Lives of the Saints who shone forth in Britain and Ireland
(Жития святых в землях Британских и Ирландских просиявших)

Venerable Adrian of Canterbury (9th Jan)

Жизнь Св. Адриана Кентерберийского

Venerable Adrian of Canterbury (+709) was a Berber from North Africa who twice refused the see of Canterbury, recommending his friend Theodore of Tarsus. Pope Vitalian insisted that Adrian accompany St Theodore and on arrival in England became the abbot of the monastery of Ss Peter and Paul. Known for his great learning he lived to a great age and was considered a Saint soon after his repose. Feast day 9/22 Jan.

Benedict Biscop (12th Jan)

Жизнь Венедикт Бископ

Benedict Biscop (+690) was a Northumbrian of noble birth who spent his youth at the court of King Oswiu. He became a monk at Lerins and accompanied St Theodore (and St Adrian) to Canterbury and the monastery of Ss Peter and Paul there. He went on to found monasteries to St Peter at Wearmouth and St Paul at Jarrow. St Benedict helped introduce Roman chant to England and is said to have introduced the use of glass windows and stone in English Church construction. Venerable Bede wrote the saint's life, and was Benedicts charge from the age of seven. Feast day 12/25 Jan.

Kentigern, or Mungo, of Strathclyde (13th Jan)

Life of St. Kentigern (Mungo)

Жизнь Свт. Кентигерна (Мунго)

St Kentigern (+612). His mother, St Teneu, was raped and then thrown from the heights of Traprain Law by her "dishonoured" father. Teneu survived and escaped to Culross in Fife, where St Kentigern was born. As a boy he was brought up by St Serban who was ministering to the Picts and gave him his other name, Mungo, meaning "my dear one". Kentigern was the first Bishop of Strathclyde and founded the church in Glasgow, but was later driven to Wales through persecution and founded St Asaph monastery there. He then evangelised Cumbria before returning to Strathclyde where he reposed. St Kentigern is the patron Saint of Glasgow and apostle to Cumbria and the Lake District. Feast day 13/26 January.

Ita of Kileedy (15th Jan)

Life of St. Ita

Жизнь Преподобная Ита

St Ita (+570) is known as "the Foster-Mother of Irish Saints" due to the monastery and school she founded at Killeedy, which was the training ground for many famous saints. St Brendan the Voyager was entrusted to St Ita's care when one years old, and she became renowned for her spiritual counsel. She also practiced medicine too. Feast day 15/28 Jan

Ven. Fursey, Abbot of Burgh Castle (16th Jan)

Св. Фурсея Ирландского, просветителя Восточной Англии

St Fursey (+650) was an Irish monk who successfully evangelised throughout the British Isles, particularly in East Anglia. He was baptised by Brendan the Voyager and he laboured in the monastic state with his brothers Ss Foillan and Ultan. He was an itinerant preacher and exorcist. In 633 he moved with his brothers to Easy Anglia and established the monastery at Burgh Castle in Suffolk. War forced the brothers to move to Normandy, where Fursey established more monasteries. He reposed at Froheins (Fursey's home) and his wonderworking relics are preserved at nearby Peronne. Feast day 16/29 January.

Ninnidh "the Pious" of Inismacsaint (18th Jan)

Св. Нинида Инисмаксентского

Ninnidh the Pious (+6th century) is one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland and was educated under St Finian at Clonard. He travelled the Lough Erne area of Co. Fermanagh and based himself on the island of the sorrel plain (Inishmacsaint). He would travel the lakes in a hollowed out boat and travel inland to preach. Feast day 18/31 January.