Ermenilda of Ely
Encyclopedia
Saint Eormenhild (d. about 700/703) is a seventh-century Anglo-Saxon
saint. Later hagiography makes her the daughter of King Eorcenberht of Kent
and St. Seaxburh of Ely
, and wife to Wulfhere of Mercia
, with whom she had a daughter, St. Wærburh
, and a son, Coenred
. Eormenhild became a nun
after her husband died in 675, and eventually became abbess
of Minster
and Ely consecutively.
There are almost no contemporary records for her life. When discussing Wulfhere, Bede
mentions neither her nor her daughter Wærburh. However, her name is mentioned for an abbess in a (copy of a) charter
of King Wihtred of Kent, dated 699, along with three other abbesses present at the occasion when the charter was issued: "Irminburga, Aeaba et Nerienda".
Her feast day
is 13 February.
Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxon may refer to:* Anglo-Saxons, a group that invaded Britain** Old English, their language** Anglo-Saxon England, their history, one of various ships* White Anglo-Saxon Protestant, an ethnicity* Anglo-Saxon economy, modern macroeconomic term...
saint. Later hagiography makes her the daughter of King Eorcenberht of Kent
Eorcenberht of Kent
Eorcenberht of Kent was king of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Kent from 640 until his death, succeeding his father Eadbald....
and St. Seaxburh of Ely
Seaxburh of Ely
Seaxburh ; also Saint Sexburga of Ely, was the queen of King Eorcenberht of Kent, as well as an abbess and a saint of the Christian Church....
, and wife to Wulfhere of Mercia
Wulfhere of Mercia
Wulfhere was King of Mercia from the end of the 650s until 675. He was the first Christian king of all of Mercia, though it is not known when or how he converted from Anglo-Saxon paganism. His accession marked the end of Oswiu of Northumbria's overlordship of southern England, and Wulfhere...
, with whom she had a daughter, St. Wærburh
Werburgh
Werburh or Wærburh is an English saint and the patron saint of Chester....
, and a son, Coenred
Cenred of Mercia
Coenred was king of Mercia, now part of England, from 704 to 709. He was a son of the Mercian king Wulfhere, whose brother Æthelred succeeded to the throne in 675 on Wulfhere's death...
. Eormenhild became a nun
Nun
A nun is a woman who has taken vows committing her to live a spiritual life. She may be an ascetic who voluntarily chooses to leave mainstream society and live her life in prayer and contemplation in a monastery or convent...
after her husband died in 675, and eventually became abbess
Abbess
An abbess is the female superior, or mother superior, of a community of nuns, often an abbey....
of Minster
Minster-in-Thanet
Minster-in-Thanet, also known as Minster, is a village and civil parish in the Thanet District of Kent, England. The village is situated to the west of Ramsgate and to the north east of Canterbury; it lies just south west of Kent International Airport and just north of the River Stour...
and Ely consecutively.
There are almost no contemporary records for her life. When discussing Wulfhere, 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...
mentions neither her nor her daughter Wærburh. However, her name is mentioned for an abbess in a (copy of a) charter
Charter
A charter is the grant of authority or rights, stating that the granter formally recognizes the prerogative of the recipient to exercise the rights specified...
of King Wihtred of Kent, dated 699, along with three other abbesses present at the occasion when the charter was issued: "Irminburga, Aeaba et Nerienda".
Her feast day
Calendar of saints
The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organizing a liturgical year by associating each day with one or more saints and referring to the feast day of said saint...
is 13 February.
Primary sources
- Charter of King Wihtred, Sawyer no. 20 (AD 699)
- The Kentish Royal Legend, also known as Þá hálgan (Cambridge, CCCCorpus Christi College, CambridgeCorpus Christi College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. It is notable as the only college founded by Cambridge townspeople: it was established in 1352 by the Guilds of Corpus Christi and the Blessed Virgin Mary...
, MS 201,), ed. Felix Liebermann, Die Heiligen Englands. Hanover, 1889. 1-10. Edition transcribed by Alaric Hall. - Kentish Royal Legend / Þá hálgan (London, Lambeth Palace 427, f. 211), transcribed by Alaric Hall
- Anonymous Old English Life of St. MildrithMildrithSaint Mildthryth , also Mildrith, Mildryth or Mildred, was an Anglo-Saxon abbess.Mildthryth was the daughter of King Merewalh of Magonsaete, a sub-kingdom of Mercia, and Eormenburh , herself the daughter of King Æthelberht of Kent. Her sisters Milburh and Mildgytha were considered to be saints...
(Caligula), ed. and tr. Oswald Cockayne, Leechdoms, Wortcunning, and Starcraft of Early England, vol. 3. London, 1866. 422-9 (Caligula), 428-32 (MS Lambeth Palace). Caligula text partially transcribed by Alaric Hall and Cockayne's volume available as PDF from Google Books. - Charter of King Cnut, Sawyer no. 958 (AD 1022), possibly a forgery.
- GoscelinGoscelinGoscelin of Saint-Bertin was a Benedictine hagiographical writer, born between 1020–1035 and who died shortly after 1107...
, Lectiones in natale S. Eormenhilde, ed. and tr. Rosalind C. Love, Goscelin of Saint-Bertin. The Hagiography of the Female Saints of Ely. OMT. Oxford, 2004. 11 ff. - Liber Eliensis, ed. E.O. Blake, Liber Eliensis. Camden Society 3.92. London, 1962; tr. J. Fairweather. Liber Eliensis. A History of the Isle of Ely from the Seventh Century to the Twelfth. Woodbridge, 2005.
External links
- Ermenilda at Patron Saints Index
- Ermenilda at Catholic Online
- Saint ERMENILDA
- 13 February saints at St. Patrick's ChurchSt. Patrick's ChurchSt. Patrick's Church, or Saint Patrick Church, St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Saint Patrick's Roman Catholic Church or other variations on the name, may refer to:-Canada:* St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church...