Saint · 597
Augustine of Canterbury
St. Augustine of Canterbury, Evangelizer of England († c. 605)
New Calendar May 26 Old Calendar June 8
Why they are a saint
Augustine of Canterbury was a Christian monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 597. He was the prior of a Benedictine monastery in Rome when Pope Gregory I chose him in 595 to lead a mission, usually known as the Gregorian mission, to Britain to Christianize King Æthelberht and his Kingdom of Kent from Anglo-Saxon paganism. Kent was likely chosen because Æthelberht commanded major influence over neighbouring Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in addition to his marriage to Bertha, a Frankish princess and Christian, who was expected to exert some influence over her husband.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Orthodox Christians usually take Augustine of Canterbury as a patron when they bear the name Augustine at baptism, or were born or baptized near the feast on May 26.
Prayer
O holy Augustine of Canterbury, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.