March 20: St. Cuthbert of Lindesfarne

Among the Orthodox Saints, we have St. Cuthbert, Bishop of Lindesfarne, a true star among the English Saints. St. Cuthbert is known to be a wonder-working Saint of God and numerous miracles are attributed to him.  His relics were found sweet, fragrant and incorrupt 400+ years after his death.  

 

Today, I provide a link to St. Bede’s writing on the life and miracles of St. Cuthbert which is truly inspiring and definitely worth reading:  http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/bede-cuthbert.asp 

Here also is a link to an Orthodoxwiki article on the Saint’s life:  http://orthodoxwiki.org/Cuthbert_of_Lindisfarne 

Front cover

Text page

The St. Cuthbert Gospel

The St. Cuthbert Gospel (formerly known as the Stonyhurst Gospel) is the oldest intact European book.  Made in the late 7th cent., the manuscript contains the Gospel of St. John, and was apparently placed in the coffin of St. Cuthbert when he was re-interred at Lindisfarne in 698.  St. Cuthbert's coffin was subsequently translated to Durham Catherdral, where it was opened in September, 1104, and the Gospel book was discovered lying by his head.

The Gospel was preserved as a precious relic in Durham Cathedral until the Dissolution of the Monasteries under King Henry VIII.  After passing through several hands, it came to rest in the library of Stonyhurst College in England (hence the name "Stonyhurst Gospel").  It has recently been purchased by the British nation and is on display in the British Library.

http://www.stcuthbertorthodoxchurch.org/gospel.html