The Memorial of Saint Alphege of Winchester
Saint Alphege of Winchester is the Patron Saint of
• Greenwich, England
• Kidnap victims
• Solihull, England
Saint Alphege of Winchester Date of Birth, Country of Birth, Profession, Place of Work, Date of Death, Place of Death, Feast Day, Beatification Date, Canonization DateMatrimony/Holy OrdersBishops who became Saints
Saint Alphege of Winchester brief life History |
|
Date of Birth | 953 AD |
---|---|
Country of Birth | United Kingdom in Europe |
Profession | Archbishop of Canterbury |
Place of Work | England |
Date of Death | 19 April 1012 |
Place of Death | Greenwich, Kent, England |
Feast Day | 19 April |
Beatification | By Not Available |
Canonization | By Pope Gregory VII in 1078 in Rome |
Patron Saint of | • Greenwich, England • Kidnap victims • Solihull, England |
Saint Alphege of Winchester Short life History
Saint Alphege of Winchester is also known as
• Alphege the Martyr
• Alphege of Canterbury
• Alfege, Alphage, Alphege, Alphegus, Elphege, Godwine, Ælfheah, Aelfheah, Elfego, Elfege
• He was born to the nobility but gave it up to become a young monk at Deerhurst Abbey in Gloucestershire, England. Monk, anchorite, and then abbot at Bath Abbey; known for his personal piety and austerity.
• He was Bishop of Winchester, England in 984.
• He built several churches, installed a cathedral organ so large that it could be heard a mile away, and his charity was so great that there were reported to be no beggars in his diocese.
• He may have helped negotiate a peace treaty in 994 which ended some Viking raids.
• He was Archbishop of Canterbury, England in 1006.
• He encouraged devotion to Saint Dunstan of Canterbury.
• He translated the relics of Saint Swithun to Canterbury.
• In 1011 Danes began raiding again, laid seige to Canterbury, sacked the town, and captured Alphege along with several other Church officials, all of whom were held for ransom.
• He was Reported to have healed many of sick Danes by praying over them and feeding them blessed bread.
• Alphege refused to approve the payment of ransom for himself, and after several months was murdered by angry drunken Vikings, the first archbishop of Canterbury to die violently.
• Saint Thomas Becket was praying for Saint Alphege’s intercession just before he was murdered.
Today’s Catholic Quote:
Saint Alphege of Winchester was beaten with stones and ox bones, then struck on the head with the blunt edge of an axe on 19 April 1012 in Greenwich, Kent (part of modern London), England. His body was interred in Saint Paul’s Cathedral and later re-interred in Canterbury by King Canute in 1023. His shrine was re-built and expanded in the early 12th century by Saint Anselm of Canterbury. His remains were found incorrupt in 1105.
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