Saint Alban
English protomartyr
Sant Alban was the first British Christian martyr.[1][2] He was a Roman soldier who converted to Christianity. His home town of Verulamium is now is named St Albans after him.
Saint Alban | |
|---|---|
 Saint Alban | |
| Martyr | |
| Born | unknown Verulamium |
| Died | disputed: 22 June 209, c.251 or 304 Holywell Hill (formerly Holmhurst Hill), St Albans |
| Venerated in | Roman Catholic Church; Anglican Communion; Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Major shrine | Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban |
| Feast | 22 June |
| Attributes | Soldier with a very large cross and a sword; decapitated, with his head in a holly bush and the eyes of his executioner dropping out |
| Patronage | converts, refugees, torture victims |
A priest was being chased by the Romans and Alban swapped clothes with the priest so he could escape. When they found out, the Romans ordered Alban to be killed. As he was a fine soldier, he was allowed to be beheaded by the sword than by the axe, because it was more honourable. When they cut off St. Alban's head, the executioner's eyes fell out into his hand, and he was blinded.
The bones of Alban were kept in a shrine in St Albans Abbey. They were stolen during the 19th century.
References
change- ↑ "St. Alban", Catholic Encyclopedia, New Advent.
- ↑ "Attractions", Tourism, St Albans District Council, archived from the original on 2009-07-18, retrieved 2012-12-20
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