Egwin

Infobox bishopbiog
name =Egwin


religion =Catholic
See =Diocese of Worcester
Title = Bishop of Worcester
Period = 693–717
Predecessor = Oftfor
Successor =Wilfrith I
ordination =
bishops =
post =
date of birth =
place of birth =
date of death =December 30 717
place of death =

Infobox Saint
name=Egwin
birth_date=
death_date=December 30 717
feast_day=December 30
venerated_in=


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attributes=bishop holding a fish and a key [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainte94.htm Patron Saints Index entry for St Egwin of Worcester] accessed on November 3, 2007]
patronage=
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Egwin (died 30 December 717) (also Ecgwin, Ecgwine and Eegwine) was the third Bishop of Worcester in England.

Life

He was the founder of the Evesham Abbey. His biographers say that king, clergy, and commonalty all united in demanding his elevation as bishop; but the popularity which led him to the episcopal office dissipated in response to his performance as bishop. [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05329a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia entry for St. Egwin] accessed on November 3, 2007] He was consecrated bishop in 693.Powicke "Handbook of British Chronology" p. 260]

Egwin was born in Worcester of a noble family, and was a descendant of Mercian kings. He may possibly have been a nephew of King Æthelred of Mercia. He struggled with the local population over the acceptance of Christian morality; especially Christian marriage and clerical celibacy

Egwin's stern discipline created a resentment which, as King Æthelred of Mercia was his friend, eventually found its way to his ecclesiastical superiors. Egwin undertook a pilgrimage to seek vindication from the Roman Pontiff himself. According to a legend, he prepared for his journey by locking shackles on his feet, and throwing the key into the River Avon. While he prayed before the tomb of the Apostles, at Rome, one of his servants brought him this very key — found in the maw of a fish that had just been caught in the Tiber. Egwin then released himself from his self-imposed bonds and straightway obtained from the pope an authoritative release from the load of obloquy which his enemies had striven to fasten upon him.

One of the last important acts of his episcopate was his participation in the first great Council of Clovesho. According to Jean Mabillon, he died on 30 December 720, though his death is generally accepted as having occurred three years earlier on December 30 717.

He was regarded as a saint following his death.

ee also

* List of Bishops of Worcester

Notes

References

* [http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/05329a.htm Catholic Encyclopedia entry for St. Egwin] accessed on November 3, 2007
* [http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainte94.htm Patron Saints Index entry for St Egwin of Worcester] accessed on November 3, 2007
* Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde "Handbook of British Chronology" 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961

External links

* [http://www.pase.ac.uk/pase/apps/persons/CreatePersonFrames.jsp?personKey=4476 Prosopography of Anglo Saxon England entry for Ecgwine]

Persondata
NAME=Egwin
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Ecgwin; Ecgwine; Eegwine
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Bishop of Worcester
DATE OF BIRTH=
PLACE OF BIRTH=
DATE OF DEATH=December 30, 717
PLACE OF DEATH=