Egwin of Evesham

Ecgwine (also Egwin, Æcgwynus, Egguuinus, † December 30 717) was 692-717, the third Bishop of Worcester and founder of the monastery of Evesham in the Kingdom Hwicce.

Life

The historical Ecgwine has only survived from sparse zeitgenöschen sources. The oldest " Biography " is a collection of legends and comes from Byrhtferth, a monk and hagiographer of the 11th century.

Ecgwine should come from the royal house Mercia. He had renounced the worldly and withdrawn led a pious life, when he was pushed to 692 by the king and the clergy, to be Bishop of Worcester as a successor Oftfors. As bishop he devoted himself to missionary work of the Church discipline people, and undertook a pilgrimage to Rome. According to legend, he is said to have created before the pilgrimage shackles and thrown the key into the river Avon. Once arrived in Rome, he could solve the pastern as a fish that had swallowed the key, was caught in the Tiber.

The shepherd Eof (also Eoves ) told him of a Marian apparition. As Ecgwine be allowed to show the place, even Mary appeared to him and commanded him to build a monastery. In the year 706 Æthelweard needed as subregulus ( Under King ) the approval of the King Cenred of Mercia, to give away land for the monastery in Evesham to Bishop Ecgwine. In the year 709 Ecgwine undertook a second pilgrimage to Rome, where it Cenred, who resigned as King, and King Offa of Essex accompanied. In Rome, Pope Constantine gave him I. extensive privileges for Evesham Abbey. A charter of King Aethelbald of Mercia in the year 716, whose authenticity is questionable, identified him as abbot. In the same year he is said to have participated in the Council of Clovesho. Between 699 and 717, the exchange was registered by lands between Ecgwine and King Æthelheard. As a witness signed Bishop Ecgwine at least 18 other documents.

He died on December 30, 717 of natural causes and was buried in the monastery of Evesham. Soon after his death he was revered as a saint. In 1039 his remains were reburied in a shrine. In 1077 the relics were carried in procession through the region, to raise funds for the construction of the monastery church. Iconography, he is shown as a bishop with a fish and a key. Anniversaries are December 30 ( death), September 10 and January 11 ( translation of relics ).

Swell

Byrhtferth: Vita Sancti Ecgwini, 1020