Alban of Britain

About Alban of Britain

Alban was a Romano-British citizen of Verulamium (modern St Albans) and Britain's first Christian martyr. A pagan soldier, Alban sheltered a fugitive Christian priest during Diocletian's persecution around 304 AD. Impressed by the priest's faith and prayers, Alban converted and was baptized. When soldiers came to arrest the priest, Alban exchanged cloaks with him and was arrested in his place. Brought before a judge and ordered to sacrifice to Roman gods, Alban refused, declaring his Christian faith. He was tortured and beheaded on a hill overlooking the town. Legend says his executioner's eyes fell out and a spring miraculously appeared where Alban died. A shrine and later the great St Albans Cathedral were built on the site. Alban's willing martyrdom to save the priest who converted him demonstrates the transformative power of Christian witness.