Buriena
Acta Sanctorum, May 29
Source text: Public Domain. English translation/apparatus/encoding: CC BY-NC 4.0, Wroot Press.
https://actasanctorum.org/may/day-29/buriena.html
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ON SAINT BURIENA

VIRGIN IN CORNWALL A PROVINCE OF ENGLAND.

A Collection concerning the cult, from more recent English Writers.

[Commentary]

Buriena, Virgin, in Cornwall a Province of England (S.)

G. H.

[1] Among the Damnonii,
ancient peoples of Britain, is at this time
the province of Cornwall or
Cornwallia, in whose promontory,
or Penwith hundred
or jurisdiction, is a village to S.
Buriena dedicated: concerning which William
Camden in his Britannia,
of the aforesaid Cornwall
treating, these things writes: A little village now to that promontory sits
Saint Buriens, [Her Church] formerly Eglis Buriens, that is the Church of Buriena
or Buriana called, to Buriena a religious Irish
woman sacred: for the Irish Saints and their own native ones
this nation as tutelary ever so regarded, that
almost all towns to them it consecrated. To this one, as report
relates, the right of asylum granted King Athelstan, when
from the Scilly isles here victor he had landed. It is certain
that he a church here built, and under William
the Conqueror of Canons here there was a College,
and the adjacent territory to them belonged. Thus Camden.
Mentions also John Speed, in his Theatre of the empire
of great Britain, [and a College of Canons.] the place of S. Buriena. John Wilson in
the Anglican Martyrology, about the year MDCVIII printed, at
this XXIX May celebrates her memory in these words nearly.
In Cornwall and the place Saint Buriens, the commemoration
of S. Buriena the Virgin, who in Ireland from parents
of great nobility born, into England set out,
where in great virtue and good life through years
very many she lived, and in true sanctity great,
and in works of miracles excelling, at length to
her Spouse migrated. Her memory is in truth
celebrated, both in Ireland and great Britain, [Memory 29 May]
and especially in Cornwall, in whose promontory
a place from her is named Sainte Buriens, and from
a long time there an illustrious church, to her
honor was erected. Thus Wilson, alleging old
monuments of Cornwall, and the Register of the same Church
there.

[2] Wilson follow Henry Fitz Simon in the Catalogue
of the Saints of Ireland, and Philip Ferrarius, in the general Catalogue
of those who are not in the Roman, who besides the Anglican
Martyrology cites the Tables of the Exeter Church,
in which she has veneration, and Acts to be preserved
are said: which we have not seen, nor had Michael
Alford, who treats of her in the Annals of the British Church
at the year CCCCLX, num. VI, where he inquires whence the Cornwall
land full of Irish Saints: and that done he says on occasion
of S. Benignus, who in Ireland a disciple of S. Patrick
came to Glastonbury, and of S. Kieran or Piran in Cornwall
resting. His Life we illustrated at the day V March:
of S. Benignus to be treated it will be III November. Again at
the year DCCCCXXXVI, of the reign of Athelstan XII, the same Alford,
of the right of asylum to the church of S. Buriena conceded, treats.
At last in the Index he says, her name among the Saints in
the Anglican Martyrology once placed at
XXIX May to have been, wondering or perhaps ill bearing, [and 19 June.] that in
the second edition of the year MDCXL her memory was translated
to the day XIX June: where meanwhile is cited the Catalogue
of the Saints of Ireland: but in it is related S. Buriena
at this XXIX May. If yet the Acts by Ferrarius cited be found
and with us be communicated, willingly at the said
XIX June again of this Saint we shall treat.
