Summary: St Fionán, monk, abbot and missionary
Fionán (Finnian)was an Irish monk who accompanied Aidan from the island Iona of west Scotland to Lindisfarne, an island off north-east England (image). He succeeded him there as abbot. Bede called him “learned and prudent”: he was able to manage the tensions that emerged between the Celtic and Roman ritual expressions of Christianity that were eventually the focal point of the Synod of Whitby (663/4).
Patrick Duffy tells his story.
A monk of Iona and successor of Aidan at Lindisfarne
Fionán was Irish by birth and became a monk of Iona. He probably went with St Aidan to Lindisfarne and became his successor as abbot there in 651. He staunchly upheld Celtic traditions especially as regards the date of Easter.
He built a wooden church on Lindisfarne, constructed of oak, with a roof ‘thatched with reeds after the Irish manner’. It seems that Aidan’s other-worldliness had been so great (and perhaps his link with Oswald so strong) that he had not embarked on this task. It must have become increasingly necessary for the monks to have a place of worship of their own during Oswy’s reign, when the Lindisfarne monks no longer had the same close link with the king, and the queen Enfleda and her court followed the Latin Rite.
Missionary work among the Angles and East Saxons
Fionán carried missionary work south of the Humber, baptising King Peada of the Middle Angles. He sent Cedd and other monks as missionaries to Mercia and the kingdom of the East Saxons.
Tensions between Celtic and Roman ritual expression
During Fionán’s time as abbot the tensions between Celtic and Roman ritual expression begin to emerge. In response to pressure from the queen and her advisers, Fionán agreed to allow Wilfrid, who was one of his monks, to go to Rome and explore contacts with the papacy. These tensions broke out more forcefully after his death.
Death
Fionán struggled for ten years, supporting his missionaries in their work in the Midlands and East Anglia, and finding his rule at Lindisfarne increasingly threatened. He died before the Synod of Whitby was convened. Possibly the Roman party waited until after his death before embarking on the final confrontation, for he was a doughty opponent.
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Memorable Policy for today
Diplomacy is listening to what the other guy needs.
Developing a relationships with other people
so when the tough times come, you can work together.
~ Colin Powell ~
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