The Venerable Bede

ABC Wednesday
December 7th, 2016

The letter is V for The VENERABLE BEDE

In the first place the title "Venerable" is bestowed on Anglican Archdeacons

and on saintly Roman Catholics.

In order to live up to the adjective one must be wise and esteemed, respected and reverential,

 and being ancient helps as well...

The Venerable Bede fits the bill!

He lived and died in between the twin monasteries of Wearmouth and Jarrow in the northeast of England between 673 and 735 AD.  

Widely regarded as the greatest of all the Anglo-Saxon scholars he wrote or translated some forty books on every area of knowledge, including nature, astronomy and poetry.  However his most famous writing was on theology and history and his best known works is the

 Ecclesiastical History of the English People.

He is remembered today as the earliest English Historian, whose work has shed light 

on a period of English history that would have otherwise been unknown.

The Venerable Bede's bones have been in Durham Cathedral since 1022, 

when they were brought from Jarrow by a monk called Alfred, 

who had them buried alongside Cuthbert's relics.  

They were moved to the Cathedral's Galilee Chapel in the 14th Century.

When we in the 21st century become too complacent and pleased with ourselves 

we might remember our beginnings

 and the wondrous things accomplished by the people of that time, the Dark Ages,

without benefit of the technical devices which aid us today, - 

and I think especially of Sir Google as being pertinent to this blog!!!

More interesting Vs here at ABC Wednesday

 with thanks to Roger, Denis, Leslie, Melody 

and all who have helped make this meme so fantastic.