Dominic of Evesham

Dominic of Evesham was a medieval prior of Evesham Abbey in England and writer of religious texts. Probably a native Englishman, there is some confusion about when he became a monk, but by 1104 he was at Evesham and by 1125 he held the office of prior. He is chiefly known for his religious works, including one on the miracles of the Virgin Mary that was an important source for later writings on the subject. Four of his works are still extant.

Life Little is known of Dominic's life. He was probably a native Englishman, based on some linguistic evidence, although this is not of such strength to make his native English status certain.

Writings Dominic certainly wrote four works: Vita Sancti Egwini, Vita Sancti Odulfi, Acta Proborum Virorum, and a collection of miracles of the Virgin – Miracula Beatae Virginis Mariae. The Vita Sancti Egwini, or Life of Saint Egwin, was a history of Evesham's founder, St Egwin, This work became the standard source for Egwin's life in the later Middle Ages, replacing an earlier Life written by Byrhtferth which had been Dominic's source for his first book. The Vita Sancti Odulfi gave a hagiography of St Odulf, a missionary to Brabant whose relics were enshrined at Evesham. The Acta Proborum Virorum was a miscellaneous compilation of tales and legends relating to Evesham Abbey.

The monastic historian David Knowles felt that the account of Abbot Æthelwig's death that is contained in the Chronicon Abbatiae de Evesham was written by Dominic, not by the main author of the chronicle, Thomas of Marlborough. This is challenged by D. C. Cox, who argues that the writing style is dissimilar to Dominic's and that chronological history was outside the prior's literary interests. and Dublin Trinity College MS 167. The Dublin manuscript only has the first book of the Vita Sancti Egwini, while the Hereford manuscript contains both books. The Vita Sancti Egwini, edited by Michael Lapidge, has been published in the journal Analecta Bollandiana, which is devoted to the study of hagiography.