Died c. 680; feast of his translation is December 1. Botulph and his
brother, Saint Adulph, were two noble English brothers at the dawn of
Christianity on that island. They were probably born in East Anglia. At
some point they travelled into Belgian Gaul to learn more about
Christian discipline in a monastery because they were then scarce in
England. They progressed in the spiritual life to the point that Adulph
is said to have been raised to the episcopate, though this is
questioned. Botulph is said to have been chaplain to the convent where
two of his king's sisters lived, possibly at Chelles. (Liobsynde, the
first abbess of Wenlock (Salop), was from Chelles and Wenlock was
initially dependent on Ikanhoe.)
Botulph returned to England with the treasure he had found and begged
King Ethelmund of the South Saxons for land on which to set it. The king
gave him the wilderness of Ikanhoe (Icanhoh), formerly thought to be
near Boston (Botulf's stone) in Lincolnshire but now believed to be Iken
in Suffolk. (Others relate that the land was provided by the king of
East Anglia, either Ethelhere, 654, or more likely Ethelwold, 654-64.)
There he built an abbey and taught the assembled brethren the rules of
Christian perfection and the institutes of the holy fathers. He became
one of the foremost missionaries of the 7th century.
Everyone loved Botulph: He was humble, mild, and affable. He always
practised what he preached, finding an upright example far more
important than sermons. Nevertheless, Saint Ceolfrid travelled all the
way from Wearmouth to converse with this man "of remarkable life and
learning" before joining Saint Benedict Biscop at Wearmouth. Botulph
thanked God in good times and in bad, knowing that God works all things
to the good of those who love Him. He lived to a venerable age and was
purified by a long illness before his happy death
Although his monastery was destroyed by the Danes, his relics were
carried to Ely (the head) and Thorney Abbeys. It is said that when
Ethelwold sent his disciple Ulfkitel to collect the relics of Botulph
for Thorney Abbey, he found that he could not move them without also
taking those of Adulph as well. Saint Edward the Confessor gave some of
them to Westminster and others are at Bury Saint Edmunds. More than 70
English churches were dedicated to Saint Botulph, including four
parishes in London. Name other place names also recall his sanctity
including the town of Boston in Lincolnshire and Botulph's bridge, now
Bottle-bride, in Huntingdonshire
(
Attwater,
Benedictines,
Farmer,
Husenbeth).
In art, Saint Adulph, bishop, and Saint Botulf, abbot, hold the Abbey of
Ikanhoe, Suffolk, England. The four gates of the City of London are
dedicated to them
(
Roeder).
A Service to our Righteous Father Botolph of Boston
http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/serstbot.htm
Icon of St. Botulf
http://www.orthodoxengland.org.uk/botolph.htm
http://www.allmercifulsavior.com/icons/Icons-Botulf.htm##1