By Ian Wilson
Seventy years after the conversion of the Anglo-Saxons by St. Augustine of Canterbury, St. Adrian stepped onto England’s green shores to continue the work started there. Originally, Pope Vitalian wanted to ordain him the next archbishop of Canterbury; however, St. Adrian graciously declined, recommending his friend and fellow monk Theodore instead. Theodore took up the mantle of Archbishop. His first act was to consecrate his dear friend Adrian as abbot of the monastery of Sts Peter and Paul.
We know relatively little about the life of St. Adrian (or Hadrian) of Canterbury, despite his deep and enduring influence on English Christianity. What little we do know is related to us by the historian, Bede, in his 8th century work, Ecclesiastical History of the English People. From this we know that Adrian was born in North Africa, probably in the province of Cyrenaica, (modern Libya) sometime in the 7th century AD. He came to Rome, probably as a refugee due to the Muslim invasion of Cyrenaica in 644.
In Rome, Adrian took vows and became a Benedictine monk. He was noted for his education and discipline in the Scriptures and other holy writings. Bede informs us that he was fluent in Latin and Greek, and had an interest in a multitude of other subjects. This love of learning prompted him and Theodore to establish a school for the education of the English. It gained international acclaim as a center of learning. Unfortunately, almost none of Adrian’s writings survive to this day, but what scant quotations we do have, in addition to the testimony of his contemporaries, show Adrian as a learned and gentle teacher.
Adrian’s influence on the English church was not limited to education; he also contributed to English liturgy and hymnody. His influence is still being felt today in the liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer.
In the year 710, St. Adrian went on to his heavenly reward. May we, like Adrian, Pursue knowledge of God as our highest goal.
LogoSophia Magazine 