Birinus

Birinus († December 3 650) was the first bishop in Wessex. About its origin, there is no reliable information. He was ordained by Archbishop Asterius in Genoa bishop. Pope Honorius I sent him to missionary work in the Kingdom of Mercia.

634 he entered English soil at Port Chester. On his way into the interior of the country he encountered the West - Saxons, who also still clung to their old religion. So he went to the court of the King of Wessex, seeking support for his mission. Cynegils Birinus allowed to preach throughout his kingdom, but he hesitated to convert yet.

Cynegils tried at this time, with the influential Northumbrian king Oswald an alliance against Mercia complete. The two rulers met at the royal court in Wessex. In the negotiations was the only hurdle that King Oswald was not taking any alliance with a pagan than Christian. So Cynegils decided to accept the new faith. In support of the Alliance Oswald's marriage with the daughter of Cynegils was decided. Cynegils 635 was baptized along with a large part of his family and his entourage.

The bishop was the ancient Roman settlement Dorcic to the present, where he built a cathedral. King Cynegils died 643, five years later commissioned the new king Cenwalh Birinus to build a monastery church in Winchester. Other churches in Wessex go back to founding of Birinus: St. Mary's, in Reading; St. Helen's in Abingdon (Berkshire ) and the parish church of Taplow ( Buckinghamshire ).

That was the birth of the diocese of Wessex. Birinus became its first bishop and worked here until his death on December 3, 650 His grave in Dorchester was a famous place of pilgrimage. 680 his remains by Bishop Hedda of Wessex were transferred to the church of Winchester, where they eventually in a richly decorated shrine their last resting place on 4 September 972.

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle about Birinus:

Anniversaries:

• Catholic Church: December 3
• Anglican Church: September 4