Saint Edgar the Peaceful
Saint Edgar the Peaceful (born July 943 AD; died July 8, 975 AD in Winchester, Hampshire, England) was King of England from 959 to 975 and is venerated as a saint in the Catholic and Anglican churches. His reign was noted for peace (he is the first king since Offa to rule all England without major warfare), for close cooperation with the Church (especially with Saint Dunstan, Archbishop of Canterbury, and Saint Æthelwold, Bishop of Winchester), and for a major reform of English monasticism. His feast day is July 8.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Edgar the Peaceful
| Saint Edgar the Peaceful | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | July 08 |
| Profession | King of England (959–975); protector of the Church; promoter of the Benedictine reform |
| Rel. Affiliation | Roman Catholic Church; Anglo-Saxon Church; English Church |
| Patronage | England; kings; church reformers |
| Attributes | King's crown; orb and sceptre; church model (his foundations); Bishop Dunstan beside him |
| Birthplace | England |
| Death Place | Winchester, Hampshire, England |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died at 32 |
| Primary Shrine | Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset — he was reburied here; also Winchester Cathedral (Old Minster site) |
| Liturgical Class | Not included in universal Roman Calendar; observed locally in England |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Edgar became King of Mercia and Northumbria in 957, and King of all England in 959 at the age of 16. His reign is called the pax Eadgari (the peace of Edgar) — fifteen years of domestic tranquility and strong government. He worked closely with Saint Dunstan (Archbishop of Canterbury) and Saint Æthelwold (Bishop of Winchester) in a major reform and revival of English monasticism. New monasteries were founded, old ones restored, and a standard monastic practice was established (the Regularis Concordia of 970).
His coronation at Bath in 973 AD — delayed until he was 30 (the canonical age for ordination) — was a political and religious ceremony of immense significance: Dunstan composed the rite, which formed the basis of the English coronation ceremony still used today.
Edgar died on July 8, 975, at age 31 or 32. His early death was a great blow; the quarrels of his successors led to the troubled reign of Æthelred the Unready. He is venerated as a saint in local English tradition. His feast day is July 8.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: England
Death location: Winchester, Hampshire, England
Notable location: The royal capital of the West Saxons; where he died and was buried; the Old Minster (now Winchester Cathedral) was the center of his monastic reform with Æthelwold (Winchester, Hampshire, England)
Notable location: Where he was crowned by Saint Dunstan in 973 AD in a ceremony that established the order of English coronation still used today (Bath, Somerset, England)
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset — his burial place; the ruined abbey is associated with several Anglo-Saxon royal saints.
Feast day
July 8
Veneration
Saint Edgar the Peaceful is venerated in local English tradition with a feast day on July 8.
Prayers
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