Hadrian

Family: Church · Role: abbot · First appears: Book IV · Chap. I

Hadrian, an abbot of the English Church, was sent to Britain with Theodore by Vitalian in 668, after Vitalian commanded him to accept a bishopric and go to Britain; Hadrian instead proposed Andrew, a monk judged worthy of one. On the journey, Hadrian and Theodore delivered Vitalian’s letters to John at Arles, but John detained them until Ebroin gave them leave to go, while Ebroin separately held Hadrian on suspicion of his mission. Hadrian then stayed comfortably for a considerable time with Emme and Faro before reaching Britain, where Theodore gave him the monastery of the blessed Peter the Apostle: “Theodore gave him the monastery of the blessed Peter the Apostle”.

From around 668, Hadrian assisted Theodore as he travelled among the English tribes, teaching the right rule of life and the Easter custom, while together they instructed disciples in Scripture, languages, astronomy, and ecclesiastical arithmetic. After about thirty-nine years in England, Hadrian died around 705 and was buried in his monastery’s church, having been Theodore’s fellow labourer in the Word of God. His disciple Albinus succeeded him in governing the monastery, and Tobias was among those formed by the teaching of Theodore and Abbot Hadrian.