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An Irishman, possibly born in Connaught, Aidan was a monk at the monastery on the island of Iona in Scotland.

The Roman Empire had spread Christianity into England, but due to its decline, paganism was seeing a resurgence in Northern England. Oswald of NorthumbriaOswald (c. 604 August 5, 641/ 42) was the King of Northumbria from 633 or 634 until his death. The son of AEthelfrith of Bernicia, King of Northumbria, he is best remembered as a Christian martyr. After his father was defeated and killed by Raedwald of Ea had been living at the Iona monastery as a king in exile since 616Events The Persians capture Alexandria. Eadbald succeeds Ethelbert as king of Kent. Aethelfrith of Northumbria defeats the army of Powys. Aethelfrith meets Raedwald and the army of East Anglia in the Battle of the River Idle, is slain by Raedwald, which e AD. There he converted to Christianity and was baptised. In 634Events The Arabs invade Palestine September Khalid b. al-Waled captures Damascus Omar succeeds Abu Bakr as Caliph of Islam Oswald of Bernicia defeats Cadwallon ap Cadfan of Gwynedd in the Battle of Heavenfield and reunites Northumbria Births Deaths August he gained the crown of Northumbria, and was determined to bring Christianity to the mostly pagan people there.

Due to his past at Iona, he requested missionaries from that monastery instead of the Roman-backed monasteries in England. At first the monastery sent a new bishop named Corman, but he returned to Iona and reported that the Northumbrians were too stubborn to be converted. Aidan criticised Corman's methods, and was soon sent as a replacement in 635Events Saint Aidan founds Lindisfarne in Northumbria, England Nestorian Christianity reaches China Births Pippin of Herstal, Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia (approximate date) 23 May Chan Bahlum II, king of Palenque Deaths 635..

Aidan chose the island of Lindisfarne, close to the royal castle at BamburghBamburgh is a small [town] on the coast of Northumberland, England. It is famous for two things: its imposing castle, seat of the former Kings of Northumbria, and at present owned by the Armstrong family (see William George Armstrong); and its association, as his dioceseIn the Roman Empire, a diocese was a city district or part of a province. In the Roman Catholic and some Protestant churches, a diocese is an administrative territorial unit governed by a bishop, sometimes also referred to as a bishopric or episcopal see. King Oswald, who spoke Irish, often had to translate for Aidan and his monks, who did not speak English at first. When Oswald died in 642Events August 5 In the Battle of Maserfield, Penda king of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald, king of Bernicia. November 24 Theodore succeeds John IV as Pope. Battle of Nehaward: Arabs conquer Persia. Empress Kogyoku ascends to the throne of Japan. Batbayan, he received continued support from King Oswine of Deira, and the two became close friends.

An inspired missionary, Aidan would walk from one village to another, politely conversing with the people he saw, slowly interesting them in Christianity. According the legend, the king gave Aidan a horse so that he wouldn't have to walk, but Aidan gave the horse to a beggar. By patiently talking to the people on their own level, Aidan and his monks slowly restored Christianity to the Northumbrian communities. Aidan also took in twelve English boys to train at the monastery, to ensure that the area's future religious leadership would be English.

In 651 a pagan army attacked Bamburgh and attempted to set its walls ablaze. According to legend, Aidan prayed for the city, after which the winds turned and blew the smoke and fire toward the enemy, repulsing them.

Aidan was a member of the Irish branch of Christianity instead of the Roman branch, but his character and energy in missionary work won him the respect of Pope Honorius I and Felix.

Aidan's friend Oswine of Deira was murdered in 651. Twelve days later Aidan died, on August 31, in the 17th year of his episcopate. He had become ill while at the Bamburgh castle, and died leaning against the wall of the local church.

The monastery he founded grew and helped found churches and other monasteries throughout the area. It also became a center of learning and a storehouse of scholarly knowledge. Saint Bede the Venerable would later write Aidan's biogarphy and describe the miracles attributed to him. Saint Aidan's feast day is on August 31st.