HE was a holy Burgundian priest, who converted and baptized Sigebert,
prince of the East-Angles, during his exile in France, whither he was
forced to retire, to secure himself from the insidious practices of his
relations. Sigebert being called home to the crown of his ancestors,
invited out of France his spiritual father St. Felix, to assist him in
bringing over his idolatrous subjects to the Christian faith: these were
the inhabitants of Norfolk, Suffolk, and Cambridgeshire. Our saint being
ordained bishop by Honorius, archbishop of Canterbury, and deputed by
him to preach to the East-Angles, was surprisingly successful in his
undertaking, and made almost a thorough conversion of that country. The
most learned and most Christian king, Sigebert, as he is styled by Bede,
concurred with him in all things, and founded churches, monasteries, and
schools. From those words of Bede, that "he set up a school for youth,
in which Felix furnished him with masters," some have called him the
founder of the university of Cambridge. St. Felix established schools at
Felixstow; Cressy adds at Flixton or Felixton. King Sigebert, after two
years, resigned his crown to Egric, his cousin, and became a monk at
Cnobersburgh, now Burgh-castle, in Suffolk, which monastery he had
founded for St. Fursey. Four years after this, the people dragged him
out of his retirement by main force, and conveyed him into the army, to
defend them against the cruel king Penda, who had made war upon the
East-Angles. He refused to bear arms, as inconsistent with the monastic
profession; and would have nothing but a wand in his hand. Being slain
with Egric in 642, he was honored as a martyr in the English calendars,
on the 27th of September, and in the Gallican on the 7th of August.
Egric was succeeded by the good king Annas, the father of many saints;
as, SS. Erconwald, bishop; Ethelrede, Sexburge, Ethelburge, and
Edilburge, abbesses; and Withburge. He was slain fighting against the
pagans, after a reign of nineteen years, and buried at Blitheburg: his
remains were afterwards removed to St. Edmond's-bury. St. Felix
established his see at Dumraoc, now Dunwich, in Suffolk, and governed it
seventeen years, dying in {548} 646. He was buried at Dunwich; but his
relics were translated to the abbey of Ramsey, under king Canutus. See
Bede, l. 2, Malmesbury; Wharton, t. 1, p. 403.[1]
Footnotes:
1. Dunwich was formerly a large city, with fifty-two religious houses
in it, but was gradually swallowed up by the sea. The remains of the
steeples are still discoverable, under water, about five miles from
the shore. See Mr. Gardiner's History and Antiquities of Dunwich.
4to. in 1754.
SS. APOLLONIUS, PHILEMON, &c., MARTYRS.
APOLLONIUS was a zealous holy anchoret, and was apprehended by the
persecutors at Antinous in Egypt. Many heathens came to insult and
affront him while in chains; and among others one Philemon, a musician,
very famous, and much admired by the people. He treated the martyr as an
impious person and a seducer, and one that deserved the public hatred.
To his injuries the saint only answered, "My son, may God have mercy on
thee, and not lay these reproaches to thy charge." This his meekness
wrought so powerfully on Philemon, that he forthwith confessed himself a
Christian. Both were brought before the judge whom Metaphrastes and
Usuard call Arian, and who had already put to death SS. Asclas, Timothy,
Paphnutius, and several other martyrs: after making them suffer all
manner of tortures, he condemned them to be burnt alive. When the fire
was kindled about them, Apollonius prayed: "Lord, deliver not to beasts
the souls who confess thee; but manifest thy power." At that instant a
cloud of dew encompassed the martyrs, and put out the fire. The judge
and people cried out at this miracle: "The God of the Christians is the
great and only God." The prefect of Egypt being informed of it, caused
the judge and the two confessors to be brought, loaded with irons, to
Alexandria. During the journey, Apollonius, by his instructions,
prevailed so far upon those who conducted him, that they presented
themselves also to the judge with their prisoners, and confessed
themselves likewise to be Christians. The prefect, finding their
constancy invincible, caused them all to be thrown into the sea, about
the year 311. Their bodies were afterwards found on the shore, and were
all put into one sepulchre. "By whom," says Rufinus, "many miracles are
wrought to the present time, and the vows and prayers of all are
received, and are accomplished. Hither the Lord was pleased to bring me,
and to fulfil my requests." See Rufinus, Vit. Patr l. 2, c. 19, p. 477.
Palladius Lausiac. c. 65, 66.