Dryhthelm
Encyclopedia
Dryhthelm also known as Drithelm or Drythelm, was a monk associated with the monastery of Melrose
known from the Historia Ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum
of Bede
. According to the latter, before entering the religious life he lived with his family in "a district of Northumbria which is called Incuneningum". Incuneningum is thought by some modern scholars to refer to Cunninghame
, now part of Ayrshire
.
As Bede has it, Dryhthelm died (c. 700) but came back to life a few hours later, scaring away everyone but his wife. Dryhthelm portioned his wealth out between his wife, sons and the poor, and became a monk at Melrose. As a monk he established a reputation for being able to endure bodily torment, reciting psalms standing up in the river Tweed
even when the river was icy.
While temporarily dead, Dryhthelm was apparently given a tour of the afterlife by a celestial guide. In the "vision of Dryhthelm", the future monk of Melrose was shown hell
, purgatory
, and heaven
, along with some of the souls therein, but was denied entry to paradise
. Purgatory was a place of extreme heat and cold, Hell a place where souls burned, heaven a place of intense light, and paradise a place of even greater light. As a result, one modern historian has called him "a remote precursor of Dante".
Bede says that Dryhthelm related the tale to Aldfrith
king of Northumbria, Æthelwold bishop of Lindisfarne and an Irish monk called Haemgisl. A similar vision of the afterlife was later reported by Boniface
, who described a vision of hell experienced by a monk of Much Wenlock
. Prior to Bede and Boniface, the Vita sancti Fursei, had attributed a like vision to its own hero, Fursa, and Bede himself quoted this in part.
Dryhthelm was celebrated a century later in Alcuin
's De pontificibus et sanctis Ecclesiae Eboracensis. More than a century after Alcuin, Ælfric of Eynsham
celebrated the vision and believed it had been given to instruct others. Dryhthelm is listed as resting at Melrose
in the resting-place list of Hugh Candidus
. His feast day is 1 September.
Melrose
-Scotland:* Melrose, Scotland , a town in the Scottish Borders** Melrose Abbey, ruined monastery** Melrose RFC, rugby club** Melrose Golf Club-Australia:* Melrose, South Australia, a town in the southern Flinders Ranges...
known from the Historia Ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum
Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum
The Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum is a work in Latin by Bede on the history of the Christian Churches in England, and of England generally; its main focus is on the conflict between Roman and Celtic Christianity.It is considered to be one of the most important original references on...
of Bede
Bede
Bede , also referred to as Saint Bede or the Venerable Bede , was a monk at the Northumbrian monastery of Saint Peter at Monkwearmouth, today part of Sunderland, England, and of its companion monastery, Saint Paul's, in modern Jarrow , both in the Kingdom of Northumbria...
. According to the latter, before entering the religious life he lived with his family in "a district of Northumbria which is called Incuneningum". Incuneningum is thought by some modern scholars to refer to Cunninghame
Cunninghame
Cunninghame is a former comital district of Scotland and also a district of the Strathclyde Region from 1975–1996.-Historic Cunninghame:The historic district of Cunninghame was bordered by the districts of Renfrew and Clydesdale to the north and east respectively, by the district of Kyle to the...
, now part of Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
.
As Bede has it, Dryhthelm died (c. 700) but came back to life a few hours later, scaring away everyone but his wife. Dryhthelm portioned his wealth out between his wife, sons and the poor, and became a monk at Melrose. As a monk he established a reputation for being able to endure bodily torment, reciting psalms standing up in the river Tweed
River Tweed
The River Tweed, or Tweed Water, is long and flows primarily through the Borders region of Great Britain. It rises on Tweedsmuir at Tweed's Well near where the Clyde, draining northwest, and the Annan draining south also rise. "Annan, Tweed and Clyde rise oot the ae hillside" as the Border saying...
even when the river was icy.
While temporarily dead, Dryhthelm was apparently given a tour of the afterlife by a celestial guide. In the "vision of Dryhthelm", the future monk of Melrose was shown hell
Hell
In many religious traditions, a hell is a place of suffering and punishment in the afterlife. Religions with a linear divine history often depict hells as endless. Religions with a cyclic history often depict a hell as an intermediary period between incarnations...
, purgatory
Purgatory
Purgatory is the condition or process of purification or temporary punishment in which, it is believed, the souls of those who die in a state of grace are made ready for Heaven...
, and heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
, along with some of the souls therein, but was denied entry to paradise
Paradise
Paradise is a place in which existence is positive, harmonious and timeless. It is conceptually a counter-image of the miseries of human civilization, and in paradise there is only peace, prosperity, and happiness. Paradise is a place of contentment, but it is not necessarily a land of luxury and...
. Purgatory was a place of extreme heat and cold, Hell a place where souls burned, heaven a place of intense light, and paradise a place of even greater light. As a result, one modern historian has called him "a remote precursor of Dante".
Bede says that Dryhthelm related the tale to Aldfrith
Aldfrith of Northumbria
Aldfrith sometimes Aldfrid, Aldfridus , or Flann Fína mac Ossu , was king of Northumbria from 685 until his death. He is described by early writers such as Bede, Alcuin and Stephen of Ripon as a man of great learning, and some of his works, as well as letters written to him, survive...
king of Northumbria, Æthelwold bishop of Lindisfarne and an Irish monk called Haemgisl. A similar vision of the afterlife was later reported by Boniface
Saint Boniface
Saint Boniface , the Apostle of the Germans, born Winfrid, Wynfrith, or Wynfryth in the kingdom of Wessex, probably at Crediton , was a missionary who propagated Christianity in the Frankish Empire during the 8th century. He is the patron saint of Germany and the first archbishop of Mainz...
, who described a vision of hell experienced by a monk of Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock
Much Wenlock, earlier known as Wenlock, is a small town in central Shropshire, England. It is situated on the A458 road between Shrewsbury and Bridgnorth. Nearby, to the northeast, is the Ironbridge Gorge, and the new town of Telford...
. Prior to Bede and Boniface, the Vita sancti Fursei, had attributed a like vision to its own hero, Fursa, and Bede himself quoted this in part.
Dryhthelm was celebrated a century later in Alcuin
Alcuin
Alcuin of York or Ealhwine, nicknamed Albinus or Flaccus was an English scholar, ecclesiastic, poet and teacher from York, Northumbria. He was born around 735 and became the student of Archbishop Ecgbert at York...
's De pontificibus et sanctis Ecclesiae Eboracensis. More than a century after Alcuin, Ælfric of Eynsham
Ælfric of Eynsham
Ælfric of Eynsham was an English abbot, as well as a consummate, prolific writer in Old English of hagiography, homilies, biblical commentaries, and other genres. He is also known variously as Ælfric the Grammarian , Ælfric of Cerne, and Ælfric the Homilist...
celebrated the vision and believed it had been given to instruct others. Dryhthelm is listed as resting at Melrose
Melrose Abbey
Melrose Abbey is a Gothic-style abbey in Melrose, Scotland. It was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks, on the request of King David I of Scotland. It was headed by the Abbot or Commendator of Melrose. Today the abbey is maintained by Historic Scotland...
in the resting-place list of Hugh Candidus
Hugh Candidus
Hugh Candidus was a monk of the Benedictine monastery at Peterborough, who wrote a Medieval Latin account of its history, from its foundation as Medeshamstede in the mid 7th century up to the mid 12th century.-Life:...
. His feast day is 1 September.