Saints

Bishop, monk and martyr. Born in Moscow in 1507, Theodore Kolyshov was a wealthy nobleman, who probably saw active military service in his youth. At the age of 30 he joined the monastery of Solovetsk on the White Sea, and took the name of Philip. He became abbot there in 1547. Saint Philip became a distinguished religious superior. He was also a fine engineer and devised a new system of drainage... Read More

Abbot and bishop. Born in London towards the end of the first millennium, St Wulsin was made the first abbot of Westminster Abbey by St Dunstan, after it was restored around 980. In 992 he was also made bishop of Sherborne in Dorset. He is said to have rebuilt the church there and introduced a Benedictine chapter. A few letters from him survive. One is from the scholar Aelfric, then Abbot of Ce... Read More

Irish abbot. This 6th century saint is said to have been of royal blood and a native of Connaught. A famous teacher, poet, writer and preacher in his day, in around 530 St Dermot (Diarmiad) founded the great monastery of Inchcleraun (Clothran) on an island in Lough Ree. Wishing to found an oratory far from the day-to-day distractions of civilization, he selected the isolated island associated wi... Read More