St Cuthbert

20th March

We have had some really interesting Saints over the last few days, and today is no exception as it is the Feast of Saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne. Trisagion Films, which is connected with the Orthodox Church, have produced the best video that I could find about him called "Saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne"

Most of the information below was also provided by the Orthodox, in this case the Orthodox Church of America, who obviously have a great respect for this most important English Saint.

Saint Cuthbert was born in Northumbria around 634. Very little information has come down to us about his early life, and much of what we have is derived from Saint Bede's "Ecclesiastical History", an absolute "must read" book!

When he was eight, Cuthbert enjoyed games and playing with other children. One day he and some other boys were amusing themselves by standing on their heads. A little boy who was about three years old chided Cuthbert for his inappropriate behaviour. “Be sensible,” he said, “and give up these foolish pranks.” He continued “O holy bishop and priest Cuthbert, these unseemly stunts in order to show off your athletic ability do not become you or the dignity of your office.” It is said that Cuthbert immediately stopped what he was doing and became more thoughtful and serious.

While he was still young, he would tend his master’s sheep in the Lammermuir hills south of Edinburgh near the River Leader. One night while he was praying, he had a vision of angels taking the soul of Saint Aidan to heaven in a fiery sphere. Cuthbert awakened the other shepherds and told them what he had seen. He said that this must have been the soul of a holy bishop or some other great person. A few days later they learned that Bishop Aidan of Lindisfarne had died at the very hour that Cuthbert had seen his vision.

As an adult, Saint Cuthbert decided to give up his life in the world and entered the monastery at Melrose, where he was received by the Abbot, Saint Boisil. Cuthbert was accepted into the community and devoted himself to serving God. His fasting and vigils were so extraordinary that the other monks marvelled at him. He often spent entire nights in prayer, and would not eat anything for days at a time.

A few years later, Saint Eata chose some monks of Melrose to live at the new monastery at Ripon. Among them was Saint Cuthbert. Both Eata and Cuthbert were expelled from Ripon and sent back to Melrose in 661 because they, and some other monks, refused to follow the Roman calculation for the date of Easter. The Celtic Church, which followed a different, older reckoning, resisted Roman practices for a long time. However, in 664 the Synod of Whitby determined that the Roman customs were superior to those of the Celtic Church, and should be adopted by all.

Saint Cuthbert was chosen to be abbot of Melrose after the death of Saint Boisil, guiding the brethren by his words and by his example. He made journeys throughout the surrounding area to encourage Christians and to preach the Gospel to those who had never heard it. He also worked many miracles, healing the sick and freeing those who were possessed by demons.

In 664, Cuthbert went with Saint Eata to Lindisfarne. Soon Saint Eata appointed Cuthbert as prior of Lindisfarne (Holy Island). At that time both monasteries, Melrose and Lindisfarne, were under the jurisdiction of Saint Eata.

Saint Cuthbert was a true father to his monks, but his soul longed for complete solitude, so he went to live on Saint Cuthbert’s Isle, a short distance from Lindisfarne. He later decided to move even farther away and in 676, he retired to Inner Farne, an even more remote location. Saint Cuthbert built a small cell which could not be seen from the mainland. A few yards away, he built a guest house for visitors from Lindisfarne. Here he remained for nearly nine years.

A synod at Twyford elected Cuthbert Bishop of Hexham in 684. Letters and messengers were sent to inform him of the synod’s decision, but he refused to leave his solitude. King Ecgfrith and Bishop Trumwine went to him in person, entreating him to accept. At last, Saint Cuthbert went with them to the synod. With great reluctance, he submitted to the will of the synod and accepted the office of bishop. Almost immediately, he exchanged Sees with Saint Eata, and became Bishop of Lindisfarne while Saint Eata went to Hexham.

Bishop Cuthbert remained as humble as he had been before his consecration, avoiding finery and dressing in simple clothing. He fulfilled his office with dignity and graciousness, while continuing to live as a monk. His virtue and holiness of life only served to enhance the authority of his position.

His life as Bishop of Lindisfarne was quite similar to what it had been when he was prior of that monastery. He devoted himself to his flock, preaching and visiting people throughout his diocese, casting out demons, and healing all manner of diseases. He served as a bishop for only two years.

Though he was only in his early fifties, Saint Cuthbert felt the time of his death was approaching. He laid aside his duties, retiring to the solitude of Inner Farne shortly after Christmas in 686 to prepare himself. After passing the evening in prayer, Saint Cuthbert sat up, received Holy Communion and died on 20 March, 687.

Eleven years later, Saint Cuthbert’s tomb was opened and his relics were found to be incorrupt. In the ninth century, the relics were moved to Norham, then back to Lindisfarne. Because of the threat of Viking raids, Saint Cuthbert’s body was moved from place to place for seven years so that it would not be destroyed by the invaders. Saint Cuthbert’s relics were moved to Chester-le-Street in 995. They were moved again because of another Viking invasion, and then eventually brought to Durham for safekeeping.

The tomb was opened again on 24 August, 1104, and the incorrupt and fragrant relics were placed in the newly-completed cathedral, built specifically to house his Relics, such was the reverence in which Saint Cuthbert was held.

In 1537 three commissioners of King Henry VIII came to plunder the tomb and desecrate the relics. Saint Cuthbert’s body was still incorrupt, and was later reburied.

The tomb was opened again in 1827. In the inner casket was a skeleton wrapped in a linen shroud and five robes. In the vestments a gold and garnet cross was found, probably Saint Cuthbert’s pectoral cross. Also found were an ivory comb, a portable wood and silver altar, a stole, pieces of a carved wooden coffin, and other items. These may be seen today in the Dean and Chapter library of Durham Cathedral. This video from Durham Cathedral "The Treasures of Saint Cuthbert" shows them to you.

The tomb was opened again in 1899, and a scientific examination determined that the bones were those of a man in his fifties, Cuthbert’s age when he died. Today Saint Cuthbert’s relics lie beneath a simple stone slab on the site of the original medieval shrine in the Chapel of the Nine Altars in Durham Cathedral. A wonderful place of Pilgrimage!

Saint Cuthbert continues to fascinate. This is an interesting video from Oliver Murray, a new convert to Christianity, who reflects on Cuthbert in his "In search of an ancient Saint/Lindisfarne, Holy Island...""

Amazing how he keeps walking and remembers all that he has to say!

Saint Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, pray for us.