Saint Aidan was a seventh century Irish missionary who preached in Northumbria in northern England. Centuries after the fall of the Western Roman Empire, paganism was making a comeback in the British isles. With the support of Saint Oswald, the king of Northumbria, Aidan worked tirelessly, traveling from village to village, returning the English people to Christianity. He desired to raise up future clergy and missionaries from among the native English population, preferring not to impose upon the people foreign missionaries from Rome.
After serving as bishop of Lindisfarne for 17 years, Saint Aidan fell ill and died on August 31, 651. His monastery continued his missionary work for generations after his repose, restoring Christianity among the English people. His feast is celebrated on August 31.
In the icon, the scroll contains a part of Saint Aidan's Prayer: "Make me an island, set apart, alone with You, God, holy to You."
6 x 3 inches