Saint Adrian, an African by birth, came to England from the city of Naples in Campania, and dedicated himself to educate egregiously large number of disciples with his skills in ecclesiastical sciences.

In the mid 640‘s, his family fled to Naples, Italy ahead of an invasion; later he became Abbot of Nerida, a Benedictine monastery near Naples, when he was very young.

Pope Vitalian intended to appoint him Archbishop of Canterbury to succeed St. Deusdedit, who had died in 664, but Adrian considered himself unworthy of so great a dignity, and begged the Pope to appoint Theodore, a Greek monk, in his place. The Pope yielded, on condition that Adrian should accompany Theodore to England and be his adviser in the administration of the Diocese of Canterbury.

Thanks to his leadership skills, the facility became one of the most important centers of learning. The school attracted many outstanding scholars from far and wide and produced numerous future bishops and archbishops. Students reportedly learned Greek and Latin and spoke Latin as well as their own native languages.

Adrian taught at the school for 40 years. He died on the 9th of January, in the year 710 was buried in the monastery. Several hundred years later, when reconstruction was being done, Adrian’s body was discovered in an incorrupt state.

His tomb was famed for miracles, as we are assured by Joscelin the Monk, quoted by William of Malmesbury and Capgrave, and his name is inserted in the English calendars.

Other Saints of the Day
1. Saint Waningus of Fécamp
2. Saint Honorius of Buzançais
3. Saint Brithwald of Canterbury
4. Saint Marciana
5. Saint Marcellinus of Ancona