Saint Lewina (or Lewinna, Levinna, Lewine, Leofwynn; 7th century) was a British virgin and martyr who was put to death by Saxon invaders. Her feast day is 24 July.
Little is known of Lewinna's life.[1] One source says she was a British woman who lived during the reign of King Ecgberht of Kent (r. 664–673). As a virgin, she was killed by a Saxon heathen due to her faith during the life of Archbishop Theodore of Tarsus (died 690). She was buried at a monastery in Sussex dedicated to Saint Andrew.[1] Possibly Saint Lewinna's name is connected with that of the town of Lewes, which once had a church of Saint Andrew and is near Seaford.[2] Lewinna may be the Latin version of Leofwynn, a Saxon rather than British name. She has been associated with Bishopstone, also near Seaford.[3][4]
A Benedictine monk called Drogo from the abbey of Bergues in Flanders wrote a lengthy account of the removal of Lewina's relics in 1058 by another monk of Bergues named Balgerus.[5] Balgerus sailed in a merchant vessel to England, and after riding out a storm landed in Sevordt (Seaford).[6] The next day he went to Saint Andrew's Abbey, 2 leagues (6mi; 10km) away, where he was told Lewinna's body lay.[2] He heard of the miracles wrought by the saint, and after struggling with his conscience stole her relics and took them to his ship.[7] They were carried to the monastery at Bergues and stored in a chest adorned with gold and silver.[8] In 1522 they were destroyed during some religious disturbances.[9]
LEWINA (St.) V.M. (July 25) (5th cent.) Concerning this Saint we have only a tradition that she was a British virgin put to death as a Christian by the Saxon invaders of the island. She was venerated at Seaford in Sussex, whither her relics were translated (A.D. 1058). Many miracles are recorded as having been wrought at her tomb. [10]
Dunbar's account
Agnes Baillie Cunninghame Dunbar (1830–1920) in her Dictionary of Saintly Women (1904) wrote,
St. Lewine or Levinna, July 22, 24, V.M. A British maiden, said to be of royal birth, supposed to have suffered martyrdom from some pagan Saxon in the 7th century. Her body was kept in a monastery at Seaford, near Lewes in Sussex, and translated in 1058 to Berg St. Winoc in Flanders, where her feast is observed, July 24. The abbey was burnt and her body in it, 1558. The history of the translation and of the miracles then wrought was written by Drogo, a contemporary historian. These miracles are recorded also by the Calvinist century writers of Magdeburg. AA.SS. Migne. Butler. Brit. Sand. Martin.[11]
Butler's account
The hagiographer Alban Butler (1710–1773) wrote in his Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints, under July 24,
St. Lewine, Virgin and Martyr She was a British virgin, who suffered martyrdom under the Saxons before their conversion to the faith. Her body was honourably kept at Seaford near Lewes in Sussex, till, in 1058, her remains, with those of St. Idaberga, virgin, and part of those of St. Oswald, were conveyed into Flanders, and are now deposited in St. Winock’s abbey at Berg. They have been honoured by many miracles, especially at the time of this translation, as even the century-writers of Magdeburg mention. A history of these miracles, written by Drogo, an eye-witness to several, is published by Solier the Bollandist, p. 608. t. 5. Jul. See also Alford in Annal. ad an. 687. n. 21.[12]
Dunbar, Agnes B.C. (1904). A Dictionary of Saintly Women. Vol.1. George Bell and Sons. p.459– via Wikisource. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
Saint Honorina was a 3rd-century virgin martyr of Gallo-Roman northern France, venerated as a saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. Believed to have been killed in the first years of the 4th century during the persecutions of Diocletian, very little is known of her life, apart from her reputed martyrdom for maintaining her Christian faith.
Marcellus and Apuleius were third- or fourth-century martyrs who were inserted in the General Roman Calendar in the 13th century. They were recognized as saints by the Catholic Church, with 7 October as their feast day. Apuleius is considered purely legendary, and is no longer recognized.
Odwulf of Evesham was a ninth century saint, monk and Frisian missionary.
Mærwynn, also known as St. Merewenna or Merwinna, was a 10th-century abbess of Romsey Abbey. She is recognised as a saint in the Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches.
Saint Kennocha was a Scottish nun who is venerated as a saint in the area of Glasgow, Scotland. She is remembered on 13 and 25 March. She is included in the Book of Saints by the Monks of Ramsgate.
Saint Damhnade was an Irish virgin who was known for working miracles. She is sometimes confused with Saint Dymphna. Her feast day is 13 June. Very little else is known of her.
Saint John of Réôme was an early Christian abbot in what is now Moutiers-Saint-Jean in the Côte-d'Or department of France.
Saint Osmanna was said to be a virgin of Irish royal origin who lived alone in the woods near the mouth of the Loire in France, performed many miracles of healing, and came to be considered a saint. Her story may have little basis in fact. Her feast day is 9 September.
Saint Theuderius was a Christian monk, abbot and hermit. His feast day is 29 October.
The Martyrs of Persia under Shapur II were Assyrian Christian martyrs who were put to death by Shapur II of Persia for failing to renounce their faith. There may have been several thousand in total. They are remembered as a group in the Roman and Orthodox calendars. The Roman Martyrology gives feast days of 6 April, 22 April and 9 May for different groups.
Saint Werenfried was an English Benedictine monk, priest and missionary among the Frisians. His intercession is thought to relieve the pain of arthritis and to help gardeners. His feast day is 14 August.
Saint Babolen was Abbot of Saint-Maur-des-Fossés Abbey near Paris. He may have been Scottish in origin. His feast day is 26 June.
Saint Tochumra was a holy virgin, or possibly two virgins, in medieval Ireland. Her feast day is 11 June.
Hilarinus was a martyr who died with Donatus of Arezzo during the persecutions of the Roman Emperor Julian. His feast day is 16 July.
Saints Meuris and Thea were two Christian women who were martyred at Gaza, Palestine. Their feast day is 19 December.
Saint Theodoric of Mont d'Hor was a disciple of Saint Remigius who became abbot of Saint-Thierry Abbey, near Reims, France. His feast day is 1 July.
Saint Grimonia was a 4th-century Irish virgin who was martyred in La Capelle, Picardy, France. The town is named after her chapel. Her feast day is 7 September.
Saints Plutarch, Serenus, Heraclides, Heron, Serenus, Rhais, Potamiœna and Marcella were Christian martyrs in Egypt under the persecution of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus. Their feast day is 28 June.
Saint Syra of Troyes was an Irish woman, sister of Saint Fiacre, who became a nun in France and died in Meaux but came to be venerated in Troyes. Her story has been conflated with that of a woman named Syria who died in Troyes in the 4th or 5th century. Her feast day is 8 June.
Saint Silaus of Lucca was an Irish bishop who died in Lucca, Tuscany, while returning from a pilgrimage. His feast day is 17 May.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
