Early Medieval West

Question 1

Martin of Tours

Answer 1

Monastic founder, bishop of Tours, evangelist
Gaul (modern France)
4th century
replaced pagan shrines with churches
associated with miracles and healing
famous story of cutting his cloak in two to cloathe a beggar in the winter
patron saint of France

Question 2

Clovis of the Franks

Answer 2

King of the Franks, first to embrace Catholic (Nicene) Christianity
late 5th - early 6th centuries
Gaul (France)
“a new Constantine” (Gregory of Tours)
model of conversion of non-Roman people groups from margins of old empire
unites Franks, expands territory, establishes dynastic monarchy
Catholic core for later emergence of European Christendom

Question 3

Augustine of Canterbury

Answer 3

Missionary to England and first Archbishop of Canterbury
“Apostle to the English”
7th century
A Roman monk commissioned by Gregory the Great for the mission to England
Received by Ethelbert, King of Kent, who adopted Christianity, along with many of his subjects

Question 4

St. Patrick

Answer 4

“Apostle of the Irish”
probably mid- or late-5th century
From Britain, he was captured by Irish pirates and turned to God
Later, returned to Ireland as missionary bishop
Late in life, wrote his Confession
Many visions, miracles, and legends connected with his memory

Question 5

Columba of Iona

Answer 5

Irish Abbot, monastic founder, and missionary evangelist
6th-century
founded a monastery at Iona, off western coast of Scotland, as base for evangelism
spread Christianity in Scotland

Question 6

Aidan of Lindisfarne

Answer 6

Irish monk of Iona and bishop of Lindisfarne
7th century
Established base on Lindisfarne (Holy Island) off northeast coast of England
Successful evangelistic mission to mainland: “Apostle of Northumbria”
Established monasteries, churches, schools; charitable concern for the unfortunate

Question 7

Boniface

Answer 7

Anglo-Saxon “Apostle of Germany”
late 7th - 8th centuries
Originally named Wynfrith (various spellings)
Received commission from Rome (and the name Boniface)
Felled the Oak of Thor at Geismar, which won him many converts
Founded a number monasteries in German lands
Represents the merging of Anglo-Irish and Roman missions

Question 8

The Venerable Bede

Answer 8

Benedictine monk, scholar
7th and 8th centuries
North of England (Wearmouth and Jarrow)
Most influential scholar of Anglo-Saxon era: biblical exegesis, educational curricula, lives of saints, history
Called “The Father of English History” for his Ecclesiastical History of the English People