Saint Alphege
Bishop & martyr (
1012 Anno Domini A.D. ) Feast: 19 April
Saints Who Were Imprisoned 
Alphege, also known as Aelfheah , was a monk in England . For a time he was an anchorite, living enclosed in a small cell, but later he became abbot of Bath Abbey 
& then Bishop of Winchester . Here Alphege furthered the cult of the saints & was also responsible for the building of a large organ 
in the cathedral.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/625796941/saint-alphege-of-canterbury-alfheah-of
It is said that he was so generous 
that there were no beggars left in Winchester. After two decades in Winchester , Alphege became Archbishop of Canterbury ♗. When the Vikings 
invaded England in 1011 A.D., they laid siege to Canterbury. Alphege, instead of running away, went right up to the warriors & begged them to stop their slaughter 
He was held prisoner for 7 months, during which he set about converting as many of his captors as he could 
https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/alphege-windows
He refused to be ransomed. In a drunken rage 
the soldiers decided to kill the archbishop. One of their leaders, Thorkell the Tall, tried to save him, offering all his possession except his ship in exchange for Alphege 's life. His offer failed & Alphege was killed ♗ 
Thorkell, it is thought, returned Alphege's body to his community, & decided shortly thereafter to defect to the English 
Alphege's relics are in Canterbury Cathedral
https://aclerkofoxford.blogspot.com/2012/04/st-alphege-thousand-years.html
Saint Thomas Becket is said to have invoked St. Alphege shortly before his own martyrdom
Merciful Father, grant that no burden or betrayal may make us lose sight of the need to make you known. Help us to preach you to our oppressors 
& obtain their salvation 
https://hymnary.org/text/brief_life_is_here_our_portion
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