MELLITUS, Saint. - Born in the second half of the 6th century, died on 24 April 624. Of noble birth, he was a monk and abbot in Rome, probably of the monastery of St Andrew *ad clivum Scauri*.
In 601, MELLITUS was sent by St Gregory the Great with a group of monks to Britain to preach the Gospel to the East Saxons; he established himself in London and was consecrated bishop of that city by St Augustine of Canterbury.
About 616, after the death of King Sæberht, he was driven out by the king’s sons and forced to take refuge in Gaul. Returning again to England, in February 619 he succeeded Laurence in the see of Canterbury, where he dedicated a church to the Virgin in the monastery of SS Peter and Paul. He was buried in Canterbury cathedral. Feast, 24 April.