Saints of Iona

This page is dedicated to the Saints of Iona whose memories we celebrate.

"The Church in The British Isles will only begin to grow when she begins to venerate her own Saints"

Saint Arsenios of Paros +1807

Saint Columba is the best known of the Iona Saints. His feast day is June 9. He is also known as Columcille - Dove of the Church

Troparion of St Columcille Tone 5

By thy God-inspired life/ thou didst embody both the mission and the dispersion of the Church,/ most glorious Father Columcille./ Using thy repentance and voluntary exile,/ Christ our God raised thee up as a beacon of the True Faith,/ an Apostle to the heathen and an indicator of the Way of salvation./ Wherefore O holy one, cease not to intercede for us/ that our souls may be saved.

Other icons of Saint Columba

"In that night when Saint Columba passed, by a happy and blessed end, from earth to heaven, I and other men with me, at work catching fish in the valley of the river Findea which abounds in fish, saw the whole space of airy heaven suddenly lit up. Startled by the suddenness of this miracle, we raised our eyes and turned them to the region of the rising sun; and behold, there appeared what seemed like a very great pillar of fire which, rising upwards in that midnight, seemed to us to illumine the whole world like the summer sun at midday. And after that pillar pierced the sky, darkness followed, as after the setting of the sun...."

A description of the repose of Saint Columba on 9 June 597 AD taken from the Life of Saint Columba by Adomnan

January 6 St. Conan (Conon) of Iona, Bishop

Died on the Isle of Man, c. 648. We know that Conan actually lived, but everything else is uncertain. He was probably from Scotland or Ireland, where he is said to have been a model of piety from his infancy. He may have taught Saint Fiacre during the latter's childhood (according to some "vitae" of Fiacre). He apparently lived and worked in the Hebrides, Scotland, and the Isle of Man, where he finished the evangelisation of the people begun by Saint Patrick, because various places bear his name. He was probably consecrated bishop of the Isle of Man, where he is venerated as the first bishop of Sodor, which, anachronistically, is a Viking term denoting 'southern islands' as distinct from the Shetlands and Orkneys, which were 'northern islands.' The veneration of Saint Conan throughout the Hebrides continued after the Reformation.

Troparion of St Conan tone 1
We celebrate thy radiant memory,/ all honourable Hierarch Conan,/ consolation of the afflicted, teacher of the true faith/ and shepherd of souls on the Isle of Man./ Pray for our efforts, feeble as they are,/ and save our souls.

January 19 St. Blaithmaic (Blaithmac, Blathmac, Blaithmale) of Iona, Martyr

Died c. 823; feast day formerly on January 15. Blaithmac was an Irish abbot, who, desiring martyrdom, crossed over to England, which was then prey to the heathen Danes.

His contemporary, Walafrid Strabo (died 849), the German Benedictine of Reichenau, narrates his life in a 180-line metrical poem, which has been reprinted in Migne's "Patrologia" and Messingham's "Florilegium Insulae Sanctorum". According to this tradition, Blaithmac was heir to an Irish throne, but entered a monastery instead and later became its abbot. Desiring the crown of martyrs, he obtained permission to live among his brethren at Iona.

During the absence of its abbot Dermait, Blaithmac foretold the Viking raid on Iona in 825 and buried the shrine containing the relics of Saint Columba. After carefully replacing the sod above the burial site, Blaithmac then gave each of the monks the choice of fleeing or staying: 'Those of you who can face death stay here with me; let the others save themselves while they can'.

As he was offering the Holy Sacrifice the next morning, the invaders rushed in. The whole community was slaughtered, until only Blaithmaic, the temporary abbot, was left. He was promised that his life would be spared if he gave them the relics. He refused and was hacked to pieces by the Danes on the altar steps of the abbey church. When his brethren returned, they buried him where he had fallen. The relics were later reposed at Dunkeld in 849.

February 9 Cuaran the Wise, Bishop of Iona

Died after 700. Saint Cuaran was another Irish bishop known for his wisdom. He concealed his episcopal status in order to become a simple monk at Iona, where, however, he was recognized by St Columba.

February 15 Farannan, Abbot of Iona

St. Farannan, died c. 590. The Irish Saint Farannan was a disciple of Saint Columba. He eventually returned to Ireland to lead an eremitical life at All-Farannan, now Allernan, Sligo, where he probably died.

17 February St. Finan of Iona, Bishop

Died 661. Finan was an Irishman, who became a monk at St. Columba's monastery at Iona, and was renowned for his holy life and discipline. When Aidan died and the monks of Lindisfarne sent to his old abbey for one to replace him, the choice fell on Finan as a worthy successor.

His ten years as Bishop of Northumbria was a more peaceful episcopate that Aidan's. King Oswy was brought to realise his sin in the murder of Oswin, the King of Deira, whose kingdom he had annexed, and Finan encouraged him to found monasteries and churches as tokens of his repentance. The most famous of these was at Streaneshalch on the promontory above the harbour now known as Whitby, which was to become a great Christian centre.

He received and baptised two further kings of the Saxon heptarchy, Sigbert of the East Saxons and Peada of Mercia, and sent missionaries to their respective kingdoms to establish the Faith in them. He withdrew Saint Cedd from his labours in the midlands and consecrated him to be bishop of the East Saxons, and he made Diuma, an Irish monk, bishop for the Mercians. Finan, in addition to his supervision of the vast diocese of Northumbria, which stretched into southern Scotland, encouraged building works in the monastery at Lindisfarne. He constructed a spacious cathedral church on the Celtic pattern, made with wood and covered with the rough sea-grass called bent, which grows prolifically on the island, binding the sand with its roots. Into his church he translated the body of his predecessor, Saint Aidan, and when he died in 661 his body was laid to rest by the side of the first bishop.

Troparion of St Finan tone 2

As Aidan's successor thou didst rule the See of Lindisfarne fearlessly/ preaching the Orthodox Faith, O holy Hierarch Finan./ Boldly obeying the Gospel command, thou didst soften the stony heart of Mercia's pagan Prince Peada/ and win his soul for Christ./ Pray for us, 0 Saint, that Christ alone will rule in our hearts,/ that He may save our souls.

March 2 Ferona Abbot of Iona

St Ferona has a troparion and a kontakion in his honour but I can find no details about his life so far

Troparion of St Ferona Tone 4

Blessed ascetic of Iona's isle,/ thou didst strengthen the foundation of thy kinsman Colum Cille, O righteous Ferona,/ bringing stability to Christ's holy Church and salvation to men's souls.

Kontakion of St Ferona Tone 2

In the Western Isles the flame of faith shone brightly/ by thy tireless and ascetic labours,/ O bastion of Orthodoxy, great Father Ferona./ Wherefore we bless thy name, praying for strength/ to show forth the same steadfastness in our lives.

March 10 Failbhe the Little, Abbot of Iona

St. Failbhe the Little, Abbot Died 754. Saint Failbhe was abbot of Iona for seven years before his death at age eighty.

March 22 Failbhe, Abbot of Iona after Saint Cummian

St. Failbhe of Iona, Abbot. Born in Ireland; died c. 680. Saint Failbhe, abbot of Iona and brother of Saint Finan of Rath, is one of about 20 saints of the same name commemorated in Irish and Scottish menologies.

March 24 Dunchad, Abbot of Iona

St. Dunchadh (Dumhade, Dumhaid, Dunchad), Abbot of Iona. Died March 24, 717. Dunchadh was born into the line of Conall Gulban. He became a monk at Killochuir in southeast Ulster and, from 710 until his death, ruled the abbey of Iona, Scotland. During Dunchadh's abbacy, Saint Egbert (f.d. April 24) finally convinced the Celtic monks of Iona to adopt the Roman customs-- tonsure, date of Easter, Benedictine Rule. For Saint Bede this was the final sign of unity from diversity, which was the main theme of his "Ecclesiastical History." Dunchadh is the titular saint of Killclocair, in the diocese of Armagh. His feast is still celebrated in Donegal on May 25; elsewhere it is March 24. He is the patron of sailors in Ireland

April 2 Constantine II, King of Scotland, Martyr at Iona

St. Constantine II of Scotland, King & Martyr. Died 874; feast day at Saint Andrews, Scotland, is March 11. King Constantine was killed in a battle against heathen invaders of Scotland. In his last moments he repeated words echoing Psalm 27: "Lord Jesus, abandon not to beasts the souls that serve You." He was buried on Iona, where miracles took place at his tomb. Thereafter he was locally venerated as a martyr.

April 24 Egbert, Bishop of Iona

St. Egbert of Rathemigisi and Iona. Died April 24, 729. Saint Egbert was a Northumbrian monk of Lindisfarne who migrated to Ireland and lived at Rathelmigisi (Rathmelsigi) in Connaught. In 684, he unsuccessfully tried to dissuade King Egfrith from invading Ireland. At Rathelmigisi Egbert trained several bands of monks for the German missions that included Saints Wigbert (f.d. April 12) and Willibrord (f.d. November 7). When his companion Aethelhun died of the plague and he contracted it, too, Egbert vowed voluntary exile for life if he recovered. Although he wanted to join the missionaries, his vow and a vision instructing him otherwise, led Egbert to become an admirable monk on the island of Iona in Scotland. There he attempted to induce the monks to adopt Roman liturgical practices. He succeeded at last: in fact, on the day of his death, Easter was celebrated at Iona for the first time according to the Roman reckoning*. Egbert's feast is found in both the Roman and Irish martyrologies and in the metrical calendar of York.

*The Roman reckoning of the date of Easter is the calculation established for Christendom by the First Ecumenical Council at Nicea in 325 AD. The bishops of that Council desired that unity should be manifest at this important festival of our salvation. The Council established that Easter should occur on the first Sunday after the full moon after the vernal equinox.

May 18 Feredarius, Abbot of Iona

St. Feredarius of Iona, Abbot. Born in Ireland; died after 863. Saint Feredarius was chosen abbot of Iona in 863. During his abbacy the relics of Saint Columba (f.d. June 9) were removed to Ireland for fear of the invading Danes (Benedictines).

May 25 Dunchadh, Abbot of Iona

see entry for March 24

June 9 Columcille (Columba) (+597), Abbot of Iona

An article by Thomas Owen Clancy, lecturer at the University of Glasgow in the department of Celtic history, and author (with Gilbert Márkus) of
"Iona: The Earliest Poetry of a Celtic Monastery" (Edinburgh, 1995).
_____________

Scion of the most powerful family in the north of Ireland, founder of monasteries, and instigator of missions to the Picts and the English, Columba is undoubtedly the most important saint associated with Celtic churches.

Legends about him grew over the centuries, and many of the stories must be treated with caution. One of the more famous paints him as a sort of Christian sorcerer's apprentice, naughtily copying his master's precious psalter by the light of his own hand, and thereby sparking a major battle!

So too, hundreds of poems, some quite romantic in their descriptions of nature, others simple devotional verses, were attributed to the saint long after his death. Nevertheless, through the obscuring mists of his legends, it is possible to make out an outline of this key figure in the early Gaelic church. In fact, of all the Celtic saints, he is also the one about whom we know the most historically.

Fox and dove

Columba was born of royal stock around 521, in northwestern Ireland's Donegal. Although destined for the church by an early age, his noble birth gave him insight and influence in the political world. Legend tells us that his original name was Crimthann ("fox") and that when he was trained as a priest he changed it to Columb, ("dove"), later known to all as Colum Cille: "dove of the church." It has become something of a tradition in modern times to view the saint through the twin lenses of these names: the astute fox on the make, and the peacemaking and peaceable dove.

He apparently took part in a battle in 561 between his near and more distant cousins; this led to his exile and even excommunication for a time. Yet his biographer and successor, Adomnán, saw it differently, glossing over his excommunication, and telling us only that: "In the second year following the battle of Cúl Drebene, when he was 41, Columba sailed away from Ireland to Britain, choosing to be a pilgrim for Christ."

Despite the skeletons in Columba's closet, his efforts in Scotland reveal a man who had learned much in his 41 years, enough to establish a string of monasteries in the Inner Hebridean islands off the west coast of Scotland. This monastic system anticipated later orders such as the Cistercians and Carthusians.

Iona, a small island off the larger Hebridean island of Mull, was the fertile centre of this system. Remote to modern eyes, Iona was at the hub of early medieval sea lanes that brought pottery and perishable goods north from France and the Mediterranean. Still, Iona was intended as a true monastery, a place set apart for Columba and his brethren.

Other island monasteries, such as one on Tiree, housed lay-folk serving out penances for their sins. Another island housed older, more experienced monks living as holy anchorites.

Iona, however, trained priests and bishops, and Columba's reputation for scholarship was great when he died (though we have little of his own work). From Iona, priests and monks ranged far and wide, founding churches in Scotland and seeking "deserts in the ocean" (lonely, distant islands).

Monk

Columba's legends give us a flavour of both the fox and the dove. The Life of Columba, by Adomnán, is packed with stories about Columba conversing with angels, sending an angel to rescue a monk falling from a roof, and being whipped by an angel to convince him to ordain God's (rather than his own) choice for king of the Gaelic colony in Scotland.

He is seen rapt in contemplation, seeing "with a mind miraculously enlarged . . . the entire orbit of the whole earth and the sea and the sky around it." From these visions, he proclaims prophecies, sends monks to help distressed people, or prays to refresh his tired monks labouring in the fields.

Columba holds his own with kings. Though he prays for the military success of kings whom God has chosen, he argues with angels over their appointment. He faces down the king of Picts through his power, blasting him with loud psalms, throwing wide his strong oak doors, and besting the magic of the king's druids. He even defeats wild animals: a fierce boar drops dead on the spot, and a strange monster on Loch Ness runs from his power.

Though Columba's power is often depicted in entertaining form, his influence was in fact the key to winning over the kings of Gaelic Scotland, and his legendary powers were famous enough for his monks later to convince the Picts to convert.

After his death, Columba's political and military power became a key element in his cult. His relics were taken into battle by minor Irish chieftains and Scottish kings--one of his relics preceded the victorious
Scottish army at Bannockburn in 1314.

One particular appearance, decades after his death, to the English king of Northumbria was pivotal in the history of Christianity in Britain. That king was Oswald, who had been raised in exile in Iona. As Oswald fought the battle in which he secured his kingship, Columba towered above the field promising victory, as one modern scholar puts it, like Batman over Gotham. In 635, Oswald sent for missionaries from Iona to renew the flagging Christianity of Northumbria with their monastic sobriety and good works.

Posthumous achievements

Columba was a poet, scholar of wide-learning, monastic founder and leader, a visionary churchman. At the time of his death on June 9, 597, he was already celebrated.

Though more monk than missionary, Columba established churches in Scotland that went on, in time, to evangelize the Picts and the English. The legacy of the monasteries he founded, which drew constantly on the inspiration of their patron saint, multiplies many times the influence of the man himself. Fittingly, at the end of the Life, Adomnán has his hero ascend the little hill near the monastery on Iona, and declare: "This place, however small and mean, will have bestowed on it no small but great honour by the kings and peoples of Ireland, and also by the rulers of even barbarous and foreign nations with their subject tribes. And the saints of other churches too will give it great reverence."

One way Columba's influence was felt after his death was the Law of Innocents enacted by Adomnán in 697. This law sought protection for
non-combatants (in the midst of a militarised society) and for women (in
danger from domestic violence, common abuse, and appalling labour conditions).

Adomnán's Law imposed strong punishments against offenders. It is a remarkable landmark in the history of law.

Adomnán records many tales of Columba as a protector of innocents, and
these tales reinforce the stern message of the Law. In the most famous, Columba is a young boy, studying in a meadow with his tutor. A young girl appears, pursued across the plain by a vicious thug, who spears her at the very feet of the clerics. Appalled, the tutor cries, "How long, Columba, my holy son, will God the true judge let this crime and our dishonour go unpunished?" Columba calls down God's wrath on the killer, who falls dead on the spot.

It is difficult to summarise his accomplishments, but one memorial composed after his death does it better than most:

"He was learning's pillar in every stronghold,
he was foremost at the book of complex Law.
The northern land shone,
the western people blazed,
he lit up the east
with chaste clerics."

------------------------------------------------------------------------

More resources:
Thomas Owen Clancy edited "Iona: The Earliest Poetry of a Celtic
Monastery" with Gilbert Markus.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0748605312/ChristianityTodaA/102-
6521517-3265712

Penguin Classics still publishes Adomnan's "Life of Columba."
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/asin/0140444629/102-6521517-3265712

Links:
The Columba home page, includes The Life of St. Columba by Adomnán
(English and Latin versions), a bibliography, and more.
http://www.usu.edu/~history/norm/columb~1.htm

Adomnan's Life of Columba is available elsewhere
in English http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/columba-e.html
and Latin http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/columba-l.html

Columba's famous rule is also online.
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/columba-rule.html

Also Father Geoffrey O'Riada's Celtic Orthodox Christianity site
http://www.nireland.com/orthodox/Columba.htm

the Ecole Initiative
http://cedar.evansville.edu/~ecoleweb/glossary/columba.html

Further details of his life may be obtained from the following page of the Celtic Christianity Mailing list

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints/message/94

June 9 Baithin, Abbot of Iona

St. Baithin of Iona, Abbot. (also known as Comin, Cominus) Died c. 598. Saint Baithin, first cousin of Saint Columba, succeeded Columba as abbot of Iona. He is said to have died on the anniversary of his cousin's death.

July 3 Cillene, Abbot of Iona

St. Cillene of Iona, Abbot.Died c. 752. The Irish Saint Cillene migrated to Iona, where he was elected abbot in 726

September 23 Adamnán, Abbot of Iona

St. Adamnán of Iona, Abbot (Adamnán, Aunan, Eunan) Born in Drumhome, Donegal, Ireland, c. 624; died 704. Today the Universal Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Adamnán of Iona, Abbot, who died September 23, 704. He was the 9th abbot of Iona (near present-day Argyll, Scotland), the monastery founded by Saint Columba in 563. Born c. 627, Adamnán became abbot c. 679. At that time, abbots were members of the powerful Ui' Neill family, kings in Northern Ireland. There were different practices in various parts of the British Isles then. In Celtic monasteries there was a different method for dating Easter, a different tonsure, and the abbot held administrative superiority to a bishop. Conflict over practice came to a head when King Egfrith of North Umbria (Celtic) married a Kentish princess (English) and the Synod of Whitby followed in 664 to resolve the differences between the Celtic and English churches. The king was won over by the English, but the Columban factions remained unresolved until Adamnán used his diplomatic skills to convert the Columbans. Adamnán had an open mind regarding issues damaging to unity but not essential to the faith. He worked for 15 years to emphasize the essential and downplay the differences. During this time he also established a law to protect women, children, and clergy from injury or participation in war ("Cai'n Adomnán" or "Law of the Innocents" (697)) and wrote the "Vita Columbae". The "Cai'n Adomnán" established legal rights for women for the first time in the British Isles. The "Vita Columbae" stresses Saint Columba's relationship with God and his fight against exploitation, carelessness, falsehood, and murder. Saint Adamnán upholds Columba as an Irish saint whose faith transcends petty divisions (Markus). May God help us all to live in the spirit of Saint Adamnán. In addition to the historical Adamnán above, there is the saint of popular devotion of whom it is related: Sometimes it's okay to cry over spilled milk. When Adamnán was just a young boy, he was walking along a country road carrying a large earthenware jar of milk on his back. The jar Adamnán carried was so large and wide-mouthed that the only way he could carry it was to wind a hay rope around its neck, sling it onto his back, and hold the tails of the rope. He walked slowly and carefully because the jar was full and he did not want to spill a single drop. You see, he had collected it by going from house to house. No one had refused him when he told them that he was getting it for three older boys who were studying to be priests and had no time to beg for their food. Those who could afford it gave much, others could give only a cupful; so each drop was a precious gift. Does this sound strange? It was customary at that time for young to gather around the great teachers, like Saint Ciaran (f.d. September 9) or Saint Finbar (f.d. September 25). They made do with crude huts for housing and food that could be begged from the many Irish anxious for the spread of Christianity and the training of additional clergy to preach the Gospel. Adamnán was delighted with himself. The three older boys would praise him for collecting so much milk. There would be plenty for drinking and for their porridge. Adamnán sought their approval because he counted it a grand thing to study and to be a priest. He meant to do exactly the same himself when he was older. "Well, he was smiling to himself as he walked along and thinking of the cheers he would get when he reached the hut. Suddenly he heard the noise of horses galloping behind him, and he heard men talking and laughing. When the riders came into view, he saw at once that they were grand people. They were richly dressed and rode beautiful horses. Soon they were quite close. Adamnán hid behind the bushes at the edge of the track so as to let the horsemen pass. He did his best to keep the milk safe. In spite of all his care, however, one of the horses brushed against him. He stumbled and fell. The jar rolled off his back, broke into pieces, and all the milk was spilled." It was an awful thing to happen, made worse because the horsemen treated it as a joke. The angry young saint jumped up and shouted that they should at least replace the broken jar, which he had borrowed. "The men just rode on, not listening at all. Adamnán tore after them and he was so furious and disappointed that it made him run surprisingly fast. "'You'll have to get me some more milk,' he yelled after them. 'You'll just have to. That was for poor scholars and they can't be left hungry just because of you.' "The men rode on. By this time the laughing had stopped and they were talking of something else. Then the horsemen looked around and there was the little boy with the furious red face still at the tail of the last horse and still shouting at them! Never had they seen anyone run like that. It began to look as though they would never shake him off! "Now one at least of that company was a good man at heart, only careless as men often are. He reined in his horse and he said to the others, 'Let's hear what the lad has to say.' So all the men said 'Whoa' to their horses and stopped to listen to Adamnán. He spoke up to them without fear, telling them that they were rude and bad to laugh at an accident so cruel to him. 'You must get me another jar of milk to make up for the one you broke,' he said, 'because that jar had only been lent to me and I collected that milk, cupful by cupful, from many houses for the use of three poor students.' Little Adamnán was quite stern." When Finnachta, who would become high king of Ireland, heard his tale, he agreed that the boy was right. He sent to the palace for another jar of milk of equal size to be brought by chariot to them. But the incident raised the curiosity of Finnachta about the way the poor scholars lived. While they waited for the milk, he asked many questions of Adamnán. Later Finnachta invited to his own house those three older boys for whom Adamnán had been running errands. He never forgot Adamnán, who had fought for justice. In fact, he helped Adamnán to become a priest and they became good friends. When he became king of Ireland, he appointed Adamnán as abbot of a great monastery. "So that is the story of a little adventure happening to a boy which changed his whole life. Supposing he had just put up with the loss of the jar and milk and gone back to the hut, wailing and complaining? Well, if he had--there would have been no jar, no milk, no friendship with a king, and no story". In art, Saint Adamnán is depicted praying with the moon and seven stars near him. He may also be shown writing the life of Saint Columba (Roeder). He is the patron of Raphoe, which includes Donegal, Ireland.

The Saint Columba Home page has links to Saint Adamnán's "Life of St. Columba, Founder of Hy which is a major primary source for the Celtic Church. Reeves translation, 1874

A new translation by Gilbert Marcus of Adomnán's "Law of the Innocents" is available. For more information about the book, go to http://www.ed.ac.uk/~dig/TP2000/whoadomnan.html#Law

October 6 Cummian the White, Abbot of Iona

This is a recently painted icon of St Cummian (also known as St Cuimine or St Cumein) by iconographer John Simons

October 27 Odhran, Abbot of Iona

St. Otteran (Odhran, Oran) of Iona, Abbot Born in Britain; died c. 563. Otteran, abbot of Meath, was one of the 12 who accompanied Saint Columba to Iona. Other historians say that Otteran was at Iona before Columba, based on the fact that the ancient cemetery there is called Reilig Oran. He died soon after their arrival, the first of the monks from Ireland to die at Iona. Soon thereafter, Columba saw Otteran's soul ascending to heaven following a battle between angels and devils. Otteran may have founded the monastery at Leitrioch Odrain (Latteragh, Tipperary). He has given his name to Oronsay. His feast is kept throughout Ireland.

Troparion of St Otteran tone 8

O Father Otteran, thou wast the first/ among the saintly Columba's disciples to repose/ and be laid to rest in the blessed soil of Iona./ As in thy life thou didst live only for Christ/ we pray thee to intercede for us that we may follow thee into the way of salvation.

October 28 Dorbheneus, Abbot of Iona

Friends of Orthodoxy on Iona are grateful to the owner of the "For All the Saints" website for her kind permission to use material on this website.