Saint Alban, the Martyr
Saint Alban was the first British Christian martyr. Along with his fellow saints Julius and Aaron, Alban is one of three martyrs remembered from Roman Britain. Alban is listed in the Church of England calendar for 22 June, and he continues to be venerated in the Anglican, Catholic, and Orthodox Communions. In 2006 some Church of England clergy suggested that Alban should replace St. George as the patron saint of England. There have also been claims that he should be patron saint of Britain as a whole.
According to Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, Alban was a pagan living at Verulanium (now St. Albans), who converted to Christianity, and was executed by decapitation on a hill above the Roman settlement of Verulanium. St. Albans Abbey was later founded near this site.
The date of Alban's execution has never been firmly established. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles list the year 283, according to the Venerable Bede: "when the cruel Emperors first published their edicts against the Christians."
Alban sheltered a Christian priest in his home, and was converted and baptized by him. When the "impious prince", as Bede had called him, sent Roman soldiers to Alban's house to look for the priest, Alban exchanged cloaks with the priest and was arrested in his stead at Chantry Island. Alban was taken before the magistrate, who was furious at the deception and who ordered that Alban be given the punishment due to the priest if he had indeed become a Christian. Alban declared, "I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things." These words are still used in the prayer at St. Albans Abbey. St. Alban was eventually sacrificed to the Roman gods and was condemned to death. He was taken out of the town across the River Ver to the top of the hill opposite. The reputed place of his beheading is where St. Albans Cathedral now stands. Bede tells several legends associated with the story of Alban's execution. On his way to the execution, Alban had to cross a river, and finding the bridge full of people, he made the waters part and crossed over on dry land. And the executioner was so impressed with Alban's faith that he also converted to Christianity on the spot, and refused to kill him.
In June 2002 a scapula (shoulder blade), believed to be a relic of St. Alban, was presented to St. Albans Cathedral and placed inside the saint’s restored 13th century shrine. The largest relic of St. Alban in England is the thigh of the protomartyr preserved at St. Michael's Benedictine Abbey, Farnborough, Hampshire, which was removed from the St. Pantaleon's reliquary in the 1950s.
Born: |
Verulanium
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Died: |
Holywell Hill (formerly Holmhurst Hill), St. Albans
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Venerated in: |
Roman Catholic Church; Anglican Communion; Eastern Orthodox Church |
Major shrine: |
Cathedral and Abbey Church of St. Alban |
Feast: |
22 June
|
Saint Alban Shrine of Saint Alban in St. Albans Cathedral
Прослушайте тропари и кондаки праздников и выучите их:
THE PRESENTATION IN THE TEMPLE OF OUR MOST HOLY SOVEREIGN - LADY THEOTOKOS AND EVER-VIRGIN MARY
The Troparion, Tone 4
To-day is the prefiguration of the beneficence of God, and the heralding of the salvation of man: the Virgin brightly appears in the temple of God, and predicts Christ to all. Unto Her let us, also, cry out aloud: Hail, Thou Who art the fulfilment of the Creator’s providence.
The Kontakion, Tone 4
The Most-pure Temple of the Saviour, the Most precious Bridal-chamber and Virgin, the Sacred Treasury of the Glory of God, to-day is led into the House of the Lord, She that bringeth the grace which is in the Divine Spirit; Whom the Angels of God hymn: This is She Who is the Heavenly Abode.
The Magnification
We magnify Thee, O All-holy Virgin, Maiden chosen by the Lord, and do homage to Thy Presentation in the temple of the Lord.
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD, GOD AND SAVIOUR, JESUS CHRIST
The Troparion,Tone 4 Thy Nativity, O Christ our Lord, hath shown forth upon the world the light of wisdom; for at it those that worshipped the stars were taught, by a star, to adore Thee, the Sun of Righteousness, and to know Thee, the Orient from on high. O Lord, Glory to Thee!
The Kontakion, Tone 3 The Virgin to-day, bringeth forth the Supersubstantial One, and the earth offereth a cavern to the Unapproachable; the Angels, together with the Shepherds sing praises; the Wise Men journey with the Star; for our sake is born a young Child, the Eternal God.
The Magnification We magnify Thee, O Life-giving Christ, who for our sakes now art born in the flesh of the Virgin Mary, unwedded and Most Pure. |
ВВЕДЕНИЕ ВО ХРАМ ПРЕСВЯТОЙ БОГОРОДИЦЫ И ПРИСНОДЕВЫ МАРИИ
Тропарь, глас 4-й
Днесь благоволения Божия предображения и человеков спасения проповедание, в храме Божии ясно Дева является и Христа всем предвозвещает. Той и мы велегласно возопиим: радуйся, смотрения Зижди-телева исполнение.
Кондак, глас 4-й
Пречистый храм Спасов, многоценный чертог и Дева, священное сокровище славы Божия, днесь вводится в дом Господень, благодать совводящи, яже в Дусе Божественном, Юже воспевают Ангели Божии; Сия есть селение небесное.
Величание
Величаем Тя, Пречистая Дево, Богоизбранная Отроковице, и чтим еже в храм Господень вхождение Твое.
РОЖДЕСТВО ГОСПОДА БОГА И СПАСА НАШЕГО ИИСУСА ХРИСТА
Тропарь, глас 4-й Рождество Твое, Христе Боже наш, возсия мирови свет разума, в нем бо звездам служащии звездою учахуся Тебе кланятися, Солнцу правды, и Тебе ведети с высоты Востока. Господи, слава Тебе!
Кондак, глас 3-й Дева днесь Пресущественнаго раждает, и земля вертеп Неприступному приносит; Ангели с пастырьми славословят, волсви же со звездою путешествуют; нас бо ради родися Отроча младо, превечный Бог.
Величание Величаем Тя, Живодавче Христе, нас ради ныне плотию рождшагося от безневестныя и Пречистыя Девы Марии. |
