Engelmund of Velsen facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Saint Engelmond
Sculpture of Engelmund in Velsen
Died	c. 739 AD
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church
Feast	21 June
Attributes	depicted as a pilgrim abbot with a fountain springing under his staff
Patronage	invoked against toothache

Saint Engelmund (also known as Engelmond or Ingelmund) was an important English missionary. He lived a long time ago, around the 700s. He was born in England but spent much of his life helping to spread Christianity in a place called Frisia. This area is now part of the Netherlands.

Engelmund was educated in his home country. He joined the Benedictine Order, which is a group of monks. Later, he became a priest and then an abbot, who is the head of a monastery.

Who Was Saint Engelmund?

Saint Engelmund was born in England. However, he had lived in Friesland with his parents when he was younger. This meant he already knew the local language, which was very helpful for his work later on.

His Missionary Work

Engelmund traveled to Frisia to join another famous saint, Saint Willibrord. Their goal was to evangelize the region. This means they wanted to teach people about Christianity and encourage them to become Christians.

Engelmund was based in a town called Velsen, which is near Haarlem. He worked there for many years. He lived to be quite old and eventually died in Velsen from a fever around the year 739 AD.

How He Is Shown in Art

In art, Saint Engelmund is often shown as a pilgrim. A pilgrim is someone who travels for religious reasons. He is also shown as an abbot, wearing clothes that monks would wear.

One special way he is shown is with a fountain of water springing up from under his staff. A staff is like a long stick he would carry. This image is part of his iconography, which means the symbols and pictures used to represent a saint.

Why Is He Remembered?

Saint Engelmund is remembered for his dedication to spreading Christianity in Frisia. He is also sometimes asked for help by people who have a toothache!