Æbbe of Coldingham: Difference between revisions

Æbbe was the daughter of King [[Æthelfrith]] of [[Bernicia]]<ref name=Ziegler>[http://monasticmatrix.osu.edu/vitae/%C3%A6bbe-coldingham Ziegler, Michelle. "Æbbe of Coldingham", Monastic Matrix, Ohio State University]</ref> and [[Acha of Deira]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLAND,%20AngloSaxon%20&%20Danish%20Kings.htm#_Toc214769388 |title=England Anglo-Saxon Kings |publisher=Fmg.ac |date= |accessdate=2018-01-17}}</ref> Her brothers were [[Oswald of Northumbria]] and [[Oswiu]].<ref>[https://saintsplaces.gla.ac.uk/saint.php?id=574 "Æbbe of Coldingham", Saints in Scottish Place-Names]</ref>

Edwin took refuge in the court of [[Rædwald of East Anglia|King Rædwald]] of [[Kingdom of East Anglia|East Anglia]], and with his support in 616, raised an army against Æthelfrith. Edwin's forces defeated and killed Æthelfrith, and Edwin gained the throne of Bernicia and Deira. The kingdom was no longer safe for Æthelfrith's children, as they presented potential rival claims to Edwin's rule. Æbbe fled north with her mother and brothers to exile in the court of [[Eochaid Buide]] of [[Dál Riata]]. It was during this time of exile in western [[Scotland]] that she and her brothers were converted to [[Christianity]].<ref name=dig>[https://projects.digventures.com/coldingham-priory/background/saint-aebbe-the-elder/ "Princess Aebbe", DigVentures]</ref>

===Life as Abbess===

With her brothers on the throne of Northumbria, Æbbe could return from exile and with their support established a monastery<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ewan |first1=Elizabeth |last2=Pipes |first2=Rose |last3=Rendall |first3=Jane |last4=Reynolds |first4=Siân |title=The new biographical dictionary of Scottish women |isbn=978-1-4744-3628-1 |page=7}}</ref> at [[Ebchester]] and later within the remains of a 6th-century fort at ''urbs Coludi'', now known as Kirk Hill at [[St Abb's Head]], latterly evolving into [[Coldingham Priory]]. This religious house lasted for about 40 years and was a [[double monastery|double separate monastery]] of both monks and nuns governed by Æbbe. Legend says she became a nun to avoid the attentions of a certain Prince Aidan. However, he refused to give up his suit and it is said that due to her prayers the tide stayed high around Kirk Hill for three days and protected her. Æbbe was instrumental in the spread of Christianity to the still largely pagan Angles on the Northumbrian coast.<ref name=dig/>

Her political prowess also proved important in rectifying a dispute between her nephew Ecgfrith, King of Northumbria, who had succeeded his father Oswui in 670, and the Bishop [[Wilfrid]]. [[Ecgfrith of Northumbria]] was the son of Æbbe's brother Oswiu, who arranged a marriage between the then fifteen year old Ecgfrith and [[Æthelthryth]], daughter of King [[Anna of East Anglia]]. The dispute started with Wilfrid's support for Queen Æthelthryth, who wished despite her marriage to preserve her virginity, and to enter a monastery. With his support she had become a nun at Æbbes monastery. Æbbe educated the ex-queen Æthelthryth, first wife of [[Ecgfrith of Northumbria|Ecgfrith]], who later after graduating from Æbbe's tutelage established a religious site on which now stands [[Ely Cathedral]].<ref name=Ziegler/>

Shortly after the death of Æbbe, and as foretold in prophecy by thea monk [[named Adamnan]], in 683 the monastery burned down. The monastic site was abandoned, and by the first half of the 8th century, as [[Bede]] confirms, the site was deserted. The early work of Æbbe in establishing the Christian religion in south-east Scotland was not forgotten, and in a book written about c. 1200 by the monks of Coldingham, they tell of many pilgrims visiting the Kirk Hill and the spring at Well Mouth, located at the top of the beach now called Horse Castle Bay. St. Æbbe's feast day is celebrated on 25 August 25.

The remains of thea possible monastery at Coldingham iswas discovered near the Coldingham Priory (a historical house for Benedictine monks), according to the announcement on 8 March 8, 2019 by DigVentures, a U.K.-based group led by archaeologists and supported by crowdfunding.<ref>[https://www.livescience.com/64961-monastery-7th-century-scottish-princess-excavated.html Monastery of 7th-Century Scottish Princess (and Saint) Possibly Discovered]. By Laura Geggel, Associate Editor, Live Science. March 11, 2019.</ref>

*{{cite book | author=[[Bede]] | author-link=Bede | title=History of the English Church and People | url=https://archive.org/details/historyofenglish00bede | url-access=registration }}

*{{cite book | author=[[Bede]] | author-link=Bede | title=Life of [[Cuthbert of Lindisfarne|Cuthbert]] }}

*{{cite book | author=[[Eddius]] | author-link=Eddius | title=Life of [[Wilfrid]] }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aebbe Ofof Coldingham}}

[[Category:615610s births]]

[[Category:7th-century English peoplenuns]]

[[Category:7th-century EnglishChristian womennuns]]

[[Category:7th-centuryPeople Christianfrom nunsEbchester]]