The VENERABLE BEDE was an English monk, theologian, and historian who lived in the 7th and 8th centuries. He is best known for his work 'Ecclesiastical History of the English People', which is considered to be one of the most important sources of Anglo-Saxon history. He is also credited with introducing the practice of dating events from the birth of Christ, which is still used today. He was given the title 'VENERABLE' by Pope Leo XIII in 1899.