Saint Saint Alban

Saint Alban is venerated as the first-recorded British Christian martyr, for which reason he is considered to be the protomartyr of Britain. Along with fellow Saints Julius and Aaron, Alban is one of three named martyrs recorded at an early date from Roman Britain (Amphibalus was the name given much later to the priest he was said to have been protecting). He is traditionally believed to have been beheaded in Verulamium (modern-day St Albans) sometime during the 3rd or 4th century, and has been celebrated there since ancient times. Sparse records testify that Alban was a Roman citizen living in Verulamium around AD 300. Nothing is known of his background or age. The story of his trial and execution were told in several sources. The earliest reference to Alban's martyrdom is in the Life of Germanus by Constantius of Lyons (written between 460 and 480). According to this account Germanus visited Alban's tomb in 429. However, Verulanium was not mentioned by Constantius. A later British writer, Gildas, wrote around 547 and referred to 'Alban of Verulanium' and gave a recognisable account of the execution. which he places in Londinium as he refers to crossing the Thames before the execution. One of the best known accounts is that of Bede's Ecclesiastical History of the English People, written in 731. In the 3rd or 4th century (see dating controversy below), Christians began to suffer "cruel persecution". However, Gildas says he crossed the Thames before his martyrdom, so some authors place his residence and martyrdom in or near Londinium. Both agree that Alban met a priest fleeing from persecutors and sheltered him in his house for a number of days. The priest, who later came to be called Amphibalus (Latin for "cloak"), prayed and "kept watch" day and night, and Alban was so impressed by the priest's faith and piety that he found himself emulating him and soon converting to Christianity.