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Cuthbert was a monk at Melrose under St. Eata from 651 to 661 where he was taught the [[scriptures]] by the [[prior]], St. Boisil. In 661, he joined a new [[monastery]] at Ripon, with St. Eata, where he was the guestmaster. Cuthbert returned to Melrose, after King Alcfrid placed Ripon under St. Wilfrid's leadership, and there he became the prior after the death St. Boisil. It was while at Melrose that Cuthbert began his missionary efforts throughout Northumbria. He became ill with the plague that was endemic in the area, and which had been the cause of the death of Boisil. While Cuthbert recovered his health henceforth was undermined.

At the [[Synod of Whitby]] in 664, a decision was made to follow the Roman liturgical customs introduced by [[Augustine of Canterbury]] in place of the Celtic practices that were formerly followed. While St. Colman, the local [[bishop]], and his monks refused to accept the decision of the Synod of Whitby and left for Ireland, Cuthbert seemed to have accepted the introduction of the Roman practices and remained. Cuthbert, then, followed his [[abbot]], St. Eata, from Melrose to [[Lindisfarne]], where he became prior and later abbot.