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| Saint Alban | |
|---|---|
| Martyr | |
| Born | N/K, Verulamium |
| Died | 305, Holmhurst Hill, St Albans |
| Major shrine | St Albans Abbey |
| Feast | March 20 |
| Attributes | soldier with a very tall cross and a sword; decapitated, with his head in a holly bush and the eyes of his executioner dropping out |
| Patronage | converts, refugees, torture victims |
| A short hymn or prayer | associated with the saint|
Saint Alban was the first Christian martyr (protomartyr) in Britain. He is listed in the Roman Catholic calendar of England and Wales for 20 June and he continues to be venerated in the Anglican Communion. The first mention of St Alban is by Constantius, in his Life of St Germanus of Auxerre, written about 480. He also appears in Gildas's 6th century polemic De Excidio Britanniae.
Life
According to Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, I.vii and xviii, Alban was a pagan living at Verulamium (near St Albans), who converted to Christianity, and was executed by decapitation on a hill above the Roman settlement of Verulamium. St Albans Abbey at St Albans, Hertfordshire, England was later founded near this site.
The date of the execution is best left to the venerable Bede: "when the cruel Emperors first published their edicts against the Christians". In other words, sometimes after the publication of the edicts by Eastern Roman Emperor Diocletian in 303 and before the proclamation of the toleration Edict of Milan by co-ruling Roman Emperors Constantine I and Licinius in 313. The year 304 has been suggested.
Alban sheltered a Christian priest, (Geoffrey of Monmouth's later interpolation giving his name as "Amphibalus", the name for the cloak) in his home, and was converted and baptised by him. When the "impious prince," as Bede has called him, sent Roman soldiers to Alban's house to look for the priest, Alban exchanged cloaks with the priest and was arrested in his stead. Alban was taken before the magistrate, who was furious at the deception and ordered that Alban be given the punishment due to the priest if he had indeed become a Christian. Alban declared "I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things." These words are still used in prayer at St Albans Abbey. Despite being flogged he refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods and was condemned to death. He was taken out of the town across the river Ver to the top of the hill opposite. The place of his beheading is where St Albans Cathedral now stands.
Cult of Saint Alban
A cult connected with Alban was already in existence in the 6th century, for Bede quotes a line from one of the Carmina of Venantius Fortunatus, Albanum egregium fæcunda Britannia profert ("Fruitful Britain holy Alban yields").
Bede tells several legends associated with the story of Alban's execution. On his way to the execution, Alban had to cross a river, and finding the bridge full of people, he made the waters part and crossed over on dry land. And the executioner was so impressed with Alban's faith that he also converted to Christianity on the spot, and refused to kill him. Another executioner was quickly found (whose eyes dropped out of his head when he did the deed), and the first was killed after Alban, becoming the second British Christian martyr.
Alban is represented in art as carrying his head between his hands, having been beheaded.
Saint Alban of Mainz
Some details added to St Alban's tradition come from confusing him with another Saint Alban of Mainz, or Albinus, who was martyred at Mainz.
Shrine
In June 2002 a clavicle (collar bone), believed to be a relic of St Alban, was presented to St Albans Cathedral and placed inside the saint’s restored 13th century shrine. The bone was given by the Church of St Pantaleon in Cologne, Germany. St Pantaleon's, like St Albans Cathedral a former Benedictine abbey church that had a shrine to St Alban, has possessed remains believed to be those of St Alban since the 10th century. It is entirely possible that further relics were acquired by the church in the 16th century at the time of the Dissolution of the Monasteries in England, when many such relics were smuggled abroad to prevent their destruction.
External links
- Bede, Ecclesiastical History Book i.vii: the story of Saint Alban
- Catholic encyclopedia: St Alban
- The Story of Alban on St Albans Cathedral website
- Alban on Catholic-Forum.com
- Early British Kingdoms: St. Alban
Ancient Britons | Romans in Britain | Christian martyrs | Ancient Roman Christianity | British saints | History of St Albans | Year of birth unknown | 304 deaths | People executed by decapitation
Alban von England | Albano | Alban de Verulamium | Święty Alban
"Saint Alban"