Since moving to St Albans over 30 years ago, I have always been intrigued by the story of Saint Alban and how he became the first English Christian martyr.
This weekend sees the City celebrating "The Alban Pilgramage" which will retrace Alban's final steps during a time when Verulamium, as it was then, was full of Roman centurians and chariots. The procession will go through the High Street to the top of Holywell Hill and on to the Cathedral where his execution took place and where he is buried.
This weekend sees the City celebrating "The Alban Pilgramage" which will retrace Alban's final steps during a time when Verulamium, as it was then, was full of Roman centurians and chariots. The procession will go through the High Street to the top of Holywell Hill and on to the Cathedral where his execution took place and where he is buried.
The story began over 1700 years ago when Alban, a pagan, gave shelter to a Christian priest who was fleeing persecution from the Romans. The priest converted Alban to Christianity. When soldiers arrived to arrest the priest, Alban had changed clothes with him and they arrested Alban by mistake, enabling the priest to escape.
Alban was taken to the pagan temple where he was presented to the judge who demanded that Alban renounce Christianity and offer sacrifices to the gods. Alban declared, "I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things." The enraged judge ordered him to be whipped, thinking that Alban would recant after torture, which he didn't. Alban was ordered to be executed.
Alban was taken to the pagan temple where he was presented to the judge who demanded that Alban renounce Christianity and offer sacrifices to the gods. Alban declared, "I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things." The enraged judge ordered him to be whipped, thinking that Alban would recant after torture, which he didn't. Alban was ordered to be executed.
On the day of his execution, the bridge over the River Ver was so full of townspeople, who had come to watch the execution, that the soldiers were unable to cross. Alban, who wanted a swift death, was said to have raised his eyes to heaven causing the river to dry up and they were then able to cross on the dry riverbed. When the executioner saw this 'miracle' he fell at Alban's feet and immediately converted to Christianity and refused to execute Alban. A second executioner was quickly appointed and he cut off both their heads !
Alban was beheaded where the Cathedral stands today and it is said that when his head was rolled down the hill, a well miraculously opened up. The well is still there today - hence the name, Holy Well (or Holywell) Hill.
Far from it for me to be controversial, but I do feel that Saint Alban would make a far more appropriate patron saint than George, who wasn't even English !
Alban was beheaded where the Cathedral stands today and it is said that when his head was rolled down the hill, a well miraculously opened up. The well is still there today - hence the name, Holy Well (or Holywell) Hill.
Far from it for me to be controversial, but I do feel that Saint Alban would make a far more appropriate patron saint than George, who wasn't even English !