​St Chronan, 641AD

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Little is known of our Saint but what we do know is that he was held in high regard for his sanctity by the people of Cunningham Ayrshire. It is also said, as he lay on his death bed he was found to be continually praying the words of Psalm 84:1 - 2:

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

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7th January

St Kentigerna, 733AD

​St Kentigerna was of royal Irish linneage in Leinster, but along with her brother St Comgan and her son St Fillian, fled and settled in Scotland. St Kentigerna retired to Inchcailloch, an Island on Loch Lomond. Her holiness was rewarded after her death with a church that saw continual use up until 1770 and the cemetery until 1947. It is believed she is buried there to. For more information go to Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae.

13th January

19th January

​St Blaithmaic, 750AD - ?

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Our Saint was of royal Irish blood but he forsook the wealth and status that position laid upon him and entered holy orders in Ireland. His wisdom and virtue promoted him to Abbot but our Saint was not happy there. He had desired martyrdom and sought permission to go preach the gospel to unbelievers, which was refused. However eventually our restless Saint was able to persuade them to let him go which lead him to Iona.

It was on Iona he recieved a prophetic word from God that Danish maruaders were going to attack the Island warning the remaining monks (evidently this was anticipated already with a large proportion of the monks and Abbot having left for safety in Kells) of the impending attack and those to weak for martyrdom to hide. St Blaithmaic was not afraid and whilst offering Mass in the Sanctuary the Danes crossed into the Church and demanded the relics of St Columba which would have been housed in gold and other valuable materials. He refused to tell them where the Monks had hid them and there on the Altar steps he was cut down.

His life was recorded by the Benedictine Abbot Walafrid Strabo (808-849) of Reichenau and others also recorded what appeared to be a popular Saint who interceded for many. When he died is up for debate with different sources giving dates ranging from the 790’s to 825AD.

See also the excellent site Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae for more information on our Saint. Here.

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25th January

​St Eochod, Apostle to Galloway, 597AD

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One of the twelve chosen by St Columba to evangelise the Picts with Eochod being sent to Galloway. Little is known of this Saint who seems to appear in Dom Michael Barratt’s great work; ‘A Calendar of Scottish Saints’, as St Euchadius.

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29th January

​St Voloc, 5th-6th Century

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St Voloc was said to be Irish and moved to the Northern parts of Scotland to spread the faith. It was here he was raised to Episcopal rank and laboured into long old age, when at his death, angels were said to surround his bed. For his own sins and those who he laboured for he lived a life of great austerity. His house was made of woven reeds and had much regard for the poor. His life was one of holiness and many miracles were attributed to him. The chief area of his veneration was in Logic-Mar and Dunmeth Parishes which now lie in ruin, situated with Aboyne to the East and Ballater to its West.

What was quite a shock when I was doing a bit of research on the fine Saint is that there is a St Voloc Festival in the American State of Texas! They dress up I think with Braveheart in mind but what an interesting link that is! There was of course in times past a fair held in Logic-Mar in his name, that included the pleasant ditty:

​‘Wala-fair in Logic Mar, the Thirtieth day of Januar’.

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30th January

​St Glascian

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Little is known of this Bishop who can also go by the spelling ‘Maglastian’. What we do know is that he was deemed an ‘illustrious Bishop’ in the time of King Achaius, a Scottish King who reigned in the same period as Charlemagne. He chief cultus was centred in what is now a small one street village called Kinglassie outside of Kirkcaldy in Fife. As you can imagine (if you have been keeping up with the Saints) there are a couple of wells in his name, including; St Glass’ Well in the same area and another in Dundrennan, Dumfries and Galloway.

31st January

St Adamnan of Coldingham, 686 AD approx.

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This Saint has a wonderful story; a wild life the man led before God intervened and wrought a dramatic conversion. So changed was Adamnan that he sought the counsel of an Irish Priest on what he should do and how to make penance for his sins. The Priest said he should only eat twice a week until they meet again. Unfortunately, the Irish Priest returned to Ireland and died shortly thereafter. But Adamnan was unperturbed and kept up this penance of only eating twice a week for the rest of his long life. He became a Monk and then Priest in the Abbey at Coldingham, which St Ebba was Abbot over, and gained the gift of Prophecy.

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St Mittan

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This saint is rather unknown, but what we do know is that he was venerated in the Southern Perthshire Parish of Kilmadock near Doune Castle and a fair was held in his honour in times past.

St Fillian, 8th Century

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St Fillan was the son of St Kentigern and took up the Monastic habit in Wexford. He then traveled to Scotland where he stayed with his uncle, St Comgan at Killilan, Lochalsh, which took the name of the Saint. After this St Fillian took his mission to Perthshire in the area that became known as Strathfillan. The arm of the Saint was believed to have helped the Scots at Bannockburn and his Crozier and Coigreach is exhibited in the National Museum of Scotland.

4th February

St Modan, 503AD, Abbot and Confessor

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Another missionary from the Emerald Isle, St Modan travelled to preach the faith in the West of Scotland establishing his first Oratory near Loch Etive called Balmodhan. He was said to have travelled East as far Falkirk and Stirling before retiring at Rosneath in Western Dumbartonshire where he died. He was known for his great austerity.

7th February

Saint Ronan

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St Ronan has wells, churches and Isles that have been given his name from Peebles to Perthshire, Dumbartonshire, Bute, Lismore, Iona and Lewis. On Lewis there was a tradition at the Church of St Moluag that to be healed you marched around the building seven times before having water from St Ronan’s well sprinkled onto you.

​The most entertaining story and modern is near Peebles in a place called Innerleithen. There a well, mill, lodge and a famous book named after him. Innerleithen was popularised by Sir Walter Scott in his book, Saint Ronan's Well, a part of his Waverley novels. It seems to have spawned the Cleikum Festival that celebrates the ancient story of when St Ronan arrived in the Innerleithen valley and faced the Deil (Devil) ‘cleikin im’ from the land. Cleikum describes a shepherd's crook catching something by the hind leg. Another famous Scot - poet James Hogg, initated St Ronan’s Games in 1827 (Scotts novel was published in 1823) that eventually lead to a full-on festival and re-enactment of the Saints dealing with the Deil in 1901 and is still celebrated today.

​In addition to all this we have a famous Irish St Ronan involved in the controversy surrounding the date of Easter, a St Ronan on the Isle of Man and another famous St Ronan of Irish origin who was known as St Ronan the Silent. This St Ronan may have been silent but his example helped spread the faith in Devon, Cornwall and then Brittany in the 6th Century.

​There seem a lot of St Ronan’s around and I think we can safely suggest we are dealing with more than one Saint with some mixing up of Saints along the way. What is interesting is how many of these sites suggest solitude and an escape from the world. Is it possible this points to one of the attributes of the real St Ronan, at least in the Western Isles? It should also be noted that, as in many other cases, a place that venerates a Saint through naming does not necessarily mean the Saint was there; but it shows the people in that place felt their lives were impacted by this person. It is a lesson in the Communion of the Saints. Finally, regardless of the origins of the festival at Innerleithen, it is wonderful to see a town celebrating our Christian past acting as a witness to the reality of a God who is active and present in our world.

17th February

St Finan, 661 AD

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St Finan (or Finnan) was an Irish monk who trained under the great St Columba at Iona Abbey.

St Finan was known as prudent, zealous for prayer and for following Gods will no matter what. He followed the model of all holy Bishops with his love of poverty, disdain for the world and a zeal to preach the gospel. When St Aiden of Lindisfarne died, St Finan became his successor and second Bishop of that Isle. In his time there he enjoyed positive relations with the King of Northumbria and had the delight of welcoming two other nearby Kings into the Catholic faith - King Siegbert of the East Saxons and King Peada of the Mercians. These conversions lead to missionaries being received into their respective Kingdoms. Saint Finan was also involved in the controversy surrounding the dating of Easter. Prior to the 7th Century the British/ Irish Church had followed a different dating to that of Rome. Evidence suggests he was open to the dates suggested by Rome but as it had not come down definitively at that time on a date he continued with the tradition already present in the British and Irish Churches. St Finan died ten years after becoming Bishop at Lindisfarne and was laid to rest next to St Aiden.

February

St Colman, AD 676

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St Colman or Colmoc and the many derivatives make this a difficult Saint to pin down. There is indeed a St Colman of Tyrone who we in Scotland celebrate on this day, but in Ireland is August 6th. That St Colman led the Monks at Lindisfarne at the time of the famous Whitby Synod that decided on what date Easter would be followed - the Roman computation or how the British/Irish churches had been following it. St Colman then leaves Lindisfarne and begins a new monastery in Co. Mayo which was for Saxon monks. There is however mentioned in Scottish sources a St Colmoc of Moray who is celebrated on this day, little is known about him but it seems he had established a Church at Tarbet in Eastern Ross-shire. Was this a different Saint, who had a similar name and due to the gaelization of the Scottish Church became conflated with the Irish St Colman? The other possibility is that the St Colmoc of Moray is really just a derivative of St Columba, which is a common feature of the hagiographies of Saints in Scotland with a similar name to Columba. This particular Saint shows yet again the difficulties historians and researchers have when analyzing the varying sources regarding the Saints of Scotland and the British Isles. On this day though if you like to pray along with the Saints of our past, I would seek St Colman of Tyrone to pray for the health and vitality of the Church.

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23rd February

​St Boisil, AD 664

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St Boisil was a pupil of St Aidan, alongside St Eata who had been Abbot at Melrose Abbey when St Boisil was Prior. St Boisil was known for his great holiness, learning and desire to help all come to the faith. His example was such that a young St Cuthbert would divert from going to Lindisfarne and take orders under Boisil. St Boisil's affection toward God was evident in how often he would have the name of Jesus cross his lips with loving phrases such as, “how good a Jesus have we!”. His prophetic gift would not only show him his own death but how St Cuthbert would rise to become a servant of God and would not die of the plague going around that part of Scotland. St Boisil's final days were spent with Cuthbert taking seven days to read the Gospel of St John - not to debate but to grow in love. In fact, as St Bede narrated, St Johns Gospel was Boisil's favourite and would read a portion each day eventually coming up with a system that divided John into seven parts. This seemed to make an indelible impression on St Cuthbert who was buried with a Latin copy of this gospel. St Boisil was remembered for encouraging his students and disciples:

“That they would never cease giving thanks to God for the gift of their religious vocation; that they would always watch over themselves against self-love and all attachment to their own will and private judgment, as against their capital enemy; that they would converse assiduously with God by interior prayer, and labour continually to attain to the most perfect purity of heart, this being the true and short road to the perfection of Christian virtue.”

​After his death he would eventually be translated to reside near to St Cuthbert at Durham Cathedral but dead or not, St Boisil was not done with this part of Northumbria for he appeared twice to one of his disciples assuring him of success in reaching the Germanic peoples for evangelisation.

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24th February

​St Cummin the Fair (White)

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There are a few St Cummin's around, mostly seems to be of Irish descent - there is an association with him on Eigg, Ardclach in Nairnshire, Fort Augustus by the Tarff River, Glenelg and Iona. It appear's this Cummin was seventh Abbot of Iona who wrote a vita of St Columba which is said St Adomnan incorporated into his more famous 'Life'. He was also involved in the controversial Synod of Whitby. The town of Fort Augustus prior to the more recent naming was known as Cille Chuimein with a place near Tarff called 'Sui-Chuiman, or Cummins's resting-place'. This can also be translated 'return' instead of rest.

​St Marnock, A.D 625

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St Marnock evangelised Moray leaving a church in Aberchirder in Banffshire. He had previously been under the rule of St Columba of Iona before he was sent to the mainland of Scotland. After his death, in either Aberdeenshire or the Borders, the veneration of this Saint spread with his relics (a head) being placed in a church in what is now Kilmarnock. He was also honoured on an Island near Bute, Argyllshire and Dunkeld.

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St Monan (Moinenn of Clonfert?)

​St Monans is a small picturesque village on the Fife coast that was named after one of possibly two characters - or at least bits of them both. One St Monan came along with St Adrian to the Isle of May on the East coast and after having preached the gospel on the mainland near to the present village named above and was martyred along with the others on the Isle by the Danes. The other story is St Monan is of Irish descent and Bishop of the major monastery of Clonfert. Barrat writes that his relics were brought to this part of Fife by Irish monks trying to evade those murderous Danes! Depending on who we are talking about it, we could be looking at the 6th or even 9th centuries for his period of earthly activity. The relics of our Saint resided in the Chapel of Invere as described by the Aberdeen Breviary which is also the name of a burn that runs on the west side of the Parish. Many miracles took place including to David II who was healed of a an arrow that his own doctors could bring little comfort to; and a woman who was demon possessed was made well again.

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March 6th

​St Balthere (Baldred of the Bass), A.D 608

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St Baldred was a disciple of St Kentigern, who, upon the death of his master removed himself to the Bass Rock off the coast of East Lothians. Below is a series of articles by the Reverend Stephen Holmes, Provost of St Ninians Episcopal Cathedral in Perth on St Baldred of the Bass.

Part 1 & 2

Part 3 & 4

Part 5

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​March 8th

March 10th

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St John Ogilvie, 1579-1615

March 16th

​St Curetan, 8th Century

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This Saint has had a rather confused hagiography thanks to the Aberdeen Breviary who named him St Boniface, an Israelite who was ordained by the Patriarch of Jerusalem and sent to evangelise the Picts. In fact this Saint was from the British Isles, some say a Pict himself, others of Irish origin who was a major part of the British Churches reform in regards Easter. Bede writes that King Nectan had sent an invitation to the Pope of the time to help them bring the Pictish Church to Rome’s understanding of the Easter dating - which had been a major issue in Britain up until and no doubt after the Synod of Whitby. St Curetan was said to have been from Rome to take up this invitation, first landing in Invergowrie up the Tay, beginning a Church there before continuing northward to the Church at Rosemarkie, originally founded by St Moluag. It is said he started many Churches, ordained many Priests and Bishops, which however seems a bit fanciful. It is clear though he had a major impact on the North of Scotland and in the Pictish acceptance of Easters dating. He was in particular fond of St Peter and many of his churches seemed to have been dedicated to him. St Curetan is strongly associated in Ross-Shire and the rest of the Black Isle, along Loch Ness and in other parts of Inverness-Shire.

St Charmaig, A.D 640?

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Little seems known of who this Saint actually was but it appears his main centre of devotion was in Argyll in North Knapdale and the parish of Keills in the same area, in which he founded a Church. Like many a Saint he was a holy and devoted man; he resided on Eilean Mòr (Maccu Cormaic) an Island in the Sound of Jura off the Kintyre coast where it was he died and was buried in a chapel he himself had built. This chapel still exists but is now known as St Cormac’s Chapel.

​St Charmaig seems to have had a lively afterlife which was recorded in Old Statistical Account in the 1790s (OSA XIX, 315-6). He seemed to be quite protective of this Island making sure nothing could be stolen from it. At one time a sea captain took a fancy to the Cross that was there and having loaded it on the boat set sail through the Mull of Kintyre. But the vessel was struck by a violent storm and so the Cross had to be thrown overboard. The cross then floated back to a harbour named ever after Portnacroish, which is actually a village on the mainland off Loch Linnhe further to the North. Eilean Mor also had a special cave that was said would make you infertile if you entered it. Unfortunately for a rather amorous couple who had thought to take the chance one evening the caves abilities in this area had ceased by then and the woman left pregnant. The Saint’s desire to protect and cause miracles on this Island may well have come to an end due one woman’s prayer request. She stood on the opposing shoreline and called out:

"'S mise bean bhochd a' Braidealban "A m' sheasamh air lic Mha' Charmaig "So naomh ann an Eilean na fairge "Thig's tog a bhuineach o m'earbal."

Translated, the woman had said: "I'm a poor woman of Bredalbane, standing on Mo Charmaig's slab. There's a saint in the isle of the sea; come and lift the s***e from my tail".

She had been suffering dysentery, was healed by our Saint, but this was the last miracle St Charmaig ever reportedly did!

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March 17th

March 20th

​St Cuthbert, A.D 634 - 687

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March 22nd

​St Finian/Frigidian, A.D 579

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St Finian has different names depending on where you might be. St Finian was an Irish Prince-ling, sent to Whithorn, where a great school of learning had arisen around the tomb of St Ninian. Upon his return to Ireland his fame spread making his monastery at Molville a popular destination, attracting the young St Columba who did not distinguish himself well with St Finian. St Finian went to Rome and received a beautifully adorned Gospel of Mathew and also became consecrated as Bishop in Lucca, his miracles and holiness spreading amongst the people of Tuscany and garnering comment from Gregory the Great. Frigidian was the name he was given their. He also spent time in Ayrshire doing similar miracles, known by the name St Wynnin, giving the West coast town it's name Kilwinning. The Saint died and is buried in Lucca in the Church venerating him.

St Gilbert of Caithness 1185 - 1245AD

St Gilbert was a scion of the De Moravia family, more specifically the Culbin (Nairnshire) branch and origins of the name of the county of Morayshire. The Moravia’s, who eventually became known as Moray or Murray had originally come north invited by David 1 in the early 12th century, first being given land near Linlithgow (Strabrock) and then in what became Morayshire as Lords of Duffus near Elgin. Their progenitor, Freskyn, may have have been Flemish; had helped put down a rebellion by Mael Coluim and King Oengus of Moray on behalf of David I. The King rewarded Freskyn De Moravia with these new lands, Freskyn taking up his seat near Spynie on the outskirts of Elgin, leaving us with his church dedicated to St Peter.

Gilbert is recorded in 1207 as an Archdeacon of Moray, which is a Bishops lieutenant. However in 1211 he was gifted lands in Sutherland by Hugh Freskyn Lord of Sutherland, a grandson of the original Freskyn. This gift is recorded in a charter by William the Lion and confirmed by the son of Hugh of Sutherland.

Later Gilbert became Bishop of Caithness in 1222 after the murder of the previous Bishop, Adam of Melrose. He had been burned to death by a group of angry landholders in an episode that came to be known throughout Europe. Gilbert inherited the See of the Bishopric in Halkirk but then had been moved to the southernly portion of Caithness to Dornoch and what became known as Dornoch Cathedral. The cathedrals statues were modelled on Morays, which had been itself taken from the Cathedral of Lincoln.

St Gilbert was known for eloquent preaching, founding of hospices for the poor and gifted in administration. A number of miracles were attributed to him, including slaying a local dragon, animating tools to build his new cathedral in Dornoch, the healing of a mute man and the restoration of burned account books. He also aided a fisherman in netting many Salmon by washing his holy hands in the water. He died in 1245 in Scrabster at his Palace and interred in Dornoch. He was declared a saint by acclamation becoming the last canonized Scottish saint prior to the reformation. Dornoch Cathedral in his time was dedicated to our Lady, but after his death was known as St Mary’s and St Gilberts. His remains were destroyed during the reformation period and lie unmarked somewhere around the Cathedral.

April 4th

​St Conval, 9th Century

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Listed as a good King that received the commendation of St Columba. However a King Convallus who reigned between 819-824AD is recorded in the Dunkeld Litany.

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April 11th

​St Mahew/Macceus, 534AD?

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This Saint is hard to pin down to an actual person. Both Forbes and Barrat cite him as a companion of St Patrick and venerated at Kilmahew in Argyll. It was also the site of a former seminary. Forbes speculates that he could also be mistaken for St Aidan of Ferns or even St Mazota.

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April 16th

St Magnus, 1075-1116AD, Martyr

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These were the days when Orkney was under Norwegian control and the British Isles still at this time buffeted by Scandinavian powers. It is in Orkney that only one of two pre-reformation Scottish Cathedrals lay undisturbed by the violence of the 16th century. In 1137 the great Cathedral was put up over the body of St Magnus by his nephew, St Rognvald, and it is quite possible it is still there to this day. St Magnus was of noble Norwegian birth, son of the Earl of Orkney.

​The King of Norway chose Magnus as his attendant and accompanied him on pillaging in the Western Isles before turning to the Isle of Anglesey where the Norwegians slaughtered the Norman armies of Chester and Shrewsbury. However, St Magnus did not accompany the King in this slaughter and remained on the boat praying. After this he escaped to the court of King Malcolm III of the Scots, remaining there until the king of Norway died, which meant Magnus could take up his claim of the Earldom of Orkney.

However St Magnus was opposed by his cousin, Haakon, and so to prevent war Magnus went to meet his cousin to work things out peacefully, but Haakon had no intention of an amicable settlement. Haakon's forces surrounded Magnus, who became aware of the treachery too late and so Magnus took death with great fortitude, partaking of the Sacraments and prayer before being murdered. Magnus took the title of Martyr and has been held up as an example of one who seeks peace rather than war. He is also an example to us in the way he faced his death.

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April 17th

St Donan, 617AD

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St Donan (Donnan) was Irish and although some have thought he was connected with St Columba and Iona there is evidence that points to him being of a non-Dalriadic Scot origin. His Muinntir (Monastic Community) was based near modern day Kildonan by the Helmsdale River in Sutherland. From there he and his missionaries began daughter churches in Fordyce (St Talorcan) and Strathmore (St Ciaran) and a number in Sutherland itself. There is also a Church at Auchterless in Aberdeenshire with a special connection to him as it was said his Staff resided here prior to the Reformation.

​St Donan evangelised the Isle of Eigg and established a Muinntir that was found in 2012 by Archaeologists from Birmingham University. It was Eigg that it is said he and 52 other monks were martyred for their faith, which was actually a rare moment of Christian blood being spilled on Scottish ground. Scotland saw relatively few episodes of this sort of martyrdom in its history of evangelisation.

Please also see OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE article on the Saint.

April 21st

April 24th

St Egbert of Iona, 7th - 8th Century.

Please see a wonderful summary of his life on OMNIUM SANCTORUM HIBERNIAE.

May 1st

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His memory lies in the connection he had with St Kentigern, his master, whom he followed to Wales and when it was time for Kentigern to return to Scotland, was left in charge of what became a large and important monastic community on the banks of the Elwy in South Wales. His name has been remembered there to this day. There is potentially a place of veneration of his on Skye, near Broadford called Aiseag however this maybe a simplistic transliteration and could have more to do with Maelrubha.

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​May 3rd

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May 10th

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St Cattan of Bute

May 17th

​A Saint connected most intimately with the Isle of Bute and is alternatively the uncle or tutor (or both) of St Blaain (Blane/Blaan) who had returned from Ireland. The earliest record of this link refers to Cattan as: 'Cattan the abstinent stern warrior'. Little else is known of his life but he has a variety of places venerating him and it was from him that Clan Chattan took their name. He is remembered in places such as Kingarth in Bute, wells and chapels on Gigha, Colonsay, Kintyre at Southend, Ardnamurchan, Ardchattan Priory and Parish church in Argyllshire, and Luing.

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St Conval, 7th Century

May 18th/September 28th

​Depending on source his feast day can be slightly different. He is the patron of Cumnock and Ochiltree but it is at Inchinnan in Renfrew we see the most certainty linking place and name. There are quite a few Saints mentioned with similar name but this one - Convallus was Irish and had been connected with Kentigern having left Ireland on what became known as St Convals chariot, a rock that bore him into the Clyde. The rock itself became a place of healing and many other miracles were attested to him. It seems the church at Inchinnan held his relics for quite a long time, but as ever such objects are now lost to us. However wonderfully Inchinnan retained St Convals chariot and you can still find it if you visit.

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25th May

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St William, Martyr, AD 1201

23rd May

​William, a Baker, experienced a radical conversion as a youth in Perthshire and would give a tenth of his bread to the poor alongside other holy acts. He even took in a young man out of pity, who unfortunately for William decided to kill him near Rochester as they journeyed south on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. A few days later a mentally ill woman found him but was cured by touching the body of William. Word got round and he was transferred into the Cathedral which became a lively place of Pilgrimage for all those seeking healing. So busy were they that it was fancied you could see how worn the steps were near to the altar in which is relics were translated.

​See also an article about St William and pilgrimage here.

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St Dagnus

29th May

​Receiving his training at Bangor Abbey he crossed the Irish Sea and became Bishop of the Scoti probably in Galloway. He is mentioned by Bede in his histories having very little truck with a delegation of missionaries sent over from Rome. He had also held the Bishop of Canterbury with low regard. The Roman delegation, Bede wrote, were eating in a particular Inn and so incensed was our Daganus, not only would he not eat with them - he wouldn't even eat in the same place as them.

June 9th

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St Baithen, AD600

June 9th

​A companion of Columba and was held with great affection by him, he was made Abbot of Tiree then at Columba's death ruled Iona for 4 years up onto his death. He spent his time reading, in prayer or in works of charity. There is a nice touch in his story that states that when he gave out meals he would repeat a line from the psalms calling on Gods assistance. He was buried in St Orans Chapel on Iona with his bell eventually finding itself in Donegal.

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​St Ternan, 5th Century

June 12th

​St Ternan was a Mearns man (Kincardineshire) who had a rather illustrious association with St Pallidius, who had been led to the young man by an angel. St Palladius baptized him and then raised him as a Christian. As a young man St Ternan went to Rome and gained instruction and training under Pope Gregory who eventually consecrated him a Bishop. After seven years St Ternan returned to his homeland with the mission to share the gospel with his fellow Picts. There are a number of stories surrounding the Pictish Saint including a Bell called the Ronecht which after being presented by Pope Gregory to St Ternan followed him all the way back to Scotland. Another one relates to when St Machar asked St Ternan for some corn seed. St Ternan did not have any but instead filled sacks with sand and sent them. Rather than be offended St Machar saw it as a sign of faith and planted the sand which created a bumper harvest! After his death and for a thousand years, it is said, his head was held in a gold and silver embossed box and on the place on his skull where he had been consecrated, the skin was still attached. He was also known for his Gospel of St Mathew, a cumdach or book shrine, which was decorated in in the same way as the Book of Kells and others like it. He was buried in Banchory-Ternan, just West of Aberdeen. His Ronecht may well be the same Bell as the one hanging in Banchory Ternan East Church.

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25th June

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St Palladius, 430AD

July 6th

​At the restoration of the Scottish hierarchy in 1878, in his bull he noted: 'deacon of the Roman Church, is said to have preached the Faith of Christ there (in Scotland) in the fifth century." The history of this saint is difficult to pin down other than the certainty we have that he founded three Churches around Fordun and died in this north eastern district of Scotland. Some sources stated he was Egyptian and was sent by Pope Celestine to deal with Pelagianism in the British Churches, others that he was from Gaul and part of a Gallician mission. What does seem likely is that he was sent from Rome, first to Ireland where it was reported he had some difficulties and then either fleeing or giving up and made his way round the northern coast of Scotland landing near Fordun. He apparently ran into St Serf an ordained him the Roman way. He seems to have spent a lot of his time bringing the Christians already present amongst the Picts in line with Roman practices. Some sources say he was martyred in Scotland, others that he simply died. He is mentioned by Prosper of Aquitaine and St Patrick.

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​St Drostan, 6th Century

12th July

Banffshire Deacon, John Woodside takes us through the story of St Drostan.

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St Thenew/Thenog

​18th July

​The information for our Saint comes from the life of St Kentigern by Jocelyn of Furness, a Cistercian monk of the 12th century who had been commissioned by Jocelyn of Glasgow, another Cistercian and Bishop of Glasgow who was very keen on Saints hagiographies. J. of Furness also wrote a life of St Patrick and St Waltheof (a previous Abbot of Melrose).

​There is much legendary material surrounding her, but the key one is that she was the mother of St kentigern. Please read more on our page about St kentigern/Mungo here.

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3rd August

​An abbot of that great Cistercian house at Melrose, son of the Earl of Huntingdon, and Maud - grand niece of William the Conqueror. On his Fathers death Maud married David I and so his young life was spent around the Scottish court. However he was much attracted to Cistercian spirituality, having first entered religious life with the Austin Canons of York, he removed himself to Rievaulx taking up the habit there. Later he would be made Abbot of Melrose. He is mentioned in a a life of St Malachi and was also elected to Bishop of St Andrews which he declined. He died at Melrose and some years later (12 or 50 depending on sources) his body was found incorrupt. His life was written down by Jocelyn of Furness.

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St Berchan/Barchan | 6th Century

August 4th

​Likely of Irish origin, spending some time in Scotland in the areas around Renfrewshire and Argyll. He appears to be held in high regard for the Martyrology of Donegal mentions him in an illustrious list of important Saints that included St Columba and St Moluag.

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St Angus | 6th Century

August 9th

​Thought to have been a disciple of St Columba, this Saint's name is recorded on the Stone of Oengus in Balquhidder, Perthshire, in which those being baptised or married would kneel. As Gow noted they would say: 'Beannaich Aonghais ann san Aoraidh (Bleess Angus in the oratory or chapel).

​There is some question as to whether this Angus is actually a reference to Mochta of Louth, disciple of St Patrick and one who was forced to make a strong defence of himself in Rome due to his Irish origins.

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St Blaan of Bute | 6th Century

August 9th

​Potentially of Irish origin, he spent seven years in the formation of St Congall and kenneth before moving to Scotland to serve God and had some kind of connection with St Cattan. On pilgrimage to Rome he was raised to the Episcopate and as he travelled home raised from the dead a boy in Anglia. He was also said to have been able to call fire from his finger tips to aid in the Night office. He is buried in Bute but there was a connection in Dunblane, having, it is said, established a monastery here which would later become a Bishopric in the time of king David I.

St Erchard | 5th/6th Century

24th August

​Banffshire Deacon, John Woodside talks to us about Pictish missionary, St Erchard.

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St Aidan

30th August

​St Aidan was born in Ireland at the end of the 6th century and joined the other Irish monks who settled in the great Iona Monastery. From there he went to establish the famous monastery on Lindisfarne on the invitation of the Saint-King Oswald whose conversion to Christianity had happened under the influence of Ionan monks he encountered in Iona whilst in exile.

St Aidan became Bishop of Northumbria when Oswald had regained the Kingdom his father had lost in a battle in 633AD. St Aidan was known for his poverty, generosity and zeal for sharing the faith. He supported the establishment of Old Melrose, the earlier monastic settlement that predated Cistercian monastery which you can go and visit now. It is said he also helped Abbess Ebba establish a monastic community in Coldingham. His death in 651AD was the sign for a young shepherd by the name of Cuthbert to enter monastic rule at Melrose.

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1st September

​St Murdoch could be the Saint referred to as having been a hermit who lived in Argyll around 800AD and also known as a Bard. Alternatively he could be the name of a Saint associated with St Murdochs Well and Chapel just South of Brechin in Forfarshire. Or they could be two different Murdochs; as ever with our Saints from this period we see but a distant form, and that might be as much clarity we will ever get.

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​St Giles | 8th or 9th Century

1st September

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It would be remiss of us not to mention Saint Giles, patron of our capital Edinburgh and has given his name to the High Kirk Cathedral on the Royal Mile. Many legends seemed to have attached themselves to him, but what we can certainly see is that veneration to this Saint began in France in the lower Rhone area. He was a hermit of the 8th or 9th century that saw a monastic community grow up around him (or his memory) into what became the French town of Saint-Gilles-du-Gard. His cultus grew throughout Europe due to his miraculous healing abilities and eventually spread to Great Britain. He was not known to have ever visited Scotland but no doubt the Norman influence that David I would have known must have played apart when he founded the Abbey of St Giles in 1124.

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St Mirrin

September 15th

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St Ninian | 5th Century

September 16th

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St Lolan

22nd September

​There is a dedication to this Saint in the Kincardine Parish at Menteith - St Lolan’s Church which was known in the 12th Century when it was given to the Canons at Cambuskenneth with the inclusion of the Saint’s bell and staff. The Bell became part of the investitures of the Earldom of Perth in 1675 alongside St Kessog’s bell. Whence the bells have gone, now no one knows. An interesting thing I did find in my research for this Saint was that Saints relics were held by hereditary keepers called ‘deoradh’. It is quite likely Lolan was Pictish but the Aberdeen Breviary relates a legend that he was the nephew of St Serf which would make him from the country around Israel. However, there was a period in Scottish history when many Pictish Saints, Serf included were depicitified and made Irish, continental European or even from the Eastern Mediterranean. We know little about this Saint’s life other than he was a Bishop and Confessor of Kincardine near Stirling.

23rd September

​St Barr or Finbarr | 6th Century

25th September

​It was devotion to this Saint that the Island of Barra took its name. It was said part of his missionary journey from his home in Cork took him to Barra, an Island that a previous missionary had visited to share the faith with but was met with cannibalism. St Barr was more successful and after his departure the islanders carved a log into his likeness venerating him right up until the 1700’s. A Scottish writer of the 17th Century, Martin Martin observed the following:

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The natives have St. Barr’s wooden image standing on the altar, covered with linen in form of a shirt; all their greatest asseverations are by this saint. I came very early in the morning with an intention to see this image, but was disappointed; for the natives prevented me by carrying it away, lest I might take occasion to ridicule their superstition, as some Protestants have done formerly; and when I was gone it was again exposed on the altar.

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St Barr also laboured in Kintyre with the Island of Davar having been formally named after him.

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St Machan | 12th Century

28th September

​Born in Scotland and educated in Ireland St Machan travelled to Rome in which to his consternation was made a Bishop, the Holy Father waived away his humble protestations and was sent back to continue the Church's work in Scotland. He died near Lennoxtown just North of Glasgow. To this day he is honoured in the Parish name and School.

8th October

​St Triduna has been in the past associated with St Rule who had in the 4th Century brought over from Patmos relics of St Andrew. In a previous post I talked about how there is convincing evidence that Scotland’s association with St Andrew had more to do with the Bishop of Hexham in the 8th Century and not St Rule. By dating Triduana with St Rule, it would put her deeper into the 4th century, however; most other sources put her closer to the 8th century.

Our Saint is first associated with Forfarshire - living a solitary life to God she came to the attention of a local Royal who pursued her with unwanted attention - her eyes it seems were of particular beauty. In an effort to finally end this Royal’s advances she plucked them out and sent them to him. It was after this that it was said she could heal people of problems to do with their eyes.

​She was a very popular Scottish Saint with her sites being a locus for great pilgrimages, and no less and perhaps most importantly, her place of repose - Restalrig in Edinburgh. The Church here that housed her relics was one of the most important in Edinburgh which meant it was a prime target for the Scottish Protestants during the Reformation. Her shrine and relics were desecrated and afterwards a Presbyterian church took hold of the buildings. There the story may have ended but in 1907 a chapel was rediscovered that within had steps that lead to a well which was the Saint’s well. The hexagonal building you see below had been filled with soil and rubbish and one side of it had earth mounded against it.

​There remains a two storey Royal Chapel built over the well by King James III who had built what was named St Triduana’s Aisle. It has once again become an important place of pilgrimage and is looked after by Historic Scotland.

​St Triduana had other places of veneration including an important site on Papa Westray in Orkney that long after the Reformation was a place people went to seek healing for their eyes.

Her veneration in other parts of Scotland included near Golspie in Sutherland - Kintradwell and of course in Forfar at Rescobie. Her name has undergone many changes that can make pinpointing sites of veneration difficult but do include names or root names such as ‘Traddles, Tredwell, Tradwell, Trallew, Trallen, Trodline and, in Old Norse, Trollhaena’.

​Trollhaena was sought by the Bishop of Caithness, Jon, in the 13th Century who as it was recorded in the Orkney Sagas, had his eyes and tongue cut out by Earl Harold Maddadson of Orkney. He went to the resting place of St Trollhaena and was restored of his sight and speech.

​In conclusion then who was she? Is it possible to say she came with the Bishop of Hexham and hence became amalgamated into the story of St Andrew’s relics? Was she a Saintly Pict who later found herself rebranded due to the politics of later times? It is also interesting to note the Norse connection though that may well be because of Orkney and not the other way round. We may never truly know but for my part I do believe there was a real woman who was saintly and holy and many sought her example and advocacy before God.

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St Kenneth/Coinneach, A.D 599.

Feast Day 11th October

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St Kenneth was Irish and was a very popular Saint in Scotland. A child of poor parents, he became a Monk under St Cadoc in Wales and was known for his perfect obedience to the Saint. He was ordained in Rome and after spending some time in Ireland with the likes of St Comgall and then left for Scotland where he was supposed to have started a monastery in St Andrews. He also spent time at Iona and went with St Columba to Inverness to speak with King Brude. It was said he did the Sign of the Cross that made King Brudes hand wither. The Saint has many dedications to himself up and down the country including one in Laggan near Inverness. St Kenneth returned to Ireland and began another Monastery at Aghaboe, remaining there to his death.

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St Comgan or Congan, 8th Century

Feast Day 13th October

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St Comgan was of noble Irish descent, Brother of St Kentigerna and Uncle to St Fillan. He was a Prince of Leinster and ruled the province for a time. He ruled Leinster as a Christian Prince should but the neighbouring Chiefs were not so Christian and in the face of bloody conflict had to flee Ireland, taking with him St Kentigerna and St Fillan. They initially settled in Lochalsh were he was able to speak with the locals and became a ‘douloi Christi’ - servant of Christ. This Royal Prince lived out his days in great austerity and when he died was taken to Iona by St Fillan. Many Churches bear his dedication including in Lochalsh itself which was built by St Fillan. There is also a story that St Comgan moved to Turrif and built a Church and missionary activity there. Other places of dedication include in Ross and Cromarty (kilchowan in Kiltearn), St Coan in Strath, Skye, and Kilchoan in Knoydart. In Turrif a fair was held in his name - Cowan Fair. A hospital, St Congan's, was founded in Turiff by the Earl of Buchan in 1272 and was further endowed by King Robert the Bruce.

Prayer from the Aberdeen Breviary:

​O God, who adorned the pious shepherd Saint Comgan, your confessor and abbot, with his shining miracles: grant, we pray, that supported by his merits and protection we may be worthy to reach eternal joys. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

St Fyndoca (and St Fyncana)

13th October

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Nothing is known of her life other than she was a virgin and martyr associated with two areas in Scotland - the island of Inishail on Loch Awe, the ruined Chapel of Fyndoca and Perth-shire in Findocask with a following also in nearby Dunblane. In addition it is possible St Fink just North East of Blairgowrie has a dedication to her. She is often paired with St Fyncana, who like the latter we know almost nothing about.

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St Rule/Regulus

17th October

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In 345AD, Patras in western Greece a Bishop has a dream instructing him to take the relics of St Andrew away before Emperor Constantine does. Leaving by ship with some followers, this holy band headed west, passing through the Gates of Hercules and then turning North following the sea routes that would take them to the land on the edge of the Atlantic. Eventually the winds take them and then dump them at a Pictish settlement called Kilrymont on the east coast of Scotland; welcomed by the local King they start a Church dedicated to St Andrew. This is the origins story of St Andrews, a place that became the most important ecclesial centre in Scotland and our oldest University.

​This story in particular is quite interesting because it goes to not only the foundation of an important town but the origin story of Scotland itself. At the battle of Athelstaneford in 832AD, the Pictish King, Oengus, being chased by the Northumbrian King made his final stand near the village named after this Northumbrian in East Lothian. It was here that as King Oengus prayed for deliverance a white cross appeared in the sky. From then on King Oengus vowed to make St Andrew his patron and of course they won the battle beating the Northumbrians and the Saltire was born.

​However there is another account of the origins of St Andrews - in 732AD Bishop St Acca of Hexham left his See under a cloud and came North taking up residence for a time at a Church dedicated to St Rule/Regulus - St Rule thought to be of Irish origin and a contemporary of St kenneth. There is a tower in the grounds of the now ruined St Andrews cathedral still called St Rules. Hexham had a strong devotion to St Andrew and it is thought that Bishop St Acca brought some of St Andrew’s relics North with him turning Kilrymont into a major centre of pilgrimage.

​St Rule was venerated around Aberdeenshire, Forfarshire and into Kincardenshire.

St Munnu 6th Century

23rd October

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St Munnu or Mund as he is known in Argyllshire was the great Irish Saint Fintan-Munnu. His life is almost totally associated with his monastery in Taghmon Wexford however he was a very popular Saint in Argyll having spent some time here. His greatest foundation in Scotland was at Kilmun in Cowal near Dunoon but there are other sites nearby with his name attached to them. It is also possible Holy Loch got its name from his presence.

St Munnu had left Ireland in 597AD to join the rule of St Columba at Iona but upon arriving he had just missed the death of the Saint and met his successor - Baithene. St Baithene then read aloud the will of St Columba saying:

​’Baithene, remember my words. Straight after my repose a brother called Fintan, son of Talchan, who is now living in great piety and brilliantly versed in the Holy Scriptures, will come here from Ireland. He will ask you for permission to join our brethren, but it is against God’s will. For, the Lord has preordained that he become not a simple monk, but an abbot, a spiritual father and teacher of numerous monks. That is why you will not let him stay in our islands, but instruct him to return to his native Ireland with peace, so that he can found there a monastery in Leinster not far from the sea and labour for the salvation of many souls’.

St Munnu sailed back to Ireland after this establishing his great monastery. His life was marked with various sicknesses, including possibly Leprosy but was known for his great holiness and perseverance in the faith until the end.

​There is also a poem about him in the Martyrology of Oengus which is dated to the 9th Century:

​Splendid flame with the fervour of the Father's

Fintan, true and tested gold,

Telchan's son, strong, abstinent,

a battle-soldier, trustful,

crucified.

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St Bean, 11th Century

26th October

​St Bean is a bit tricky to ascertain or track down. One story speaks of him being installed as Bishop of Mortlach in Banffshire in the 11th Century and another as an Irish missionary of a much earlier date. No doubt we are seeing the entangling of two Beans here but the question is which places are associated with which Bean? In Mortlach it is said he lived at Balvanie, near Mortlach (Bal-beni-mor which means 'the dwelling of Bean the Great’). We know nothing of this 11th Century Saint. But then we see his name crop up in western Inverness-shire near Kiltarlity. We also see him in Perthshire and in Kilbride. Certainly the Aberdeen Breviary accords this date as his feast. Other than that he or they are a bit of an unknown.

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St Eata, 686AD,

26th October

​St Eata was not widely venerated in Scotland even though he was the first Abbot of Old Melrose Abbey after been a pupil of St Aidan on Lindisfarne. He would himself have St Boisil and St Cuthbert as his pupils. Strangely however, there is a chapel and Well at Alvie in the Cairngorms near Loch Insh venerated to him. The connection, as suggested by the authors of the University of Glasgow Saintsandplaces site is that St Eata had been Bishop of Hexham following some re-organisation of the Church in Northumbria in the 7th Century just when a Northumbrian King tried an invasion of Pictish lands:

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If this is the bishop of Hexham and Lindisfarne (basically Bernicia, therefore) who died in 686, he was the bishop therefore when Ecgfrith led his ill-fated invasion of Pictland inn 685 and when he and his army were slaughtered at *Dun Nechtain. Eve Boyle (HES, pers. comm) has suggested that the battle was fought near Torr Alvie, on the summit of which is a large pre-historic fort (NH876088) which might be the dún in question. This background - or modern antiquarian speculation about it - might explain the otherwise strange dedication to Eata here. Click here for the citation.

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St Monoch/Monk

30th October

Nothing is known of this Saint other than his connection with the small Ayrshire town of Stevenson. A charter of 1189 mentions a fayre to his name being celebrated here, which by 1851 was still a feature of the towns calendar.

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St Talocran, 8th Century

30th October

3rd November

​A disciple of St Kentigern who is honoured in Wales at the Old Church of St Nidan, Llanidan, in the south of Anglesey. He probably followed St Kentigern from Wales back up to Scotland and from Strathclyde went North to Deeside to evangelise in a place near Midmar. This was close to important administrative and cultic Pictish centres which would of been key places to share the faith from.

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St Englat/Murdebar | 7th or 10th Century

3rd November

​This has been an interesting Saint to explore because it is quite possible this Saint is fictitious, or at least mistaken through translations. St Englat is recorded in the Aberdeen Breviary, Scotland’s main source of information on our Saints, who is associated with Tarves in Aberdeenshire. In Tarves you will find a bridge, a ford and a well all named after a St Tanglan and yet there is suggestion that Tarves had a much older foundation in a 7th Century Irish Priest called Murdebar. There is indeed a Murdebar recorded in the great Irish Martyrology of Tallaght or (The martyrology of Oengus, the Culdee). It says of him; ‘Murdebar a synod's diadem’ and all we know of him is that he was from Leinster. It is worth noting that this area had a number of saintly missionaries going around in the 6th and 7th centuries including Saint’s Drostan, Machar, Fergus and Nathalan - could it be one of them?

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St Methven

6th November

​There is very little information about him other than his name given to sites and roads around Fowlis Wester in Perthshire (Same area as St Bean). There was a chapel by the a crossing at Buchanty going over the River Almond and there was once a fair held in this area called Methvenmas. However it is possible it has more to do with our St Bean as the bridge was called Mo-Bheathan along with a well and mill. Incidentally, anything with a Mo in it - like MO-Luag - is the affectionate prefix ‘My’. There is a dedication to Mo-Bheathan in church records of Ulster pre-800 stating he was of British origin, which just muddies the waters even more when we are trying to consider who the Bean was!

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Saint Gerardine (St Gernadius) | 10th Century

8th November

An Irish Saint who was said to have left Ireland to flee the Vikings and take up residence as a Hermit in a cave at Lossiemouth, a popular seaside town of Morayshire. The cave is no longer present as it was blown for quarrying but you will see dedications to him as ‘Geradine’ in local places names as well as a recent organised walk to commemorate his role in protecting ships coming close to Lossiemouth on stormy nights with his lantern.

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St Machar | 6th Century

12 November

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St Devenick | 6th Century

13th November

​St Devenick was a contemporary of St Machar and indeed was very close to him. It is said St Devenick and Machar agreed that whilst St Machar would concentrate on the North east, Devenick would spread the gospel in Caithness. This he did but with the request that once he died his body would be borne back to a Church of his friend St Machar and be buried there.

Below is an old poem in the Saints honour:

Nocht lang eftire apone a day
(To) sanct Machor a mane cane say:
That sanct Dewynnik In-to Catnes
Thru gret eilde falyeit and ded was;
And quhene he one his dedstra lay,
To thaime that nest war he cane say:
Sene that ye se ded sail me tak,
I coniure you for godis sak
That yhe for na trawall be Irke
To bere my body to sume kirk,
Quharfor sanct Machor has keping,
And pray hyme for the hewynnis king
That he meyne one and thochtfull be
Of his hicht that ye mad to me
Of his gud will at our partyng.
With this of spek he mad ending
And yaulde the gast but mare abad.
And thai that this commawndment had,
To tak his body war nocht Irk
And one a bere brocht till a kirk
That was bot litill fra that place
That befor to thaime lentyne was.
And quhene that sanct Machor this tale
Has herd as I haf tald yu hale,
He mad regrat and had disese.
But, for he durst nocht god disples,
That nycht but slepe all haile he lay
In his prayere, till it wes day:
And in that kirk with fleschely eyne
Full feile brycht angelis he has sene
Flc upe and doune, makand thairc play.
Quhar at the cors of Dewynnik lay.
Thane was sanct Machor blyth and glad
For this fare sicht that he sene had.
And one the morne quhene it was day,
Till his discipulis this cane say:
Lowe we all god, my brothir dere,
That has ws send a gud gestenere!
Tharfor mak we ws redy tyt
Hyme, as a spe afferis, to visidte
And yeld till hyme forout delay
That office that we acht to say
For worthi mene, quhene thai ded are!
With that thai passit furthmare
To the kirk quhar at sanct Machor
The angelis play had sene befor.
Bot thai that the cors brocht thiddire,
With It had gane thar way to-giddir
Ner-by of Creskane to the hill,
And thare abad, to reste in will.
Bot sanct Machor forontyne firste.
Folouit and fand thaime thaire tak reste.
And he and his thar with thame abad
Till thai the seruice all had mad
That to sic deide mene suld parteyne
Ar ony wink come in thar eyne.
And syne bare the cors deuotely
Till a place callit Banchory.
And thare solempni with honoure
Thai grathit for it a sepulture,
And one hyme thare thai mad a kirk.
Quhar god yeit cesis nocht to wirk
Thru his prayere ferleis full fele,
To sek and sar folk gyfand heile.
Mene callis that place quar he lay
Banchory Dewynnik till this day.

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St Andrew | Patron Saint of Scotland

30th November

4th December

​The Aberdeen Breviary mentions an Ethernan as an exemplary Bishop with associations at Rathen in the North East, Madderty in Perth Shire, Kilrenny on the Fife Coast and on the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth. No miracles or other particulars are recorded. However the Isle of May has a strong association with St Adrian, whose name bears striking similarity. St Adrian seems to have been mixed up with Saints from Hungary to Nicodemia; but according to Forbes in his ‘Kalendars of Scottish Saints’ this Adrian was of Irish origin who left Ireland to get away from the Viking attacks plaguing the land at the time. He was then given the Isle of May as place of prayer in the 9th Century possibly due to St Andrews becoming the Bishopric See of the Picts. Elsewhere it is recorded an almighty clash between the Angles and the Scots occurred in 875AD which corresponds to the date and story of St Adrian and his companions martyrdom on the Isle. The name of Odran also appears to have a a connection with St Adrian, being the Irish version of the name and with associations in Macduff, Fife and around St Andrews. St Adrians Feast day is the 4th of March. The Isle of May was a place of prayer and devotion for a long time with a beautiful priory on the Island being placed under Benedictine Rule which was a favourite place of King James IV to pilgrimage to - as was for many other Scots.

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St Constantine III | 915AD

​6th December

St Constantine III was King of the Scots reigning for more than forty years before taking on the pilgrims staff and retiring to ‘the monastery on the brink of the waves and died in the house of the Apostle’. This is supposedly referring to St Andrews where he lead a ‘Culdee’ before his death. There is also Constantines Cave on Fife Ness near Crail just south of St Andrews. The cave itself has crosses incised within it and was a site of pilgrimage.

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St Buite | D.521AD

​7th December

​St Buite was of Irish origin and was compared to the Venerable Bede in a Latin vita written of him in the 12th Century in Melifont Abbey in Co.Louth which was near or possibly was the monastery our Saint formed after his travels. St Buite went to Italy and after a period there made his return journey with copies of Holy Scripture, vestments and relics. Whilst passing through Germany he appears to have picked up some followers who desired to live under his rule and together continuing West found there way to Northern Britain and the land of the Picts. St Buite prayed for the healing of the local King (or his daughter) and was thus rewarded with the fort in which the miracle took place. This was possiby Kirkbuddo in Angus or nearby Dunnichen. He then continued on his way and passing via Co.Antrim in Ulster established ‘the Monastery of Buite’ in Co. Louth.

St Obert

​11th December

​Nothing is known of our Saint but there was a very vibrant cultus around him in Perthshire and was patron of Perth bakers. On December 10th Obert’s Eve there would be a torchlight procession of mostly apprentice bakers with one wearing the ‘devils coat’ and a horse shod in mens shoes. By 1581 processions and fairs such as these were unwelcome to the Puritans and the local Kirk outlawed them ‘especially against the Sanct Obert’s Play’. However the bakers were not to be deprived of what probably became a bit of fun and less about the holy life of a Saint and so in 1587 once again the Kirk required [the bakers] ‘to take order for the ammendment of the blasphemous and heathenish plays of Sanct Obert’s pastime’. However an example had to be made of these heathenish bakers and in 1587/88 a group of these ‘insolent young men’ were imprisoned for continuing in the ‘idolatrous pastime’ of St Obert’s play. Not only were they fined they could also find themselves exiled from Perth. No other references were made again to St Obert which probably means the practice had finally been quashed by our zealous Kirk.

St Flannan | 7th Century

December 18th

​West of Lewis lies the Flannan Isles on which you will find Teampull Beannachadh (St Flannans Chapel) on the main isle of Eileen Mor. It appears Flannan was Irish and is the patron Saint of Killaloe in County Clare where he had been consecrated Bishop and was remembered as a great preacher.

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Saint Manire/Minir/Manirus, Bishop and Confessor | 824AD

December 18th

​St Manire was one of Scotlands Pictish Saints who operated in Deeside at Ballater and Braemar. His mission was to Picts who had been evangelized but much of their previous belief still persisted. The Aberdeen Breviary mentions that the early (Gaelic) missionaries were less adept in the language of the people here (Picts) and so this obviously effected the efficacy of their preaching and teaching. St Manir on the other hand, could speak both languages, Gaelic and Pictish, and even the dialects of the areas he worked in.

There is evidence that his muinntir was at a place called Rhynabaich just North of the Aberdeen-Braemar Road where you will find a standing stone - all that is left of the building. Local place names like ‘Pollmanire’ (Pool of Manire) and ‘Creag Eaglais’ (the hill of the Church) point to the Saints activities in this area. It is believed that he was buried at Crathie, Ballater - in his church. However the current Crathie Kirk that stands just south of this shows no remains of a building older than the medieval period.

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St Caran

​December 23rd

​This is one of those names that appears often in Irish Martyrologies with spellings that include Kieran and Ciaran. There are some famous Saint’s of this name so therefore we must tread carefully. This St Caran who is mentioned in the Aberdeen Breviary seems chiefly to have operated in the East of Scotland with a well and associated fair at the Kirkton of Premnay just south of Insch in Aberdeenshire and also Fetteresso to the west of Stonehaven.

St Mayota, Virgin | 6th Century

​23rd December

​St Mayota or Mayoca’s seems intertwinned with two stories. One was that she was part of the nine virgins that travelled over with the great St Brigid of Ireland and established a convent at Abernethy under the Superior St Darlughdach. In earlier editons we covered St Fyndoca and Fyncana who was also said to be in this group. St Mayota was known for following the example of St Brigid better than any other and many miracles were wrought by her. Another is that she was one of the nine maidens whose father was St Donald of Glen Ogilvy in Forfarshire. After his death they were given a place at Abernethy. In addition there is also an entertaining story of the nine maidens and a dragon! Whatever the exact truth is, Abernethy is consistently a location associated with nine holy women. She is also associated with Dalmaik at Drumoak near Banchory.

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St Bathan

​25th December

In a letter Pope John IV, who died in 642AD mentions this Saint as especially associated with Scotland - the letter itself was sent by the Pope to chastise the Northern Irish clergy in particular about the correct dating of Easter and condemn monothelitism. The actual letter is mentioned by Bede in his histories but but the text itself has not actually come to light. The chief place St Bathan is associated with is the Abbey of St Bathans in Berwickshire. There is also a well that apparently never freezes alongside the Burn that it flows into. We know nothing else of St Bathan.

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