Saint Alban
Born: c3rd Century
Died: c3rd Century
Feast Day: 22nd June (17th June CoE)
Patron
Saint: Converts, Refugee’s, Torture Victims
Shrine: St Albans Cathedral, UK, Angers, France
Also known as: Albanus
Saint
Alban is thought to have been the first British Martyr but not much is known
about his early life or family. He was
living in Verulamium (modern Saint Albans) at the time of the persecutions of
Christians.
A Priest
named Amphibalus ran to Alban’s house to hide from the soldiers who were
ordered to arrest all Christian clergy. It is not known if Alban was a Roman
soldier at this time, although he was not living at a barracks. Alban was
impressed by Amphibalus dedication to prayer that he started to question him
about his beliefs. Alban became a
Christian and was baptised.
The
soldiers heard that a priest was hiding at Alban’s house, so Alban and the
priest swapped clothes so that the priest could get away. The soldiers arrested Alban and took him to
the magistrate where he was questioned.
Finding that Alban had let a fugitive escape the magistrate was furious
and threatened him with death unless he returned to paganism, worshipped pagan
gods and revealed the whereabouts of Amphibalus. Alban replied “I am a Christian and I
worship the true god.”
The
magistrate had Alban beaten and tortured and threatened with execution. Alban glorified and rejoiced in God. Soldiers were ordered to take Alban to
Holmhurst Hill to be beheaded. Legend
has it that when they got to the River Colne, they found the bridge was crowded
with people wanting to see Albans execution.
Alban prayed and made the sign of the cross over the river and at once
the waters parted so that they were able to cross to the other side.
The
executioner was so amazed that he refused to behead Alban, he was arrested, and
another man was found to behead both him and Alban. Legend also states that Saint Alban got
thirsty climbing the hill and asked for water when a spring appeared which he
drank from although this is now dry.
The
priest was eventually caught and put to death at Redhill, about 4 miles from St
Alban. The exact date of the execution
is not known but thought to be sometime between 209 and 304.
A
Cathedral was eventually built on the site and the relics of Saint Alban,
Amphibalus and possible the converted executioner were buried underneath. Saint Bede says that many miracles occurred at
Saint Albans tomb.
During
the reformation, the shrine was destroyed and the whereabouts of the relics are
now unknown.
References: Saints, Robbie
Blake, HarperCollins
https://www.stalbanscathedral.org/the-story-of-alban
http://www.stalbansearsdon.co.uk/who-was-st-alban/
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Alban
https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/0215/06/22/101785-saint-alban-protomartyr-of-britain
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