Mildrith
| Saint Mildrith | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Abbess of Minster-in-Thanet | |
| Born | unknown, c.660 |
| Died | unknown, c.730 Minster-in-Thanet |
| Venerated in | Eastern Orthodox Church |
| Major shrine |
formerly Minster-in-Thanet |
| Feast | 13 July |
| Attributes | Princess's crown, Abbess's crozier, hind |
formerly Minster-in-Thanet
Saint Mildrith (Old English: Mildþrȳð; floruit 694–716x733), also Mildthryth, Mildryth or Mildred, was an 8th-century Anglo-Saxon abbess of the Abbey at Minster-in-Thanet, Kent. She was declared a saint after her death, and later her remains were moved to Canterbury.
Mildrith was the daughter of King Merewalh of Magonsaete, a sub-kingdom of Mercia, and Domne Eafe (also sometimes named as Saint Eormenburga), herself the great granddaughter of King Æthelberht of Kent, and as such appearing in the so-called Kentish Royal Legend.
Her sisters Mildburh (Saint Milburga of Much Wenlock) and Mildgytha (Saint Mildgyth) were also considered saints, and Mildrith, along with her extended family, features in the Kentish Royal Legend (also known as the "Mildrith Legend").Goscelin wrote a hagiography of Mildrith, the Vita Mildrethae in the 11th century. The Nova Legenda Anglie of 1516 gives an extensive account of her life.
Mildrith's maternal family had close ties to the Merovingian rulers of Gaul, and Mildrith is said to have been educated at the prestigious Merovingian royal abbey of Chelles. She entered the abbey of Minster-in-Thanet, which her mother had established, and became abbess there by 694. A number of dedications to Mildrith exist in the Pas-de-Calais, including at Millam, thereby suggesting that ties to Gaul were maintained. Mildrith died at Minster-in-Thanet some time after 732 and was buried there in the Abbey Church of St Mary.
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