Jump to content

Saint Hyglac

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hyglac
ResidenceEngland

Hyglac was an eighth century Catholic saint[1] from Anglo-Saxon England.

Very little is known of the life of this saint and he is known to history through the hagiography of the Secgan Manuscript.[2] However, he is best known through a letter from an anchorite Alchfrid[3] (also known as Alcheriðus). In the letter, Hyglac is a lector of an unknown monastery in Northumbria (possibly York[4]). The letter, an exhortation to live a Godly Life,[5] appears to be text borrowed from the different sermons of various priests.[6] It is preserved in a collection of letters of Alcuin.[7]

Hyglac was possibly a teacher of Aediluulf,[8] and was possibly a student of Alcuin.

His name derives from the Old German word for Courage and the archaic suffix, -lac meaning to carry on an action,[9] indicates he was Anglo Saxon.[10]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ The Oxford Dictionary of Saints
  2. ^ Stowe MS 944, British Library
  3. ^ Alchfrith 1 at Prosopography of Anglo-Saxon England
  4. ^ Michael Lapidge, Anglo Saxon Literature 600-899 (Continuum, 1996) page 393.
  5. ^ Michael Lapidge, Anglo Saxon Literature 600-899 (Continuum, 1996) page 393
  6. ^ Hyglac letter.
  7. ^ Hyglac letter at Oxford journals.
  8. ^ Michael Lapidge, Anglo Saxon Literature 600-899 (Continuum, 1996) page 392.
  9. ^ Peterson, Lena (2007). "Lexikon över urnordiska personnamn". Swedish Institute for Language and Folklore. p. 39. (Lexicon of Nordic Personal Names Before the 8th Century).
  10. ^ Michael Lapidge, Anglo Saxon Literature 600-899 (Continuum, 1996) page 286
[edit]