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Saint Etheldreda Abbess

Reposed 679 Remembered June 23

St Etheldreda was an East Anglian princess who married a local prince. She made her husband respect a vow of virginity she had taken earlier. On his death she retired to the Isle of Ely which she was a gift from him. She was then married for political reasons to the King of Northumbria but on his accession she became a nun. This caused problems (!) and she fled to Ely. She went on to found a double monastery there. Her body was found to be uncorrupt 16 years after her death. A modern shrine of hers containing the relic of her hand is located in the Catholic church of Ely.

relic in St Etheldredas Church, London EC1

Painting

["Saint", "Cent07", "SouthEast", "Se0180", "Mercia", "Me0060", "Royal", "Abbess", "Grave", "Relics", "Icon"]