Saint Edburga of Winchester
Saint Edburga of Winchester (born c. 921 AD in Winchester, Hampshire, England; died June 15, 960 AD in Winchester, Hampshire, England) was an Anglo-Saxon princess, the daughter of King Edward the Elder (son of Alfred the Great), who chose the religious life over royal marriage and became a nun at the Convent of Saint Mary, Winchester. She was renowned for her humility and for miracles. Her relics were taken to Flanders and are venerated at Peronne. Her feast day is June 15.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Edburga of Winchester
| Saint Edburga of Winchester | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | June 15 |
| Profession | Anglo-Saxon princess; Benedictine nun; abbess |
| Rel. Affiliation | Order of Saint Benedict; Convent of Saint Mary, Winchester |
| Patronage | Winchester; Peronne; nuns; virgins |
| Attributes | Princess's crown set aside; Bible (preferred over jewels as a child); nun's veil; lily |
| Birthplace | Winchester, Hampshire, England |
| Death Place | Winchester, Hampshire, England |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; holy death as a nun |
| Primary Shrine | Saint-Fursy, Peronne, France — her relics translated here in the 11th century; a pilgrimage site |
| Liturgical Class | Not included in universal Roman Calendar; observed locally in Winchester and Peronne |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Edburga was born around 921 AD to King Edward the Elder of Wessex (son of Alfred the Great) and his third wife Edgiva. From childhood she was noted for her piety. The famous story records that her father placed before her a jewel-box (worldly riches) and a book of the Gospels; the child Edburga chose the Gospels.
She entered the Convent of Saint Mary (later Nunnaminster) in Winchester and spent her life as a nun there, performing the humblest tasks alongside the other sisters — washing the vessels, tending the sick, sweeping — and refusing any special treatment as a princess. She was known for her charity to the poor and her life of prayer.
She died on June 15, 960 AD. Miracles were reported at her tomb. In the early 11th century, her relics were taken to Flanders — first to Ghent, then to Peronne — where she was venerated with great devotion.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Winchester, Hampshire, England
Death location: Winchester, Hampshire, England
Notable location: Her birthplace and convent; the royal city of the West Saxons; she was a granddaughter of Alfred the Great (Winchester, Hampshire, England)
Notable location: Where her relics were translated in the 11th century; a major pilgrimage destination for her cult in continental Europe (Peronne, Somme, Hauts-de-France, France)
Notable location:
Notable location:
Notable location:
Dynamic content
Parishes
No parishes dedicated to Saint Edburga of Winchester have been added to the database yet.
Media
No media found for this saint.
Shrines
Dynamic shrines
No results
No shrines where this saint is the primary saint.
Known shrines
- Saint-Fursy, Peronne, Somme, France — where her relics were translated and are still venerated.
Feast day
June 15
Veneration
Saint Edburga of Winchester is venerated with a feast day on June 15.
Prayers
Authored
There are prayers authored by this saint in prayers list yet.
Intercessory
There are no prayers asking for this saint's intercession in prayers list yet.