Patron Saint of Northumbria and Firefighters
Aidan, the monk-bishop from the island of Iona, established his see on the island of Lindisfarne in 635 and it in turn became the center of great missionary activity and the religious capital of Northumbria.
In fact, Lindisfarne so closely resembled the island of Iona, from whence its first bishop had come, and gained for itself so sacred a reputation, that it came to be known as the Iona of England, or Holy Isle.
Having established his episcopal see, Aidan also founded a monastic community on the island. From this monastery were founded all the churches between Edinburgh and the Humber, as well as several others in the Midlands and in the country of East Anglia.
In time, Aidan came to be regarded as the Apostle of Northumbria and the influence of his successors was considerable.
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