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Eanswythe of Folkestone

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Our venerable Mother '''Eanswytheof Folkestone''', also '''Eanswith of Kent''', was the [[Abbess ]] of Folkestone, was born around 614, the only . The daughter of King Eadbald of Kent and his wife Emma, who was a Frankish princess. At she established the time of Eanswythe's birth, her father was probably a pagan, while her mother was almost certainly a Christian. Therefore, it is highly likely that Eanswythe was baptized and raised as a Christianfirst [[monastery]] for women in England. She is commemorated on [[August 31]].
==lifeLife==Eanswythe was born around 614 in an Anglo-Saxon England that was largely pagan. She was the only daughter of King Eadbald of Kent and his wife Emma, who was a Frankish princess. At the time of Eanswythe's birth, her father was probably a pagan, while her mother was almost certainly a Christian. Thus, it is highly likely that Eanswythe was [[baptism|baptized]] and raised as a Christian. When she was two years old, her paternal grandfather, King Ethelbert of Kent, died. Ethelbert, who later would be remembered as a [[saint]], had been baptized at St. Martin's Church in Canterbury by St. [[Augustine of Canterbury]].
When she Eanswythe's father, King Eadbald offered no opposition to Christianity while his father was two years oldalive. However, her paternal grandfather King after St. Ethelbert of Kent (February 25) died, Eadbald's attitude changed. St Ethelbert had been baptized at St MartinNot only did he embrace idolatry, he also married his father's church in Canterbury by St Augustine second wife <ref>Bede, Ecclesiastical History of Canterbury (May 28)the English PeopleBook 2, ch. 1</ref>. It While this practice was St Augustine who came to England in 597 with several monks in order to re-establish Christianityprohibited by Church law, which had almost been wiped out by it was then quite common among the pagan Anglo-royalty. Also at that time, King Sabert of the East Saxons(and a convert to Christianity) passed away leaving his realm to his three sons who were pagans. These monks carried out their missionary work under Thus, pagan idolatry returned to the protection territory of King Ethelbertsoutheast England.
Eanswythe's father With the return of paganism, the [[missionary]] monks, including Laurence of Canterbury, who had carried out their work under the protection of King Eadbald offered no opposition Ethelbert, came to despair and made plans to return to Gaul. The night before he was to leave Canterbury, Laurence decided to sleep in the church of Ss. Peter and Paul. St. Peter appeared to Christianity while him and rebuked him for even thinking of leaving his father was aliveflock. When After his confrontation with St Ethelbert died. Peter, howeverLaurence remained with his flock and even [[conversion|converted]] King Eadbald, EadbaldEanswythe's attitude changedfather. Not only did he embrace idolatry, he also married King Eadbald then ended his father's second wife (Bede, ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY OF THE ENGLISH PEOPLE Book 2, ch. 1). While this practice was prohibited by Church law, it unlawful marriage and was quite common among the pagan royaltybaptized.
About this timeFrom her childhood, King Sabert of the East Saxons (Eanswythe showed little interest in worldly pursuits, for she desired to dedicate her virginity to God and to serve Him as a convert nun. Her father, on the other hand, wanted her to Christianity) passed awaymarry. Eanswythe told him that she would not have any earthly suitor whose love for her might also be mixed with dislike. His three sons were pagansThe young princess told her father that she had chosen an immortal Bridegroom Who would give her unceasing love and joy, and so idolatry returned to Whom she had dedicated herself. She went on to say that territory as wellshe had chosen the good portion (Luke 10:42), and she asked her father to build her a [[cell]] where she might pray.
St Laurence of Canterbury (February 3), St Mellitus of London (April 24)Eadbald ultimately gave in to his daughter, and St Justus of Rochester (November 10) held built her a council to determine what they should domonastery in Folkestone in Kent. They decided that they should not waste their time among While the pagansmonastery was under construction, and a pagan prince came to go where people would be more receptive Kent seeking to their preachingmarry Eanswythe. Appalled by King Eadbald, whose sister Ethelburga married the pagan KingEdwin a few years before, recalled that this wedding resulted in Edwin's behavior and by conversion. Perhaps he hoped that something similar would happen if Eanswythe married the Northumbrian prince. Eanswythe, however, insisted that she would not exchange heavenly blessings for the rise things of paganismthis world, Sts Mellitus and Justus went to Gaulnor would she accept the fleeting joys of this life in place of eternal bliss.
The night before he construction of the monastery at Folkestone was completed about the year 630. This was the first women's monastery to leave Canterburybe founded in England. Eanswythe lived there with her companions in the [[monasticism|monastic]] life, and they may have been guided by some of the Roman [[monk]]s who had come to England with St Laurence decided to sleep . Augustine in 597. As she was only sixteen years old at the church of Sts Peter and Paultime, Eanswythe was not made the abbess initially. St Peter appeared to him and rebuked him for even thinking of leaving his flock. He also beat St LaurenceWhile the abbesses before Eanswythe are not known, there may have been a few experienced nuns from Europe who remained taught the others the monastic way of life with his flock and even converted King Eadbalda temporary [[Superior]] appointed until the nuns were able to elect their own abbess.
The king ended his unlawful marriage There are many stories of St. Eanswythe's miracles before and was baptizedafter her death. Within a yearAmong other things, St Justus returned she gave sight to Rochester. The people of Londona blind man, and cast out a demon from one who lived in the realm of the East Saxons, refused to accept St Mellitus back to his See. Following the death of St Laurence in 619, St Mellitus succeeded him as Archbishop of Canterburyhad been possessed.
From her childhoodFollowing the monastic Rule, St Eanswythe showed little interest in worldly pursuits, for she desired to dedicate her virginity prayed to God day and to serve Him as a nun. Her father, on the other hand, wanted her to marrynight. St Eanswythe told him that When she would was not have any earthly suitor whose love for her might also be mixed with dislike. There was a high rate of mortality for children in those dayschurch, so she knew it was likely that at least some of hers would also diespent her waking hours reading spiritual books and in manual labor. All This may have consisted of these sorrows awaited her if she obeyed her fathercopying and binding manuscripts. The young princess told her father that she had chosen an immortal Bridegroom Who would give her unceasing love and joy, nuns probably wove cloth for their clothing and to Whom she had dedicated herselfchurch vestments. She went on In addition to say that she had chosen the good portion (Luke 10:42)daily routine of cooking and cleaning, they cared for the sick and aged nuns of their own community, as well as the poor and she asked her father to build her a cell where she might prayinfirm from outside.
The king ultimately gave in According to his daughterTradition, and built her a monastery St. Eanswythe fell asleep in Folkestone in Kent. While the monastery Lord on the last day of August 640 when she was under construction, a pagan prince came to Kent seeking to marry Eanswytheonly in her mid-twenties. Her father King Eadbald, whose sister St Ethelburga (April 5) married the pagan King Edwin (October 12) two or three years before, recalled that this wedding resulted also died in Edwin's conversion. Perhaps he hoped that something similar would happen if Eanswythe married the Northumbrian prince. Eanswythe, however, insisted that she would not exchange heavenly blessings for the things of this world, nor would she accept the fleeting joys of this life in place of eternal blisssame year.
Around ==Relics==The monastery at Folkestone did not last very long after St. Eanswythe's death. Some say it was destroyed by the year 630sea, the building of the monastery was completed. This while others say it was sacked by the first women's monastery to be founded Danes in England867. St . Eanswythe lived there with her companions in 's holy ]]relics]] were moved to the monastic lifenearby church of Ss. Peter and Paul, and they may have been guided by some of which was farther away from the sea. In 927 King Athelstan granted the land where the Roman monks who monastery had come stood to England with St Augustine in 597the monks of Christchurch, Canterbury.
St In 1138, a new monastery and church, dedicated to Ss. Mary and Eanswythe was not made abbess at this time, for she was only sixteen years oldwere built farther inland. We do not know The [[relics]] of any other abbess before St . Eanswythewere transferred again, but a few experienced nuns may have been sent this time from Europe the church of Ss. Peter and Paul to teach the others new priory church. During the Middle Ages, this second transfer of her relics was celebrated on [[September 12]], which is the monastic way present [[feast day|Feast Day]] of life. A temporary Superior could have been appointed until the nuns were able to elect their own abbessChurch of St Mary and St Eanswythe.
There are many stories On [[November 15]], 1535, the priory was seized by the officers of the King, who plundered the church of its valuables. While the [[shrine]] of St . Eanswythe's miracles before and after was destroyed, her death. Among other things, she gave sight to a blind man, and cast out a demon from one who relics had been possessedhidden to protect them.
We know few details about On [[June 17]], 1885, workmen in the church discovered a niche in the rest of St Eanswythe's lifewalls which had been plastered up. Following Removing the monastic Ruleplaster, they found a reliquary made of lead, about fourteen inches long, nine inches wide, she prayed to God day and nighteight inches high. When she was not in churchJudging by the ornamentation on the reliquary, she spent her waking hours reading spiritual books and in manual laborit dated from the twelfth century. This may have consisted A number of copying and binding manuscripts. The nuns probably wove cloth for their clothingbones were found inside, and also for church vestmentswhich experts said were those of a young woman. They cared for Today the sick and aged nuns of their own communityniche is lined with alabaster, as well as for the poor and infirm from outside. Then there was the daily routine of cooking is covered by a brass door and cleaninga grille.
According to TraditionAt first, St Eanswythe fell asleep in the Lord holy relics were brought out for veneration every year on the last day [[parish]] Feast Day. This practice ended when several parishioners accused the Vicar of August 640 when she was only in her mid-twenties"worshiping" the relics. Although St. Her father King Eadbald also died in Eanswythe's relics are no longer offered for public veneration, candles, and flowers are sometimes placed before the same yearbrass door where they are immured.
The monastery at Folkestone did not last very long after the saint's deathAn [[icon]] of St. Some say it was destroyed by the sea, while others say it was sacked by the Danes in 867. St Eanswythe's holy relics were moved to has presented the nearby church parish of Sts Peter Ss. Mary and Paul, which was farther away from the sea. In 927 King Athelstan granted the land where the monastery had stood to the monks of Christchurch, CanterburyEanswythe by an Orthodox iconographer.
As time passed, the sea continued to encroach on the land. In 1138 a new monastery and church, dedicated to St Mary and St Eanswythe, were built farther inland. The relics of St Eanswythe were transferred once again, this time from the church of Sts Peter and Paul to the new priory church. During the Middle Ages, this second transfer of her relics was celebrated on September 12, which is the present Feast Day of the church of St Mary and St Eanswythe. ==Reference==<references/>
On November 15, 1535 the priory was seized by ==Sources==*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsLife.asp?FSID=102446 OCA: St Eanswythe the officers Abbess of the King, who plundered the church Folkestone]*[http://www.antiochian.org/node/19334 St. Eanswythe of its valuablesKent]*[http://molonlabe70. The shrine blogspot.com/2011/08/st-eanswythe-abbess-of -folkestone.html St . Eanswythe was destroyed, but her relics had been hidden to protect them. the Abbess of Folkestone] *[[Wikipedia:Eanswith]]
On June 17, 1885 workmen in the church discovered a niche in the walls which had been plastered up. Removing the plaster, they found a reliquary made of lead, about fourteen inches long, nine inches wide, and eight inches high. Judging by the ornamentation on the reliquary, it dated from the twelfth century. A number of bones were found inside, which experts said were those of a young woman. Today the niche is lined with alabaster, and is covered by a brass door and a grille.
 
At first, the holy relics were brought out for veneration every year on the parish Feast Day. This practice ended when several parishioners accused the Vicar of "worshiping" the relics. Although St Eanswythe's relics are no longer offered for public veneration, candles and flowers are sometimes placed before the brass door where they are immured.
 
An Orthodox iconographer has presented the parish of St Mary and St Eanswythe with an icon of the saint.
 
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[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Saints of the British SaintsIsles]][[Category:7th-century saints]]

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