St. Aidan

St. Aidan of Lindisfarne was an Irish monk who came to Iona about 630 A. D. He was selected (635) as first Bishop of Lindisfarne, and in time became apostle of Northumbria.

St. Bede is lavish in praise of the episcopal rule of St. Aidan, and of his Irish co-workers in the ministry. Oswald, king of Northumbria, who had studied in Ireland, was a firm friend of St. Aidan, and did all he could for the Irish missioners until his death on 5 August, 642. St. Aidan died at Bamborough on the last day of August, 651, and his remains were borne to Lindisfarne. His feast is celebrated 31 August.