Saint of the Day – 15 May – Saint Bercthun (Died 733) Abbot of the Monastery n Beverley, North Yorkshire, England. Born in the late 7th Century in Beverley, and died there on 15 May 733 . Also known as – Beorhthun, Berchthun, Berhthu, Bertctun, Bertin, Brithun, Brithwin, Brituno, Britwin, … of Beverley. Additional Memorial – 15 September on local calendars.
A Yorkshireman by birth, Bercthun after having been one of the disciples of St John of Beverley, Archbishop of York, he became a Deacon.
The Archbishop had a great regard for Bercthun, so much so, he entrusted him with the government of the Abbey he had founded in Indervoda or Deirvoda, which would become Beverley which was located in the north of Yorkshire nearby our Saint’s own home-ground and that of St John too.
And it was precisely to this Monastery St John retired after renouncing the government of his Archdiocese. The Venerable St Bede also mentioned Bercthun, calling him “most reverend and most truthful.”
Although we know very little about Bercthu’s personal history, his name appears in various hagiographic sources. The only certain date is the day of his death which occurred on 15 May and, depending on the sources, in the year 733 or 740.
Bercthun’s body was buried in the Monastery but after some miracles were attributed to him through his intercession, it was transferred to the Church and placed next to his master, St John.
St Bercthun is depicted in a bust in the British Library and is locally celebrated and remembered on 15 September possibly the date of the translation of St Bercthun’s Relics.
AnaStpaul 