Aidan

Also known as: Bishop Aidan · Family: Scottish · Role: bishop · First appears: Book III · Chap. III

In c. 633, Aidan was sent from the monastery where Segeni was abbot to instruct the English nation, after receiving the dignity of a bishop. At Oswald’s request, he came to the kingdom, and Oswald appointed him to the episcopal see on Lindisfarne: “On the arrival of the bishop, the king appointed him his episcopal see in the island of Lindisfarne, as he desired.” Aidan and the Scottish missionaries preached throughout Oswald’s kingdom and administered Baptism; when Aidan preached in English, Oswald interpreted his words to his ealdormen and thegns. Oswald listened to Aidan’s admonitions and worked to build up the Church, while Aidan received English boys, including Eata, for instruction in Christ.

Aidan gave counsel and prayer to others in his episcopate. Utta sought his prayers before a sea journey, and Aidan gave him holy oil that later calmed the storm; at Bebba, when Penda’s army set fire to the city, Aidan prayed and cried, “Behold, Lord, how great evil is wrought by Penda!” The king Oswin gave Aidan a beautiful horse for urgent journeys, and later came to him seeking forgiveness. Aidan was beloved and venerated even by the bishops Archbishop Honorius and Felix, and his disciples included Ceadda and Hilda, whom he and other religious people instructed. Heiu was consecrated by Aidan, while Colman later carried part of Aidan’s bones and left part of them in the church where Aidan had presided.

In 644, Aidan died on 31 August, twelve days after Oswin’s death and in the seventeenth year of his episcopate. His body was taken to Lindisfarne and buried in the brethren’s cemetery; later, his bones were moved to the larger church and laid beside its altar. The material also records that, in c. 678, Heiu founded the monastery of Heruteu after being consecrated by Aidan.