DOCSLIB.ORG

Religion, Society, and Politics, and the Liber Vitae of Durham'

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Religion, Society, and Politics, and the Liber Vitae of Durham' RELIGION, SOCIETY, AND POLITICS, AND THE LIBER VITAE OF DURHAM. VOLUME ONE by ELIZABETH BRIGGS Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. School of History, University of Leeds, September 1987. Abstract. E. Briggs For the degree of Ph.D. Submitted September 1987 'Religion, Society, and Politics, and the Liber Vitae of Durham' The basis of this thesis is a study of the ninth-century portion of the Liber Vitae of Durham (London, British Library, Cotton Domitian VII). This is a list of names of those who were remembered in the liturgy and prayers of the community of St. Cuthbert, who were resident at Lindisfarne at the time when the greater part of the list was written. The aim of this thesis is to discover what information the Liber Vitae can provide about religion, society, and p olitics in North- umbria in the seventh to ninth centuries, with particular regard to the role of St. Cuthbert's community in Northumbria. The first part of the thesis is concerned with the Liber Vitae; the second part focuses more on St. Cuthbert's commu- nity. Each part consists of three chapters. The first is a description of the manuscript; and the second looks at its purpose, with particular stress on the liturgical aspects of "libri vitae". This chapter also contains a comparison of the Liber Vitae with eight other early commemoration books. The third chapter looks more closely at the information con- tained in the Liber Vitae, based on the identification of the names in the book. Chapter Four is the first chapter of Part Two and comprises a description and discussion of St. Cuthbert's community and the sites included in its "familia". Chapter Five studies the community's relations with other ecclesiastical centres, and Chapter Six is a discussion of Northumbrian politics in the seventh to ninth centuries and the community's place in this world. Within the thesis certain topics are brought out - the importance of groups within the society of the time, and in particular kinship groups; a study of the royal families who competed for power in Northumbria; the wide range of Lindis- farne's contacts; a reassessment of Lindisfarne's relations with the Irish after 664; and the connection between the Liber Vitae and the promotion of the cult of St. Cuthbert. Contents. Volume One. Abstract. Contents. List of figures. Abbreviations used. Preface. xii Part One - the 'Liber Vitae' of Durham. 1. The 'Liber Vitae'. 1 I. Description of the manuscri p t. 1 II. The Origin, Date, and Compilation of the 'Liber Vitae'. 9 III. The later history of the 'Liber Vitae'. 31 IV. Earlier editions of the 'Liber Vitae'. 35 2. The Purpose of the 'Liber Vitae'. 38 I. The development of "libri vitae" and their place in the liturgy. 38 II. Benefactions, Prayers, and Confraternities. 63 III. The appearance of the 'Liber Vitae' in relation to its purpose. 72 IV. A comparison of the 'Liber Vitae' with other early commemoration books. 76 3. The Information in the 'Liber Vitae'. 89 Part Two - The Place of St. Cuthbert's Community in Society. 4. St. Cuthbert's Community. 130 - iv - 5. Relations with other ecclesiastical centres. p.190 6. Northumbrian politics and the community of St. Cuthbert. 248 Volume Two. Appendix I - Edition of the 'Liber Vitae'. 299 Appendix II - Insular manuscripts using gold and silver, dating from before 900. 380 Appendix III - Non-Germanic names in the 'Liber 382 Appendix IV - Early ecclesiastical sites in Northumbria (pre-875). 391 Appendix V - Sites used in survey of Northumbria. 406 Appendix VI - Sites used in the survey of St. Cuthbert 's "familia". 409 Footnotes. 410 Bibliography. 555 - v - List of figures. 1. Collation of the manuscript (fols. 15-55). p.4 2. The Chronological Structure of the list of "reges" and "duces". 21 3. The Names in the first column of the Kings' List. 22 4 • Centres which produced early commemoration books discussed in Chapter Two, 79 5. Numbers of names in the different hands in the 'Liber Vitae!. 88 6. Place of Residence of People in the 'Liber Vitae'. 105 7. Nationality of people in the 'Liber Vitae', arranged chronologically. 108 8. Centres Lindisfarne was in contact with in Britain, as shown by the 'Liber Vitae'. 109 9. .Centres Lindisfarne was in contact with in Western Europe, as shown by the 'Liber Vitae'. 110 10. Sites in St. Cuthbert's "familia". 145 11. Sites mentioned in Chapter Four in North-east Bernicia. 178 12. Estates described in the "Historia de Sancto Cuthberto". 181 13. Places where Bede's correspondents lived. 193 14. Sites used in survey of Northumbria. 196 - vi - 15. Height of sites above sea level. 197 16. Height of sites classified as "A" and "D" in Appendix IV. 197 17. Sites on the coast and on rivers. 198 18. Sites on particular rivers and their tributaries. 198 19. Proximity of sites to Roman roads. 200 20. Proximity of sites to royal centres. 200 21. Ceolfrith's Journey. 203 22. Distances between Northumbrian ecclesiastical sites. 205 23. Distances between sites. 206 24. Sites in St. Cuthbert's "familia" - height above sea level. 207 25. Sites in St. Cuthbert's "familia" on coasts and rivers. 207 26. Sites in St. Cuthbert's "familia" on particular river systems. 208 27. Proximity of sites in St. Cuthbert's "familia" to Roman roads. 209 28. Proximity of sites in St. Cuthbert's "familia" to royal sites. 209 29. Distance between sites in St. Cuthbert's "familia': 210 30. Family Tree of the descendants of Ida. 268 31. Places in Northumbria where political events occurred, 700-867. 272 32. Periods when different family groups known to be in existence. 286 1 Abbreviations used. Acta SS. Acta Sanctorum. Adamnan Adamnan,/• Life of St. Columba. AHT A. Hamilton Thompson, intro- duction to Surtees Society, 136, 1923 (facsimile edn. of the Liber Vitae). Alcuin, Saints of York. P. Godman ed., Alcuin: The Bishops, Kings, and Saints of York, Ox- ford, 1982. ALM Catalogue of Ancient Manuscripts in the British Museum, Part II, Latin, London, 1884. ASC Anglo-Saxon Chronicles (different versions referred to by their usual abbreviations). Annals of Tigernach, ed. W. Stokes, in Revue Celtique, 17, 1896, reference is to page. AU Annals of Ulster. BAR . British Archaeological Reports, British Series. CBA Council for British Archaeology. CLA Codices Latini Antiquiores, ed. E.A. Lowe. Cont.B.(Dresden) "Continuation of Bede" (as in Dresden MS. J.45, etc.). Cont.B(Moore) "Continuation of Bede" (as in the 'Moore Bede' - Cambridge, University Library, Kk.V.16). Cramp R.J. Cramp, Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture, I, Oxford, 1984. CS EL Corpus scriptorum ecclesiasticorum latinorum. Craster E. Craster, "The Patrimony of St. Cuthbert", in English Historical Review, 69, 1934. DACL F. Cabrol and H. Leclercq, Dictionnaire dlArch‘ologie Chretienne et de Liturgie, Paris, 1907-53. De Abb. Aethelwulf, Be Abbatibus. Duemmler E. Duemmler ed., Alcuin, ETAS- tolae, in MGH, Epistolae, 4, Epistolae Karolini Aevi, 2, Berlin, 1895. Dumville D.N. Dumville, "The Anglian collection of royal genea- logies and regnal lists", in Anglo-Saxon England, 5, 1976, pp. 23-50. ES Eddius Stephanus, Vita Wilfridi. EHD English Historical Documents, ed. D. Whitelock, 2nd . edn., London, 1979. Haddan and Stubbs. A.W. Haddan and W. Stubbs ed., Councils and Ecclesiastical Documents, Oxford, 1871. H.Brit, Historia Brittonum. HE Bede, Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Anglorum. HR • Historia Regum. HSC Historia de Sancto Cuthberto. JTS Journal of Theological Studies. Knowles and Hadcock D. Knowles and R.N. Hadcock, Medieval Religious Houses, England and Wales, 2nd edn., 1971. - x - Levison W. Levison, England and the Continent in the Eighth Century, Oxford, 1946. LV Liber Vitae of Durham:- for abbreviations to the lists in the book, see supra, p. xi. MGH Monumenta Germaniae Historica. OAS W.G. Searle, Onomastican Anglo- Saxonicum, Cambridge, 1897. Page, Episcopal Lists. R.I. Page, "Anglo-Saxon Episcopal Lists, III", in Nottingham Medieval Studies, 10, 1966, pp. 224. PL Patrologia Latina. Plummer C. Plummer, Venerabilis Baedae Opera Omnia, 2 vols., Oxford, 1896. PSAS Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. RLT Information from R.L. Thomson. Roger of Wendover. Roger of Wendover, Flores Historiarum. Rollason D.W. Rollason, "Lists of saints' resting-places in England", in Anglo-Saxon England, 7, 1978, pp. 61-94. S. P.H. Sawyer, Anglo-Saxon Charters, London, 1968. Simeon of Durham, HDE Simeon of Durham, Historia Dunel- mensis Ecclesiae. Stevenson J. Stevenson ed., Liber Vitae Ecclesiae Dunelmensis, Surtees Society, 13, 1841. Sweet, OE Texts H. Sweet, The Oldest English Texts, Early English Text Society, o.s., 83, 1885. Tangl M. Tangl ed., Die Briefe des Heiligen Bonifatius und Lullus, MGH, Epistolae selectae, 1, Berlin, 1916. TCWAAS Transactions of the Cumberland and Westmorland Antiquarian and Archaeological Society. VA Anonymous Life of St. Cuthbert. VCH Victoria County History. --VP Bede, Life of St. Cuthbert. YAJ Yorkshire Archaeological Journal. The abbreviations used for the lists in the LV:- R - "reges" and "duces". Q - queens and abbesses. A - anchorites. AP - abbots who were priests. AD - abbots who were deacons. Ab - abbots. P - priests. D - deacons. C - clerics. M - monks. Preface. I would like to thank the following for all their help and advice:- in particular, my tutors, Ian Wood and Peter Sawyer. Also, Tom Shippey, Joyce Hill, R.L. Thomson, Richard Morris, Richard Bailey, and D.N. Rollason, and Gordon Forster. I would also like to thank the staff at the British Library, Department of Manuscripts, and at the Bodleian Library. All these people have been most helpful, and saved me from many mistakes. Anything still wrong with this thesis is entirely my own fault.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The Stables Crayke Lodge
    The Stables Crayke Lodge The Stables Crayke Lodge Contact Details: Daytime Phone: 0*1+244 305162839405 E*a+singw0o1l2d3 Y*O+61 4T0H1 England £ 236.00 - £ 1,040.00 per week This splendid, first floor barn conversion is set in a lovely tranquil location, just two miles from the pretty market town of Easingwold and can sleep two people in one bedroom. Facilities: Room Details: Communications: Sleeps: 2 Broadband Internet 1 Double Room Entertainment: TV 1 Bathroom Heat: Open Fire Kitchen: Cooker, Dishwasher, Fridge Outside Area: Enclosed Garden Price Included: Linen, Towels Special: Cots Available © 2021 LovetoEscape.com - Brochure created: 3 October 2021 The Stables Crayke Lodge Recommended Attractions 1. Goodwood Art Gallery, Historic Buildings and Monuments, Nature Reserve, Parks Gardens and Woodlands, Tours and Trips, Visitor Centres and Museums, Childrens Attractions, Zoos Farms and Wildlife Parks, Bistros and Brasseries, Cafes Coffee Shops and Tearooms, Horse Riding and Pony Trekking, Shooting and Fishing, Walking and Climbing Motor circuit, Stately Home, Racecourse, Aerodrome, Forestry, Chichester, PO18 0PX, West Sussex, Organic Farm Shop, Festival of Speed, Goodwood Revival England 2. Goodwood Races Festivals and Events, Horse Racing Under the family of the Duke of Richmond, Goodwood Races sits Chichester, PO18 0PS, West Sussex, only five miles north of the town of Chichester. England 3. Arundel Castle and Gardens Historic Buildings and Monuments, Parks Gardens and Woodlands This converted Castle and Stately Home is over 1000 years old, and Arundel, BN18 9AB, West Sussex, sits on the bank of the River Arun in West Sussex England 4. Chichester Cathedral Historic Buildings and Monuments, Tours and Trips This 900 Year Old Cathedral has been visited millions of times by Chichester, PO19 1PX, West Sussex, people of all faiths and denominations.
    [Show full text]
  • First Evidence of Farming Appears; Stone Axes, Antler Combs, Pottery in Common Use
    BC c.5000 - Neolithic (new stone age) Period begins; first evidence of farming appears; stone axes, antler combs, pottery in common use. c.4000 - Construction of the "Sweet Track" (named for its discoverer, Ray Sweet) begun; many similar raised, wooden walkways were constructed at this time providing a way to traverse the low, boggy, swampy areas in the Somerset Levels, near Glastonbury; earliest-known camps or communities appear (ie. Hembury, Devon). c.3500-3000 - First appearance of long barrows and chambered tombs; at Hambledon Hill (Dorset), the primitive burial rite known as "corpse exposure" was practiced, wherein bodies were left in the open air to decompose or be consumed by animals and birds. c.3000-2500 - Castlerigg Stone Circle (Cumbria), one of Britain's earliest and most beautiful, begun; Pentre Ifan (Dyfed), a classic example of a chambered tomb, constructed; Bryn Celli Ddu (Anglesey), known as the "mound in the dark grove," begun, one of the finest examples of a "passage grave." c.2500 - Bronze Age begins; multi-chambered tombs in use (ie. West Kennet Long Barrow) first appearance of henge "monuments;" construction begun on Silbury Hill, Europe's largest prehistoric, man-made hill (132 ft); "Beaker Folk," identified by the pottery beakers (along with other objects) found in their single burial sites. c.2500-1500 - Most stone circles in British Isles erected during this period; pupose of the circles is uncertain, although most experts speculate that they had either astronomical or ritual uses. c.2300 - Construction begun on Britain's largest stone circle at Avebury. c.2000 - Metal objects are widely manufactured in England about this time, first from copper, then with arsenic and tin added; woven cloth appears in Britain, evidenced by findings of pins and cloth fasteners in graves; construction begun on Stonehenge's inner ring of bluestones.
    [Show full text]
  • Durham E-Theses
    Durham E-Theses A history of Richmond school, Yorkshire Wenham, Leslie P. How to cite: Wenham, Leslie P. (1946) A history of Richmond school, Yorkshire, Durham theses, Durham University. Available at Durham E-Theses Online: http://etheses.dur.ac.uk/9632/ Use policy The full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that: • a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in Durham E-Theses • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders. Please consult the full Durham E-Theses policy for further details. Academic Support Oce, Durham University, University Oce, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3HP e-mail: [email protected] Tel: +44 0191 334 6107 http://etheses.dur.ac.uk HISTORY OP RICHMOND SCHOOL, YORKSHIREc i. To all those scholars, teachers, henefactors and governors who, by their loyalty, patiemce, generosity and care, have fostered the learning, promoted the welfare and built up the traditions of R. S. Y. this work is dedicated. iio A HISTORY OF RICHMOND SCHOOL, YORKSHIRE Leslie Po Wenham, M.A., MoLitt„ (late Scholar of University College, Durham) Ill, SCHOOL PRAYER. We give Thee most hiomble and hearty thanks, 0 most merciful Father, for our Founders, Governors and Benefactors, by whose benefit this school is brought up to Godliness and good learning: humbly beseeching Thee that we may answer the good intent of our Founders, "become profitable members of the Church and Commonwealth, and at last be partakers of the Glories of the Resurrection, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
    [Show full text]
  • Download 1 File
    GHT tie 17, United States Code) r reproductions of copyrighted Ttain conditions. In addition, the works by means of various ents, and proclamations. iw, libraries and archives are reproduction. One of these 3r reproduction is not to be "used :holarship, or research." If a user opy or reproduction for purposes able for copyright infringement. to accept a copying order if, in its involve violation of copyright law. CTbc Minivers U^ of Cbicatjo Hibrcmes LIGHTFOOT OF DURHAM LONDON Cambridge University Press FETTER LANE NEW YORK TORONTO BOMBAY CALCUTTA MADRAS Macmillan TOKYO Maruzen Company Ltd All rights reserved Phot. Russell BISHOP LIGHTFOOT IN 1879 LIGHTFOOT OF DURHAM Memories and Appreciations Collected and Edited by GEORGE R. D.D. EDEN,M Fellow Pembroke Honorary of College, Cambridge formerly Bishop of Wakefield and F. C. MACDONALD, M.A., O.B.E. Honorary Canon of Durham Cathedral Rector of Ptirleigb CAMBRIDGE AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS 1933 First edition, September 1932 Reprinted December 1932 February PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN 1037999 IN PIAM MEMORIAM PATRIS IN DEO HONORATISSIMI AMANTISSIMI DESIDERATISSIMI SCHEDULAS HAS QUALESCUNQUE ANNOS POST QUADRAGINTA FILII QUOS VOCITABAT DOMUS SUAE IMPAR TRIBUTUM DD BISHOP LIGHTFOOT S BOOKPLATE This shews the Bishop's own coat of arms impaled^ with those of the See, and the Mitre set in a Coronet, indicating the Palatinate dignity of Durham. Though the Bookplate is not the Episcopal seal its shape recalls the following extract from Fuller's Church 5 : ense History (iv. 103) 'Dunelmia sola, judicat et stola. "The Bishop whereof was a Palatine, or Secular Prince, and his seal in form resembleth Royalty in the roundness thereof and is not oval, the badge of plain Episcopacy." CONTENTS .
    [Show full text]
  • St Cuthbert Story
    Cuthbert was born about the year 634 (about 1400 years ago!) He lived in Melrose in Southern Scotland. He liked to walk in the hills. One night, when he was helping to look after sheep he thought he saw angels taking a soul to heaven. A few days later he found out Saint Aidan had died. Cuthbert decided to become a monk. He became a monk at the monastery in Melrose where he met Boisil, the prior of the monastery. Boisil taught Cuthbert for 6 years. Before Boisil died, he told Cuthbert he would be a Bishop one day. Cuthbert liked to visit lonely farms and villages. Crowds of people came to visit him. He lived at Melrose monastery for 13 years. Cuthbert was sent to be Prior of Lindisfarne. Cuthbert taught the monks the new Roman church rules. Some of the monks did not like the new rules and Cuthbert had to be very patient with them. After 12 years, Cuthbert went to live on a quiet island 7 miles away from Lindisfarne. Cuthbert lived on this small island for 3 years. He grew barley and vegetables and his monks dug a well and built a guest house for visitors. The King asked Cuthbert to be Bishop of Hexham. Cuthbert didn’t want to but he still remembered what Boisil had said. Cuthbert did not want to be Bishop of Hexham but agreed to be Bishop of Lindisfarne instead. He was very sad to have to leave his small island. Cuthbert was Bishop of Lindisfarne for 2 years. The people loved him.
    [Show full text]
  • Praying with the Celtic Saints
    PRAYING WITH THE CELTIC SAINTS ST AIDAN ‘Flame of the North’ We light this candle, because Christ is the Light no darkness can extinguish In the name of the sending Father, in the name of the gentle Son, in the name of the teaching Spirit, in Love’s name, the Three-in-One. We come humbly into your presence, Lord. Open our very being to your Truth and fill us with your love and peace. Amen. A LINDISFARNE RHYTHM OF PRAISE Ebb tide, full tide, praise the Lord of land and sea! Barren rocks, darting birds praise His holy name! Poor folk, ruling folk, praise the Lord of land and sea! Pilgrimed sands, sea-shelled strands, praise His holy name! Fierce lions, gentle lambs, praise the Lord of land and sea! Noble women, mission priests, praise His holy name! Chanting boys, slaves set free, praise the Lord of land and sea! Old and young and all the land, praise His holy name! SCRIPTURE Leviticus 19:18 Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbour as yourself. I am the LORD. Mark 12 : 29-31 ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength’. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these. James 2 : 1-5 and 8-9 My brothers and sisters: believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favouritism.
    [Show full text]
  • ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND Her Mon Mæg Giet Gesion Hiora Swæð
    CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS ANGLO-SAXON ENGLAND Her mon mæg giet gesion hiora swæð EXECUTIVE EDITORS Simon Keynes, Rosalind Love and Andy Orchard Editorial Assistant Dr Brittany Schorn ([email protected]) ADVISORY EDITORIAL BOARD Professor Robert Bjork, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ 85287-4402, USA Professor John Blair, The Queen’s College, Oxford OX1 4AW, UK Professor Mary Clayton, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland Dr Richard Dance, St Catharine’s College, Cambridge CB2 1RL, UK Professor Roberta Frank, Dept of English, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA Professor Richard Gameson, Dept of History, Durham University, Durham DH1 3EX, UK Professor Helmut Gneuss, Universität München, Germany Professor Simon Keynes, Trinity College, Cambridge CB2 1TQ, UK Professor Michael Lapidge, Clare College, Cambridge CB2 1TL, UK Professor Patrizia Lendinara, Facoltà di Scienze della Formazione, Palermo, Italy Dr Rosalind Love, Robinson College, Cambridge CB3 9AN, UK Dr Rory Naismith, Clare College, Cambridge CB2 1TL, UK Professor Katherine O’Brien O’Keeffe, University of California, Berkeley, USA Professor Andrew Orchard, Pembroke College, Oxford OX1 1DW, UK Professor Paul G. Remley, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-4330, USA Professor Paul E. Szarmach, Medieval Academy of America, Cambridge MA 02138, USA PRODUCTION TEAM AT THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS Sarah Westlake (Production Editor, Journals) <[email protected]> Daniel Pearce (Commissioning Editor) <[email protected]> Cambridge University Press, Edinburgh Building, Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 8BS Clare Orchard (copyeditor) < [email protected]> Dr Debby Banham (proofreader) <[email protected]> CONTACTING MEMBERS OF THE EDITORIAL BOARD If in need of guidance whilst preparing a contribution, prospective contributors may wish to make contact with an editor whose area of interest and expertise is close to their own.
    [Show full text]
  • 7Th Sunday After Pentecost Commemoration of the Fathers Of
    7th Sunday After Pentecost Heiromartyr Hermolaus and those with him 26 July / 8 August Resurrection Tropar, Tone 6: The angelic powers were at Thy tomb; / the guards became as dead men. / Mary stood by Thy grave, / seeking Thy most pure Body. / Thou didst capture hell, not being tempted by it. / Thou didst come to the Virgin, granting life. / O Lord who didst rise from the Dead, / Glory to Thee! Troparion of the Hierornartyrs tone 3: You faithfully served the Lord as true priests, O Saints,/ and joyfully followed the path of martyrdom./ O Hermolaus, Hermippus and Hermocrates,/ three-pillared foundation of the Church,/ pray unceasingly that we may be preserved from harm. Resurrection Kondak, Tone 6: When Christ God the Giver of Life, / raised all of the dead from the valleys of misery with His Mighty Hand, / He bestowed resurrection on the human race. / He is the Saviour of all, the Resurrection, the Life, and the God of All. Kontakion of St Hermolaus tone 4: As a godly priest thou didst receive the crown of martyrdom:/ for as a good shepherd of Christ's flock thou didst prevent the sacrifice of idols./ Thou wast a wise teacher of Panteleimon/ and we praise and venerate thee, crying:/ Deliver us from harm by thy prayers, O Father Hermolaus. Matins Gospel VII EPISTLE: ST. PAUL’S LETTER TO THE ROMANS 15: 1-7 We then who are strong ought to bear with the scruples of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbour for his good, leading to edification.
    [Show full text]
  • Codex Amiatinus
    LOCAL STUDIES CENTRE FACT SHEET NUMBER 23 The Codex Amiatinus Abbot Ceolfrith, who succeeded Benedict Biscop as Abbot of the twin monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow. The Bibles were made in the monastic scriptorium during his abbacy, 690-716 AD. It was a remarkable thing to undertake at the time; usually copies of books of the Bible were produced as single volumes (eg, the Book of Psalms) or volumes containing a small number of books (eg, the four Gospels). Ceolfrith intended to carry the Codex Amiatinus to Rome in AD 716 as a gift to Pope Gregory II. He left Wearmouth with an entourage of 80 followers, intending to spend his last days in Rome, but died in Langres monastery in France en route. Some of his followers took the Codex Amiatinus on to Rome and presented it to the Pope to fulfil Ceolfrith’s wishes. The later history of the book is unknown until it reappeared at the monastery of San Salvatore at Monte Amiata in Italy, where it was highly prized and thought to be a 6th century Italian work. When the monastery was closed in the 18th century it was Illustration of Ezra, the Old Testament scribe The History of the Codex Amiatinus The Codex Amiatinus was one of three great single- volume Bibles made at Wearmouth-Jarrow, written in the 8th century. It is the earliest one-volume Latin Bible to survive in the world. Wearmouth-Jarrow had been established in the late 7th century by the nobleman Benedict Biscop. After visiting Rome, Biscop, inspired by the architecture, art, treasures, music and books of the Roman church, endeavoured to bring the best of the continent back to his native Northumbria.
    [Show full text]
  • Durham Cathedral: Building Time Line with Significant Historic Events
    Durham Cathedral: Building time line with significant historic events Pre Conquest 634 Oswald reclaimed the Kingdom of Northumbria from Penda of Mercia, reigning for 9 years as a Christian King. He brought Aidan from Iona and installed him as first Bishop of Lindisfarne. 641 Oswiu, brother of Oswald was made King of Northumbria after Penda defeated and killed Oswald. Oswiu ruled for 28 years. 687 Death of Cuthbert, the ascetic Prior and later Bishop of Lindisfarne (born 625). After his death the monks at Lindisfarne elevated him to sainthood in 698. The Lindisfarne Gospels are completed around this time. 793 Following the Viking attack on Holy Island and the sacking of the monastery there, the monks moved to the old Roman town of Chester le Street in 795, carrying Cuthbert’s coffin to the new priory site. 865-8 First Viking invasion by Danes, using the Humber, Trent and Ouse, they penetrated both Northumbria and Mercia appropriating territory for settlement. The Anglo Saxons called them the ‘heathen army’. 954 King Eadred conquers the Scandinavian Kingdom of York, Yorkshire and Lancashire are carved out of Northumbria, and Northumbria’s southern boundary moves from the Humber to the Tees. 995 Cuthbert's community of monks see the defensive potential of the rocky site at Durham situated on a loop of the River Wear and decide to move their church there and establish an Episcopal See under Bishop Aldhun. The first church constructed is of wood, but it is rebuilt in 998 in stone. 1020 The church is again rebuilt as a much larger stone Cathedral, completed in 1042 in the Saxon style, known as the ‘White Church’.
    [Show full text]
  • The Venerable Bede a Celebration
    The Venerable Bede A Celebration Monday 25 May 2020 5.15 p.m. The Venerable Bede Bede served in the monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow for all his life, and died in Jarrow in 735 aged about 62. In 1020, his body was brought to Durham to be placed with the body of St Cuthbert. Bede’s body was brought to its final resting place in the Galilee Chapel in 1370. Introit Christ is the Morning Star Christ is the Morning Star who when the night of this world is past brings to his saints the promise of the light of life and opens everlasting day. Alleluia. The Venerable Bede Richard Lloyd The Dean welcomes the people Hymn We sing to God in praise of Bede (tune NEH 431) We sing to God in praise of Bede, The prince of scholars in his age, Christ’s servant, lover of God’s word, Once monk of Jarrow, priest and sage. For his example we give thanks, His zeal to learn, his skill to write; Like him we long to know God’s ways And in God’s word drink with delight. Grant us, good Lord, one day to come To you, all wisdom’s fountainhead, With Bede to stand before your face, Our Saviour, living from the dead. Teach us, O Lord, like Bede to pray, To make the word of God our joy, Exult in music, song and art, In worship all your gifts employ. O Christ, our glorious Morning Star, Come with the passing of the night, Bring to your saints th’eternal day, The promise of your life and light.
    [Show full text]
  • The SAINTS in SACRED SCRIPTURE
    International Crusade for Holy Relics P.O. Box 21301 Los Angeles, Ca. 90021 www.ICHRusa.com The SAINTS IN SACRED SCRIPTURE. 2 Chronicles 6:41 - "And now arise, O LORD God, and go to thy resting place, thou and the ark of thy might. Let thy priests, O LORD God, be clothed with salvation, and let thy saints rejoice in thy goodness. Psalms 16:3 - As for the saints in the land, they are the noble, in whom is all my delight. Psalms 30:4 - Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. Psalms 31:23 - Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful, but abundantly requites him who acts haughtily. Psalms 34:9 - O fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him have no want! Psalms 37:28 - For the LORD loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. The righteous shall be preserved for ever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. Psalms 79:2 - They have given the bodies of thy servants to the birds of the air for food, the flesh of thy saints to the beasts of the earth. Psalms 85:8 - Let me hear what God the LORD will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints, to those who turn to him in their hearts. Psalms 97:10 - The LORD loves those who hate evil; he preserves the lives of his saints; he delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
    [Show full text]