Amphibalus
Encyclopedia
Saint Amphibalus was formerly venerated as the Christian
priest
traditionally sheltered by Saint Alban
, who was converted by him, as a consequence of which Alban was martyr
ed.
Prior to Christianity
becoming the official religion
of the Roman Empire
, Christians in Britain
were persecuted by Romans. Alban sheltered Amphibalus in his home, and was converted to Christianity by him. When Roman soldiers came in search of the priest, Alban and Amphibalus exchanged cloaks, and Alban was arrested instead of Amphibalus. Alban was executed on the current site of St Albans Cathedral
.
It is unlikely that Amphibalus was the genuine name of the priest - it is likely to be Geoffrey of Monmouth
's misunderstanding of the Latin
word used for the cloak, amphibalus, passed to Alban. Similarly, other details concerning the life of Amphibalus should be approached with historical caution. He is believed to have come from Caerleon
, and to have converted numerous Britons to Christianity, including Saints Socrates and Stephen
with whom he fled to Wales
. He was later caught by the Romans, and returned to Verulamium
where he was executed.
Remains identified as of Amphibalus were discovered at Redbourn
in Hertfordshire
, England
, near the town of St Albans
, in 1178, and placed in the Abbey Church
. The first shrine
to Saint Amphibalus was destroyed when the roof of the abbey
collapsed. A new shrine was built circa 1350, but was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries
, and the remains of Saint Amphibalus were dispersed. Fragments of the shrine were found in the nineteenth century and can be found in St Albans Cathedral.
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
traditionally sheltered by Saint Alban
Saint Alban
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...
, who was converted by him, as a consequence of which Alban was martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
ed.
Prior to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
becoming the official religion
Religion
Religion is a collection of cultural systems, belief systems, and worldviews that establishes symbols that relate humanity to spirituality and, sometimes, to moral values. Many religions have narratives, symbols, traditions and sacred histories that are intended to give meaning to life or to...
of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, Christians in Britain
Roman Britain
Roman Britain was the part of the island of Great Britain controlled by the Roman Empire from AD 43 until ca. AD 410.The Romans referred to the imperial province as Britannia, which eventually comprised all of the island of Great Britain south of the fluid frontier with Caledonia...
were persecuted by Romans. Alban sheltered Amphibalus in his home, and was converted to Christianity by him. When Roman soldiers came in search of the priest, Alban and Amphibalus exchanged cloaks, and Alban was arrested instead of Amphibalus. Alban was executed on the current site of St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
.
It is unlikely that Amphibalus was the genuine name of the priest - it is likely to be Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth
Geoffrey of Monmouth was a cleric and one of the major figures in the development of British historiography and the popularity of tales of King Arthur...
's misunderstanding of the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
word used for the cloak, amphibalus, passed to Alban. Similarly, other details concerning the life of Amphibalus should be approached with historical caution. He is believed to have come from Caerleon
Caerleon
Caerleon is a suburban village and community, situated on the River Usk in the northern outskirts of the city of Newport, South Wales. Caerleon is a site of archaeological importance, being the site of a notable Roman legionary fortress, Isca Augusta, and an Iron Age hill fort...
, and to have converted numerous Britons to Christianity, including Saints Socrates and Stephen
Socrates and Stephen
Socrates and Stephen are a pair of Christian martyrs. Their feast day is September 17.They are recorded in certain martyrologies as having been martyred in Britain. It has been conjectured by some that what may have happened was that "in Britannia" was mistakenly written for "in...
with whom he fled to Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. He was later caught by the Romans, and returned to Verulamium
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
where he was executed.
Remains identified as of Amphibalus were discovered at Redbourn
Redbourn
Redbourn is a village and civil parish in Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, lying on Watling Street, 3 miles from Harpenden, 4 miles from St Albans and 5 miles from Hemel Hempstead. It has a population of around 6,000.-History:...
in Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, near the town of St Albans
St Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, in 1178, and placed in the Abbey Church
St Albans Cathedral
St Albans Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral church at St Albans, England. At , its nave is the longest of any cathedral in England...
. The first shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
to Saint Amphibalus was destroyed when the roof of the abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
collapsed. A new shrine was built circa 1350, but was destroyed during the Dissolution of the Monasteries
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
, and the remains of Saint Amphibalus were dispersed. Fragments of the shrine were found in the nineteenth century and can be found in St Albans Cathedral.