Biography
Honorius of Canterbury
About Honorius of Canterbury
Honorius served as an early archbishop of Canterbury. Bede records that he succeeded Justus, was consecrated by Paulinus of York at Lincoln, and received a pallium and a letter from Pope Honorius I. The pope was a different man who happened to share his name. Bede's account places Honorius within the continuing mission and organization of the English church after Augustine of Canterbury.
Honorius helped provide bishops for other English churches. Bede says he ordained Thomas for East Anglia after Felix's death. An Orthodox life of Felix also names Honorius as the bishop who consecrated and sent him to preach in East Anglia; its March 8 heading belongs to Felix, not Honorius. This distinction matters because the existing index mistakenly assigned Felix's day to Honorius.
Bede gives September 30, 653 for Honorius's death. The Roman Martyrology commemorates him at Canterbury on September 30, a local feast also noted by the French bishops' calendar. A modern historian explains and rejects a proposed 652 recalculation; March 8 has no basis as his feast in the indexed source.
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