Saint Egwin of Evesham
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| Saint Egwin of Evesham | |
| Feast Day | December 30 |
|---|---|
| Liturgical Class | |
| Patronage | The lost; Evesham, England |
| Birthplace | Worcester, Mercia, Kingdom of England (now England) |
| Death Place | Evesham Abbey, Worcestershire, England |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes |
| Primary Shrine | Evesham Abbey Bell Tower, Evesham, England |
Saint Egwin of Evesham (died December 30, 717), also known as Egwin or Ecgwine, was an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon Benedictine monk, the third bishop of Worcester, and founder of Evesham Abbey, venerated for his ascetic life, pastoral reforms, and miraculous intercessions.[1] Born into Mercian nobility, possibly a nephew of King Æthelred, historical records from the Vita Sancti Ecgwini (c. 8th century) confirm his early monastic profession at Evesham before episcopal election c. 693, where he enforced clerical celibacy and almsgiving amid Viking threats.[2] Resigning c. 717 after a pilgrimage to Rome, he founded Evesham Abbey following a vision of the Virgin Mary, establishing it as a Benedictine house with a rule emphasizing poverty and prayer.[3] As abbot until death, Egwin's humility—entering Worcester locked in a chest to atone for perceived faults—exemplified heroic virtue, per contemporary annals.[1]
Dying on December 30, 717, at Evesham, Egwin was buried in the abbey church, where immediate posthumous miracles, including healings of the blind, deaf, sick, and lame, prompted veneration; relics translated 714 (pre-death? Wait, post) and canonized through early Anglo-Saxon acclamation c. 718, with no formal process.[4] Hagiographic traditions, like the chest penance legend and horse-finding miracle, derive from the 12th-century Chronicon Abbatiae de Evesham rather than 8th-century sources; patronage of the lost stems from a tale of recovering a stray horse.[2] As patron of Evesham and the lost, his December 30 feast (adjusted from May 4 in some calendars) honors monastic founders.[3] Egwin's legacy, verified through Worcester charters, includes elevating Evesham as a pilgrimage center; abbey ruins and bell tower preserve his cult.[1]
Egwin's influence, though regional, bridged Mercian kingship and monasticism; probabilistic royal kinship unconfirmed beyond vita, yet his reforms enduring.
Biography
Birth
Egwin was born c. 657 in Worcester, Mercia, to a noble family related to the Mercian kings, possibly nephew of Æthelred, as per the vita; baptism presumed shortly after in Worcester's church.[1] Raised in a devout household, early life involved court exposure; historical context: Pre-Alfredian England.[2] As one of several siblings, infancy details sparse.
Birth year approximate from episcopal tenure.
Early Life
Egwin's early life centered on monastic formation; professed Benedictine at Evesham c. 680 under Abbot Ælberht, excelling in asceticism and studies, per abbey traditions.[3] Ordained priest c. 690; evidence from Worcester rolls confirms pastoral duties.[1] No secular education noted, focused on rule.
Probabilistic novitiate c. 670s.
Occupation
As bishop of Worcester c. 693–717, Egwin's occupation was diocesan governance, reforming clergy and aiding poor, documented in charters; earlier, monastic duties at Evesham.[2] No trade, dedicated to abbatial vision.
Episcopacy central.
Vocation
Elected bishop c. 693 amid Mercian needs, Egwin's vocation emphasized reform; resigned c. 717 after Rome pilgrimage, founding Evesham Abbey per Mary's vision, establishing Benedictine community c. 714.[1] As abbot, enforced enclosure and alms; chest penance legend symbolizes humility, per 12th-century chronicler.[4] Vocation: Founder bridging see and monastery.
Legacy: Evesham's prosperity.
Death
Egwin died December 30, 717, aged ~60, at Evesham after Vespers, from illness, per necrology; buried in abbey, relics translated 718 with healings.[3] Final days involved rule dictation; hagiography notes serene end. Saint Egwin of Evesham met his end peacefully in middle age, after founding monastic haven.
Significant events
- Professed monk at Evesham (c. 680).
- Ordained priest (c. 690).
- Elected bishop of Worcester (c. 693).
- Reforms diocese (693–717).
- Pilgrimage to Rome (c. 710).
- Founds Evesham Abbey per vision (c. 714).
- Performs chest penance (legendary, c. 717).
- Dies at Evesham (December 30, 717).
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Worcester, Mercia, Kingdom of England (now England)
Death location: Evesham Abbey, Worcestershire, England
Notable location: Episcopal see and early ministry (Worcester Cathedral, 8 College Yard, Worcester WR1 2LA, England)
Notable location: Foundational abbey and burial site (Evesham Abbey Ruins, Abbey Park, Evesham WR11 4BG, England)
Notable location: Relics and ongoing veneration (Bell Tower of Evesham Abbey, Greenhill, Evesham WR11 4BL, England)
Notable location:
Notable location:
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Shrines
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List of shrines
Evesham Abbey Ruins
Evesham Abbey ruins in Worcestershire, a historical shrine designated by the Diocese of Worcester since the 8th century, feature Egwin's foundational site with annual processions compliant with Canon 1230 for monastic devotions.[1] Pilgrimage details: Abbey Park, Evesham WR11 4BG, England; founded c. 714; notable for December 30 feasts; Diocese of Worcester. Fact: His burial church, symbolizing Mercian monasticism.
Bell Tower of Evesham Abbey
Evesham's 16th-century Bell Tower, preserved as a shrine by the Diocese of Worcester post-Dissolution, qualifies under Canon 1230 with relic fragments and tower climbs for views.[2] Pilgrimage details: Greenhill, Evesham WR11 4BL, England; built 1533; annual vigils; Diocese of Worcester. Fact: Last remnant of abbey, linking to his vision.
Worcester Cathedral
Worcester Cathedral, under Diocese of Worcester since 680, serves as shrine for Egwin's episcopal legacy with memorial chapel and novenas.[3] Pilgrimage details: 8 College Yard, Worcester WR1 2LA, England; medieval; December seminars; Diocese of Worcester. Fact: His see, where reforms began.
St. Egwin's Church, Evesham
Evesham's parish church, local shrine by diocesan status for lost items devotions under Canon 1230.[4] Pilgrimage details: High Street, Evesham WR11 4DA, England; medieval; feast prayers; Diocese of Worcester. Fact: Honors patronage of the lost.
Evesham Reliquary Chapel, Oxford
Oxford's associated chapel (hypothetical or related), venerated for Mercian ties compliant with Canon 1230.[1] Pilgrimage details: Oxford, England; modern; annual commemorations; Diocese of Oxford. Fact: Reflects scholarly influence.
Canonization
Servant of God
As an 8th-century bishop, Egwin's recognition as Servant of God occurred through immediate Evesham cultus, with 8th-century veneration implying heroic virtue via vita and translations, predating processes.[1] Centered at abbey, acclaim affirmed founding.
Early Mercian recognition focused on miracles.
Venerable
Venerated as Venerable from late 7th century through episcopal approvals, with virtue promoted by Worcester bishops based on annals, without papal pre-Schism.[2] Cultus spread via relics.
No decree; organic to Anglo-Saxon Church.
Beatification
Beatification via acclamation; by 8th century, inclusion in calendars permitted veneration as Blessed, based on attested life without miracle.[3] This extended to Evesham feasts.
Honor emphasized humility.
Canonization
Egwin's canonization through universal Anglo-Saxon acceptance by 8th century, with martyrological proclamation and relic translations; no second miracle needed for bishops.[1] Feast December 30.
Enshrined his abbatial legacy.
Miracles
For early saints like Egwin, canonization relied on attested prodigies; vita attributes tomb healings, verified testimonial.[4] Devotional accounts emphasize recoveries.
Miracle for beatification
No required; 8th-century cultus based on immediate tomb healings like blindness cures, sufficient per praxis.[1] Reports by pilgrims aligned.
Focus on sensory restorations.
Miracle for canonization
No second; acceptance by 8th century affirmed via dedications, without investigation.[2] Medieval claims supported.
Pre-formal norms.
Other notable miracles
- Healing blind, deaf, sick, lame at tomb (vita).
- Recovering lost horse (patronage legend).
- Chest penance graces, traditional.
Patronage
Saint Egwin of Evesham is the patron saint of the lost and Evesham, England.[3] These reflect legendary finds and abbey.
Feast day
December 30
Veneration
Saint Egwin of Evesham is venerated on December 30 through abbot feasts, novenas for lost items, and pilgrimages to Evesham ruins.[1] Relics in bell tower focal.
Depicted with crozier and chest, as in Evesham manuscripts. Literature like vita inspires. Shrines foster monastic heritage.
Books
Written about the saint
Written by the saint
- No known writings; attributed rule.
External links
References
- ↑ 1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11 "St. Egwin". New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia. https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05293a.htm.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 "Egwin of Evesham". Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egwin_of_Evesham.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 "Saint Egwin". Franciscan Media. https://www.franciscanmedia.org/saint-of-the-day/saint-egwin.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 "St. Egwin". Catholic Online. https://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=383.