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Icon of St. Herbert of
Derwentwater, + 687
Feast: Mar. 20
A friend of St. Cuthbert the
Wonderworker, the Bishop of Lindisfarne, St. Herbert is described by
the Martyrology of Tallaght as a Saxon. St. Herbert would go each year
to Lindisfarne from his hermitage in northern England, to receive
direction from St. Cuthbert. In 686, he visited St. Cuthbert instead of
Carlisle, where the Bishop was visiting to give the veil to Queen
Ermenburga. After they spoke a while, St. Cuthbert said, "Herbert, my
brother, tell me now all you need to ask or speak, for we shall never
see one another again in this world. For I know that the time of my
departure is at hand." Herbert fell weeping at the bishop's feet and
begged one thing: that by his prayers St. Cuthbert might obtain that
they fall asleep and enter the kingdom of heaven at exactly the same
time. St. Cuthbert, after praying, said, "Rise, my brother, do not
weep, but rejoice that the mercy of God has granted our desire."
Returning to his hermitage, St. Herbert fell ill and, after a long
illness, passed to God on the very (Mar. 20, 687) upon which St.
Cuthbert reposed on the Holy Island. Holy Father Herbert, pray to God
for us!
Icon: by the hand of Aidan
Hart, Oecumenical Patriarchate, England.
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