1,484
edits
Changes
m
→External links: removed dead link (Come and See Icons)
'''Alban, Protomartyr of Britain''' was the first Christian [[martyr]] in Britain. The first mention of St. Alban is by Constantius, in his ''Life'' of St [[Germanus of Auxerre]], written about 480. His [[feast day]] is [[June 22]].
==Life==
According to [[Bede]]'s ''Ecclesiastical History,'' I.vii and xviii, Alban was a pagan living at Verulamium (modern day St Albans, England), who converted to Christianity and was executed by beheading on a hill above the Roman settlement of Verulamium. St. Alban's Abbey at St Alban's, Hertfordshire, England was later founded near this site.
A cult connected with Alban was already in existence in the 6th century, for Bede quotes a line from one of the ''Carmina'' of [[Venantius Fortunatus]], ''Albanum egregium fæcunda Britannia profert'' ("Fruitful Britain holy Alban yields").
[[Image:St_Alban_Shrine.jpg|thumb|left|Shrine of the Protomartyr Alban in St. Alban's Cathedral, St Albans, Hertfordshire, England]]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. Another executioner was quickly found (whose eyes dropped out of his head when he did the deed), and the first was killed after Alban, becoming the second British martyr for Christ.
Some details added to St. Alban's tradition come from confusing him with another St. Alban, or Albinus, who was martyred at Mainz.
==Hymn==[[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 4) [http://www.oca.org/FSTropars.asp?ID=101785]:In his struggle your holy martyr Alban,:Gained the crown of life, O Christ our God.:For strengthened by you and in purity of heart,:He spoke boldly before the judges of this world,:Offering up his head to you, the Judge of all! ==External linklinks==*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=101785 St Alban the Protomartyr of Britain] ([[OCA]])
*[http://kingsgarden.org/English/Organizations/LCC.GB/LCIS/Scriptures/LivesOfSaints/SaintAlban/BedeTheVenerable.html Bede, ''Ecclesiastical History'' Book i.vii] The story of Saint Alban
*[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/01252b.htm ''Catholic encyclopedia'']: St. Alban
[[Category:Celtic and Anglo-Saxon SaintsMartyrs]]
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Ante-Nicene Saints]]
[[Category:Saints of the British Isles]]
[[Category:3rd-century saints]]
[[ro:Alban]]
