Saint of the Day – 9 July – St Everilda (7th Century) Abbess in Everingham, England. Everilda was the Founder of a Convent at Everingham, in the English County of Yorkshire in the East Riding All we know of her comes from the York Breviary. She died in c700. Also known as – Averil, Everildis.
Everilda was converted to Christianity by Saint Birinus, along with King Cynegils of Wessex, in 635. Her legend in the York Breviary states that she was of the Wessex nobility.
She fled from home to avoid arranged marriage and to dedicate herself to God. She consecrated herself to God and became a Nun, joined by Saints Bega and St Wuldreda.
Saint Wilfrid of York officiated at their Consecration at a place called the Bishop’s Farm, later known as Everildisham. This place has been identified with present-day Everingham. The Monastery quickly became a very important centre of spirituality, around the Abbess, our Saint Everilda a large community of about 80 Nuns formed.
Tradition has it that the Abbess “formed many virgins to the perfection of divine love, the pinnacle of Christian virtue, animating them with the true spirit and continually encouraging them in the most fervent and faithful fulfillment of all the duties, and application to all the exercises of their holy profession.”
Everilda died peacefully when her mission was accomplished.
Her name appears in the Martyrology of Usuard, as well as in the Church calendars of York and Northumbria.
There are two Churches dedicated to St Everilda – St Everilda’s Church, Nether Poppleton and Sts Mary & Everilda, Everingham.
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