in the early years of the mission because Aidan's monks did not yet speak English. (likely)
• The name Aidan is the Anglicised form of the Old Irish Aedán (Modern Irish Aodhán), meaning 'little fiery one'; Aidan was possibly born in Connacht. (likely)