Alban, Martyr
The collect for today, the Feast of Saint Alban, First Martyr of Britain, d. c. 250 (source):
Almighty God, by whose grace and power thy holy martyr Alban triumphed over suffering and was faithful even unto death: Grant to us, who now remember him with thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to thee in this world, that we may receive with him the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
The Epistle: 1 St. John 3:13-16
The Gospel: St. Matthew 10:34-42
Saint Alban lived in the Roman city of Verulamium (modern St. Albans) in the third or early fourth century. A pagan soldier, he gave shelter to a fleeing Christian priest during a time of persecution. Deeply moved by the priest’s faith, Alban converted and was baptised.
When Roman soldiers arrived looking for the priest, Alban disguised himself in the priest’s cloak to allow him to escape. Discovered and brought before the judge, Alban refused to sacrifice to pagan gods, famously declaring, “I worship and adore the true and living God.” He was subsequently beheaded, thus becoming Britain’s protomartyr. Bede’s Ecclesiastical History gives the date of execution as AD 305, but other sources set his martyrdom at various dates between 209 and 283.
As Britain’s first recorded Christian martyr, the site of his martyrdom soon became a place of pilgrimage. The small pilgrim church built there later developed into St. Albans Cathedral, the oldest site of continual Christian worship in Britain.
Artwork: Matthew Paris, Martyrdom of St. Alban, Illumination from Life of St. Alban, 13th century manuscript, Library of Trinity College, Dublin.