Saint Finan of Lindisfarne
Saint Finan of Lindisfarne (born in Ireland; died February 17, 661 AD at Lindisfarne, Northumbria, England) was an Irish monk from Iona who succeeded Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne as Bishop of Lindisfarne and continued the evangelization of Northumbria. He baptized King Oswiu of Northumbria and the kings of the East Saxons and Mercians, and built the famous wooden cathedral of Lindisfarne — later replaced by the stone priory. He defended the Celtic dating of Easter against the Roman party, setting the stage for the Synod of Whitby (664 AD). His feast day is February 17.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Finan of Lindisfarne
| Saint Finan of Lindisfarne | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | February 17 |
| Profession | Monk; bishop; missionary; builder |
| Rel. Affiliation | Irish-Columban monastic church; Bishop of Lindisfarne 651–661 |
| Patronage | Lindisfarne; Northumbria; missionaries; builders of churches |
| Attributes | Bishop's vestments; model of wooden church; Irish cross; waves (island of Lindisfarne) |
| Birthplace | Ireland |
| Death Place | Lindisfarne (Holy Island), Northumberland, England |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died at Lindisfarne as bishop |
| Primary Shrine | Lindisfarne Priory (Holy Island), Northumberland — the later Norman priory on the site of his monastery; the museum and ruined church mark the cradle of northern English Christianity |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast February 17; observed in Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle |
| Historic Class | Not included |
Biography
Finan was an Irish monk from the monastery of Iona, trained in the tradition of Saint Columba. When Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne died in 651 AD, Finan was sent from Iona to succeed him as Bishop of Lindisfarne.
He built the cathedral of Lindisfarne — Bede records that he built it of hewn oak and thatch after the Irish manner rather than of stone, which was the Roman fashion. It was later rebuilt in stone by his successor Saint Colman of Lindisfarne.
His missionary achievements were significant. He baptized King Oswiu of Northumbria (who would later convene the Synod of Whitby). He baptized King Penda's son Peada, who then returned to Mercia with four priests to begin evangelizing that pagan kingdom — one of the most important moments in the Christianization of the English Midlands. He baptized King Sigeberht of the East Saxons, who subsequently invited the Lindisfarne-trained Saint Cedd to evangelize Essex.
He was a staunch defender of the Celtic calculation of Easter and the Celtic tonsure against the Roman practice then being urged by Wilfrid and the Romanist party. He died in 661 before the Synod of Whitby (664 AD), which ultimately settled the question in favor of the Roman practice.
The Venerable Bede is the primary source for his life and mission.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: Ireland
Death location: Lindisfarne (Holy Island), Northumberland, England
Notable location: His episcopal see; he built the cathedral here from hewn oak and thatch after the Irish manner; he governed the island monastery for ten years and continued the Aidan mission across Northumbria; Lindisfarne Priory ruins are a major heritage site (Lindisfarne (Holy Island), Northumberland, England)
Notable location: The great Irish monastery from which he was sent; monks from Iona evangelized Northumbria; Finan was trained and formed here under the Columban tradition (Iona, Argyll, Scotland)
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Parishes
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Lindisfarne Priory, Holy Island (Lindisfarne), Northumberland — ruins of the later priory on the site of his monastery; museum; a major pilgrimage and heritage site.
Feast day
February 17
Veneration
Saint Finan of Lindisfarne is venerated in the Diocese of Hexham and Newcastle with a feast day on February 17.
Prayers
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