Daily Saint

St. Adrian of Canterbury was a scholar, abbot, and teacher in the 7th century whose legacy shaped the intellectual and spiritual life of Anglo-Saxon England. Born in the region of Cyrenaica, Libya, St. Adrian belonged to a distinct ethnic group indigenous to North Africa. This group used a common language and lived there before the arrival of the Arabs, according to Venerable Bede, a historian.

St. Adrian became abbot of a monastery near Naples, Italy, and was known for his scholarly work in scripture, his knowledge of Greek and Latin, and his piety.

Twice offered the archbishopric of Canterbury by Pope Vitalian, St. Adrian humbly declined, saying he was not worthy of the post. Eventually, he agreed to accompany his friend, Theodore of Tarsus, to England as a trusted adviser. In 668, St. Adrian was appointed abbot of the monastery of Sts. Peter and Paul in Canterbury, later known as St. Augustine’s Abbey.

Under St. Adrian’s leadership, the monastery became a flourishing center of learning in Europe. He established a school that taught future bishops and abbots in Latin, Greek, Scripture, theology, Roman law, and arithmetic.

St. Adrian’s influence helped shape the development of the English Church and produced many saints. He died on January 9, 710 A.D., in Canterbury. Centuries later, his body was discovered incorrupt, a sign of sanctity.