Egbert

639-729. English monk from Lindisfarne. He lived and taught in Connaught. In 664, when afflicted by the plague, he vowed that if spared, he would never return to his native land. He was fired with missionary zeal and was largely responsible for organizing the evangelization of Germany. He spent the last thirteen years of his life on Iona,* persuading the monks to accept the Roman date for Easter and the crownlike tonsure. He died on the very day they first celebrated Easter in common with the rest of Europe.