The Culdees ( Irish : Céilí Dé , lit. 'Spouses of God'; pronounced [ceːlʲiː dʲeː] ) were members of ascetic Christian monastic and eremitical communities of Ireland , Scotland , Wales and England in the Middle Ages . Appearing first in Ireland and then in Scotland, subsequently attached to cathedral or collegiate churches; they lived in monastic fashion though not taking monastic vows.
142-524: According to the Swiss theologian Philip Schaff , the term Culdee or Ceile De, or Kaledei, first appeared in the 8th century. While "giving rise to much controversy and untenable theories", it probably means servants or worshippers of God. The term was applied to anchorites, who, in entire seclusion from society, sought the perfection of sanctity. They afterward associated themselves into communities of hermits and were finally brought under canonical rule along with
284-704: A Briton, son of Fergus, of the Picts. When the kings of Dalriada were absorbed into the new unified Kingdom of Alba , the Tanist Stone was for a short period moved to Dunkeld and then later onto Scone Abbey. The druidic mound of Moot Hill , was the location for the Scottish Culdee's to build Scone Abbey (later owned by the Augustinian canons ), today the Scone Palace is built on the land were
426-651: A Germanic tribe in Northern Europe, but that he believes such a view incorrect. Instead, Rhys put forward the view that they were of Canaanite Phoenicians origins, distantly related to ancient people of Munster and the Milesians race who had invaded Ireland and brought with them the Ogham Alphabet. The Demetae similar to other Celtic Briton tribes such as the Dumnonia were possibly descendants to
568-578: A Pagan Earth , Fetility and Mother Goddess . Corybantes were also associated with the Curetes or Kuretes, gods of the wild mountainside, inventors of the rustic arts of metalworking, shepherding, hunting and beekeeping . Many of the key abbeys and Priories in Scotland were founded and built on top of sites that were already Celtic Christian Culdee places of worship. A notable example is Culross Abbey , built on top of an ancient church already established by
710-681: A collection of ancient seventeenth century manuscripts, which had once belonged to the Brehon and scribe Mícheál Ó Cléirigh , it was found by a twentieth century Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies scholar, Nessa Ní Shéaghdha . The poems were edited and published eleven years later by James Carney in Vol. 47 of the Irish Texts Society monographs. They date back to the 8th century, possibly earlier and consisted of detailed references to
852-645: A comprehensive martyrology of Irish Culdee Saints and some non-Irish Saints ina manuscript known as the Félire Óengusso Céli Dé in Tallaght Monastery . Today St. Maelruain's stands on the grounds the original monastery once stood. Máel Ruain and Óengus were said to have been the authors of a text, which sets out the rule of the Céilí Dé monks. One of the earliest Celtic Rite books, the Stowe Missal
994-463: A copy of those gospels that had lain on the bosom of Martin for 100 years. This relic was deposited in Derry. St Colmcille is also believed to have established a Church on Inishkea North , County Mayo which is named St Colmcille's Church. Some traditions assert that sometime around 560 Columba became involved in a quarrel with Finnian of Moville of Movilla Abbey over a psalter . Columba copied
1136-473: A druid to put a spell on the saint. However, as the druid landed on a nearby island, a tidal wave enveloped him and swept him to his death. The island is still pointed out as Carraig a Draoi or The Druid's Rock. It lies between Hog Island and Scattery, and can be seen at low tide. In the Psalter Cathach of St. Columba , the opening paragraph letter of Q ( Qui Habitat ) is decoratively depicted
1278-588: A hammer-shaped peninsula in the extreme southwest of Wigtownshire in Scotland. The founding ruling dynasty of this Norse-Gael Kingdom was the powerful Uí Ímair or Dynasty of Ivar, founded by Ímar . The 9th-century Félire Óengusso commoration of Saint Blane on the Isle of Bute , in which it described him as 'Blááni epscopi Cinn Garad i nGallgaedelaib', which translates as ‘Feast of Bláán, bishop of Kingarth in Gall-Ghàidheil ', it seemed to suggest that at
1420-634: A later form of Irish. According to the ancient Irish records in the Leabhar Breac , it was because he so often, he came from the cell in which he read his psalms to meet the children of the neighbourhood and the children would say: "Has our little Colum come today from the cell in Tir-Lughdech in Cinell Conaill ?". While living at Iona, he also had his own wooden hermits cell located on the ' Tòrr an Aba ' which translates to "the mound of
1562-658: A later, perhaps Pictish tradition, whereby Columba actually converts the Pictish king. Another early source is a poem in praise of Columba, most probably commissioned by Columba's kinsman, the King of the Uí Néill clan. It was almost certainly written within three or four years of Columba's death and is the earliest vernacular poem in European history. It consists of twenty-five stanzas of four verses of seven syllables each, called
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#17327719183821704-406: A loud, melodious voice which could be heard from one hilltop to another. The foundation of several important monasteries marked the following years: Derry , at the southern edge of Inishowen ; Durrow, County Offaly; Kells , County Meath; and Swords . While at Derry it is said that he planned a pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem , but did not proceed farther than Tours . From Tours, he brought
1846-473: A major role in the politics of the country. He was also very energetic in his work as a missionary, and, in addition to founding several churches in the Hebrides , he worked to turn his monastery at Iona into a school for missionaries. He was a renowned man of letters , having written several hymns and being credited with having transcribed 300 books. One of the few, if not the only, times he left Scotland
1988-442: A monk on the occasion of the murder of Prince Curnan, Columba's kinsman. Prince Curnan of Connacht, who had fatally injured a rival in a hurling match and had taken refuge with Columba, was dragged from his protector's arms and slain by Diarmaid's men, in defiance of the rights of sanctuary. A synod of clerics and scholars threatened to excommunicate him for these deaths, but Brendan of Birr spoke on his behalf. Eventually,
2130-596: A period of deep reflection, Columba travelled to Inishmurray and confessed his guilt to an aged hermit and his Anam Cara called St Molaise , who told him in order to seek penance, he advised the monk to permanently leave his homeland and attempt to convert as many pagan people to the Christian faith as the 300 lives he lost as result of the Battle of Cúl Dreimhne in 561. Not long after, Columba set sail to Dál Riata or Western Scotland and founded Iona Abbey in 563. In
2272-776: A place called Henfynyw , which in a mutated form means the Old (Hen) bush (Mynyw). The bishop of Mynyw can be traced right back to the Pre-Roman times and the ancient Celtic people of the Demetae also known as the Déisi , a race that once populated much of the Kingdom of Dyfed . In the Welsh triads , it mentions Mynyw as being one of the locations of the three courts of King Arthur , the other two being Celliwig and Pen Rhionydd . Officially
2414-500: A pupil of an aged bard named Gemman. On leaving him, Columba entered the monastery of Clonard , governed at that time by Finnian , noted for sanctity and learning. Here he imbibed the traditions of the Welsh Church, for Finnian had been trained in the schools of David . The study of Latin learning and Christian theology in monasteries flourished. Columba became a pupil at the monastic school at Clonard Abbey , situated on
2556-452: A separate missionary, possibly a companion of Palladius . Secundinus was the author of an early Latin hymn in praise of St Patrick, known as Audite Omnes Amantes ("Hear ye, All lovers") or the Hymn of Secundinus written in trochaic septenarius , the earliest copy of which is found in the late 7th-century Antiphonary of Bangor . The Christian monastery at Fore was founded by St Feichin , it
2698-508: A serpent like head of a fishy beast with its mouth open and wearing a collared cross, the large letter looks like a lower case "g" but is in fact a "q" for " Qui habitat ", the opening words of Psalm 91 which translate as "He who dwells". The psaltar was the central reason for what was known as the Battle of the Book near Benbulbin . Like Saint Senan, in Scottish folklore Saint Columba had
2840-534: A significance going back to Druidic times, later these sites became major Celtic Christian monasteries. The most famous of the “insular” hubs of monastic life were on Anglesey and Bardsey . The Celtic Christian Church in Wales remained independent of the Holy See up to the late Middle Ages, it resisted any Gregorian reforms that Canterbury and Saint Augustine tried in impose on the early Welsh Church. Before
2982-579: A significant figure in the 9th century Culdee movement in Scotland was Diarmait of Iona . Diarmait took over the abbacy of Iona at time when it was plunged into the depths of turmoil and facing uncertain future during early 9th century with the abbey being continuously attacked and pillaged by Viking Raids , many of the relics of Columba were transferred to Abbey of Kells , an abbacy that was refounded by Diarmait of Iona's predecessor Cellach Cellach mac Congaile. Although Kells Abbey had actually already been founded centuries before by Columba around 550 AD on
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#17327719183823124-529: A threefold death on Samhain, which may be linked to human sacrifice, similar to the dead victims discovered in Irish bogs, it was a ritual in ancient Ireland to sacrifice a king or someone of high status around the time of Samhain, which according to Annals of the Four Masters it is an ancient tradition that goes back to the worship of Crom Cruach , a Celtic god associated with the harvest, Samhain and he
3266-565: A very similar encounter with a watery beast in the form of the Loch Ness monster in AD 565. Another important monk who also trained and later served as bishop of Inis Cathaigh after the passing of Saint Senan was Saint Áedán who had been a disciple of Saint Senan on the island. In the Félire Óengusso , Saint Aidan is described as Aedán in grían geldae, Inse Medcoit which translates as "Áedán
3408-467: A wicker currach covered with leather. According to legend he first landed on the Kintyre Peninsula, near Southend . However, being still in sight of Ulster, he moved farther north up the west coast of Scotland. The island of Iona was made over to him by his kinsman Conall mac Comgaill King of Dál Riata , who perhaps had invited him to come to Scotland in the first place. However, there
3550-528: Is a megalith park called Columcille, which is open to the public. There are at least four pipe bands named for him; one each from Tullamore , Ireland, from Derry , Northern Ireland, from Kearny, New Jersey , and from Cape Cod , Massachusetts. St. Columba's School , one of the most prominent English-Medium schools in India , run by the Irish Christian Brothers , is also named after
3692-482: Is a sense in which he was not leaving his native people, as the Ulster Gaels had been inhabiting the west coast of Scotland for the previous couple of centuries. Aside from the services he provided guiding the only centre of literacy in the region, his reputation as a holy man led to his role as a diplomat among the tribes. There are also many stories of miracles which he performed during his work to convert
3834-672: Is also associated to the headless horse man or Dullahan , as part of the Sídhe in Irish Mythology. Soon after Diarmait's death Áed fled to the island of Tiree , where it was said he trained to be a Culdee priest, much to the disgust of both Columba and Adomnán . Columba himself on hearing the news had prophesied by means of a curse that a threefold death would happen to the bloody murderer Áed Dub mac Suibni. A Culdee (Céilí Dé) community on Devenish Island , Lough Erne in Fermanagh
3976-514: Is an award given by the American Society of Church History , which he founded in 1888, for works presenting original research on the history of Christianity. Notes Bibliography Further reading Columba Columba ( / k ə ˈ l ʌ m b ə ˌ ˈ k ɒ l ʌ m b ə / ) or Colmcille (7 December 521 – 9 June 597 AD) was an Irish abbot and missionary evangelist credited with spreading Christianity in what
4118-594: Is associated with the founding of the Tallaght Monastery , a copy of the song is found in Karlsruhe, Badische Landesbibliothek . Some of the locations of the earliest Culdee churches were sited near or on top of what used to be important Pre-Christian sites. In Ireland, a notable example is when Saint Patrick choose to build his first stone church in Ireland, he decided to build it as close as possible to
4260-530: Is contained within the Lebar Brec manuscript and also it contains explicit information such as the sex of the cathach that had lived on the island. The poetic eulogy was written by a friend of St Senan called Dallán Forgaill , who was a Chief Ollam of Ireland . Once Senan had expelled the Cathach, he drove him from Scattery into the dark waters of Doolough Lake . A local chieftain called Mac Tail, hired
4402-501: Is no mention of any Culdees at any Columban monastery, either in Ireland or in Scotland, until long after Columba 's time: in 1164 that Culdees are mentioned as being in Iona but in a subordinate position. The Culdee of Loch Leven lived on St Serf's Inch , which had been given them by a Pictish prince, Brude , about 700. In 1093, they surrendered their island to the bishop of St Andrews in return for perpetual food and clothing but Robert,
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4544-539: Is no trace of such partial independence. Nineteenth Century Scottish historian of religion and Presbyterian minister James Aitken Wylie asserted in his History of the Scottish Nation , Vol. III., "The 12th century, particularly in Scotland and Brittany, was a time when two Christian faiths of different origins were contending for possession of the land, the Roman Church and the old Celtic Rite. The age
4686-483: Is not clear if he was deliberately named after Jonah or not. Columba is also Latin for dove. (See also the bird genus Columba .) When sufficiently advanced in letters he entered the monastic school of Movilla, at Newtownards , under Finnian of Movilla who had studied at Ninian 's "Magnum Monasterium" on the shores of Galloway . He was about twenty, and a deacon when, having completed his training at Movilla, he travelled southwards into Leinster , where he became
4828-852: Is part of the Presbyterian Church in Mauritius . Columba is the patron saint of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Youngstown , Ohio. The Cathedral there is named for him. Iona University , in New Rochelle, New York , is named after the island on which Columba established his first monastery in Scotland, as is Iona College in Windsor, Ontario , Iona Presentation College, Perth , and Iona College Geelong in Charlemont, Victoria . In Bangor, Pennsylvania , there
4970-744: Is today Scotland at the start of the Hiberno-Scottish mission . He founded the important abbey on Iona , which became a dominant religious and political institution in the region for centuries. He is the patron saint of Derry . He was highly regarded by both the Gaels of Dál Riata and the Picts , and is remembered today as a Catholic saint and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland . Columba studied under some of Ireland's most prominent church figures and founded several monasteries in
5112-479: The Amra Coluim Chille. Through the reputation of its venerable founder and its position as a major European centre of learning, Columba's Iona became a place of pilgrimage . Columba is historically revered as a warrior saint and was often invoked for victory in battle. Some of his relics were removed in 849 and divided between Alba and Ireland. Relics of Columba were carried before Scottish armies in
5254-668: The Book of Lecan it describes a particular story of the last Pagan King in Ireland Diarmait mac Cerbaill and details about his subsequent death. There was a prophecy by the Kings druid Bec mac Dé , who told of a threefold death he uttered on the day of his death, when he meet Colum Cille . Diarmait mac Cerbaill was murdered by the then king of Cruthin , Áed Dub mac Suibni . According to some early texts Irish kings Diarmait mac Cerbaill and Muirchertach mac Ercae may have both died
5396-896: The Church of England and the Episcopal Church , on 9 June. The Church of St. Columba in Ottawa is part of the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa. St. Columba Anglican Church is located in Tofino, British Columbia. St. Columba's Episcopal Church is in Washington, D.C. There is a St. Columba's Presbyterian Church in Peppermint Grove, Washington. The Saint-Columba Presbyterian Church in Palmerstone, Vacoas-Phoenix
5538-632: The Cross , and the several Mackinnon abbots of Iona . The MacKinnons included Green Abbots who were never priests and who were corrupt. The Macdonald Lords of the Isles dealt with them, imprisoning one who was convicted of treachery since Iona was the spiritual seat of Clan Donald. The cathedral of the Catholic Diocese of Argyll and the Isles is placed under the patronage of Saint Columba, as are numerous Catholic schools and parishes throughout
5680-712: The Maigh Rein . The Maigh Rein consisted of a race of ancient people called the Conmhaícne who were heavily associated with Sliabh an Iarainn . In Celtic mythology, It was said the Tuatha de Danann , first arrived in Ireland on 1 May (Bealtaine) through a Féth fíada or "in dark clouds" over the mountain of Sliabh an Iarainn. The earliest Christian missionaries to arrive in Monymusk in Aberdeenshire were
5822-586: The Old Gaelic title of Comarbae which was a special hereditary status initially applied to the Abbot of Iona in medieval Scotland. Generally an abbot considered to be a Comarba was regarded as Chief Bishop of the Kingdom and claimed certain rights and exemptions for themselves. The Abbots were in fact landowners and owned extensive lands known as Termonn , their tenants were afforded certain privileges based on
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5964-402: The River Boyne in modern County Meath . During the sixth century, some of the most significant names in the history of Celtic Christianity studied at the Clonard monastery. The average number of scholars under instruction at Clonard was said to be 300. Columba was one of twelve students of Finnian of Clonard who became known as the Twelve Apostles of Ireland . He became a monk and eventually
6106-421: The Senchas Már . The religious historian and antiquarian, Godfrey Higgins believed the Culdees were the last remains of the druids and that of the hereditary Abbot of Iona position of Coarb was related to the Phoenician tradition of the Corybantes , ancient people of the Cronus , like the priests of the Galli they worshipped Cybele , a goddess similar in many respects to Brigid , both representative of
6248-401: The dissolution in 1541 and enjoyed a fleeting resurrection in 1627, soon after which their ancient property passed to the vicars choral of the cathedral. In Scotland, Culdees were more numerous than in Ireland: thirteen monastic establishments were peopled by them, eight in connection with cathedrals. The Ionan monks had been expelled by the Pictish king Nechtan son of Derile in 717. There
6390-451: The thicket , in old Irish ‘Muni’ or ‘Muine’ (modern Irish) which translates to thicket or bush grove, from which came the cognate and old Welsh translation of ‘Mynyw’ and the Latin of ‘ Menevia ’. The title of ‘Mynyw’ was as much attributed to the actual Saint as to the place, it moved with him through his life from his earliest hermitage. It has been suggested he spent his infancy, was educated and established his earliest ascetic community at
6532-402: The "continental Sunday") in New York City , and held the position till 1870. In 1865 he founded the first German Sunday School in Stuttgart. In 1862–1867 he lectured on ecclesiastical history at Andover Theological Seminary . Schaff was a member of the Leipzig Historical Society, the Netherland Historical Society, and other historical and literary societies in Europe and America. He was one of
6674-491: The 1,400th anniversary of his voyage to Iona. The main source of information about Columba's life is the Life of Columba ( Latin : Vita Columbae ), a hagiography written by Adomnán , one of Columba's successors at Iona, in the style of "saints' lives" narratives that had become widespread throughout medieval Europe. Both the Life of Columba and Bede (672/673–735) record Columba's visit to Bridei . Whereas Adomnán just tells us that Columba visited Bridei, Bede relates
6816-407: The 1st Marsh was written in both the Latin Martyrology of Tallaght and the Old Irish Martyrology of the Félire Óengusso , both most likely the work of the same author, and certainly of the community of the Céli Dé of Tallaght around 800 AD. As early as the 9th century, the Celtic Culdee monks at Tallaght monastery referred to Saint David's old hermitage as ‘Dauid Cille Muni’ meaning David's cell of
6958-425: The American German churches at the ecclesiastical diet at Frankfurt am Main and at the Swiss pastoral conference at Basel. He lectured in Germany on America, and received the degree of Doctor of Divinity from Berlin. In consequence of the ravages of the American Civil War the theological seminary at Mercersburg was closed for a while and so in 1863 Schaff became secretary of the Sabbath Committee (which opposed
7100-490: The Ancient Druidic site of Emain Macha . The oldest of the two Cathedrals in Armagh is located on a steep sided hill which Queen Macha allegedly had chosen as a defence of the ancient Fortress at Emain Macha in Pre-Christian times. The find in 1953 of the old Irish poems of Blathmac , constituted the largest ever addition of text to the corpus of Early Irish, some parts of it also still remain untranslated and unpublished due to its poor condition. They were discovered among
7242-469: The Baltic provinces. Schaff became a professor at Union Theological Seminary , New York City in 1870 holding first the chair of theological encyclopedia and Christian symbolism till 1873, of Hebrew and the cognate languages till 1874, of sacred literature till 1887, and finally of church history, until his death. He died October 20, 1893, following a stroke. He is buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in The Bronx, New York City. Schaff served as president of
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#17327719183827384-411: The Church of Ireland St Augustine's Church both claim to stand at the spot of this original settlement. The Church of Ireland Cathedral, St. Columb's Cathedral , and the largest park in the city, St. Columb's Park , are named in his honour. The Catholic Boys' Grammar School, St. Columb's College , has him as Patron and namesake. St. Columba's National School in Drumcondra is a girls' school named after
7526-423: The Culdee lived in the last quarter of the 8th century and is best known as the author of the Félire Óengusso , "the Martyrology of Óengus". He founded Dísert Óengusa near Croom in AD 780. Maelruan , under whom Oengus lived, drew up a rule for the Culdees of Tallaght that prescribed their prayers, fasts, devotions, confession, and penances, but there is no evidence that this rule was widely accepted even in
7668-427: The Culdee of Saint Serf of St Serf's Inch . The name of Culross, comes from the Scottish Gaelic of ‘Cuileann Ros’ which relates to the Holly Tree , in plain English it translates as ‘Holly point. Many of the Culdee sites in both Ireland and Scotland may have been key Druidic places of worship in Pre Christian times, as indicated by the distinctive features or characteristics related the natural surrounding landscape in
7810-406: The Culdees of the 9th to the 12th century the direct successors of the Irish and Ionan monasticism of the 6th to the 8th century. Some have suggested that these views were disproved by William Reeves (1815–1892), bishop of Down, Connor and Dromore . James A. Wylie (1808–1890) makes a strong case that the Culdees (Keledei) of Scotland are related to the Celtic Christian Pelagian spirituality of
7952-438: The Culdees or 'Servants of God’, predating the Augustinians arrival and the building of Monymusk Priory . They were likely to be the followers of St. Ninian and his missionaries from Whithorn and into the land of the Picts. The name Monymusk derives from the Old Gaelic words "Muni or Muine muisc" which translates "noxious thicket or bush".The Culdee monks seem to have been an eremitical society of missionaries whose presence
8094-443: The Evangelical Alliance and the Chicago (1893) World's Parliament of Religions, and in Germany, through the monthly Kirchenfreund , Schaff strove earnestly to promote Christian unity and union. It was his hope that the Pope (then Leo XIII ) would abandon the doctrine of infallibility and undertake the reunion of Christianity. He recognized that he was a "mediator between German and Anglo-American theology and Christianity." Schaff
8236-440: The Four Masters , Annals of Tigernach , Annals of Inisfallen and Senchus fer n-Alban . Some of the first Norse settlers on Orkney, Faroe's and Iceland were said to be Norse–Gaels, referred to as Vestmenn . When Scandinavians first set foot on these islands they found a community of Culdee monks, referred to as papar . Numerous place names in Orkney are named of these same eremitic Gaelic monks such as Pabbay ,"Island of
8378-425: The Gaelic place names. The founder of the Iona Abbey, Saint Columba, before traveling to Scotland, was under the care of Cruithnechán and he developed a deeply religious feeling which was to lead to such great results, and he received the name in Old Irish of Coluim-Cille meaning "Dove of the Cell ", the word Cille meant an anchorite's cell, it only became associated with the broader meaning of "church" in
8520-432: The German Reformed Church, through his teaching at Mercersburg, through his championship of English in German Reformed churches and schools in America, through his hymnal (1859), through his labours as chairman of the committee which prepared a new liturgy, and by his edition (1863) of the Heidelberg Catechism. So much so that when the German Reformed Church, in a desire to begin producing more and better published material for
8662-400: The Irish sea from Ireland before setting out its eventful journey through south wales and on to Cornwall. The Welsh Celtic Scholar John Rhys had discussed a region just in the vicinity of St Davids or Mynyw, referred to in the Welsh Chronicle and the Synod of Chester as ‘Moni Iudeorum’. Rhys says that some scholars suggest this word, Iudeorum or Judeorum, may relate to the "Jutes,"
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#17327719183828804-440: The Paupers), who was head of the Culdees and Bishop of Clonmacnoise. Much of the information of Pagan or Pre-Christian Ireland was transferred into text by monks and scholars for the first time at Clonmacnoise from what had previously been Orally passed down generations. With the arrival of the Christian age, the Martyrology of Oengus highlighted the growing emergence of the religious power of Clonmacnoise in contrast at that time to
8946-410: The Phoenicians and have a lineage traced back to Hispania . The lands of Dumnonia were sometimes associated with the mythical islands of the Cassiterides such as the island of Ictis . Caldey Island history stretches back to over 1500 years to when the first Celtic monastery was built there in the 5th century. The island was named Ynys Bŷr after Saint Pyr , the sixth century, Pyr is named as abbot of
9088-497: The Picts, the most famous being his encounter with an unidentified animal that some have equated with the Loch Ness Monster in 565. It is said that he banished a ferocious "water beast" to the depths of the River Ness after it had killed a Pict and then tried to attack Columba's disciple, Lugne (see Vita Columbae Book 2 below). He visited the pagan King Bridei , King of Fortriu , at his base in Inverness , winning Bridei's respect, although not his conversion. He subsequently played
9230-462: The Saint as is one of the local gaelic teams, Naomh Colmcille. The Columba Press, a religious and spiritual book company based in Dublin, is named after Colmcille. Aer Lingus , Ireland's national flag carrier has named one of its Airbus A330 aircraft in commemoration of the saint (reg: EI-DUO). Columba is credited as being a leading figure in the revitalisation of monasticism . The Clan Malcolm/Clan McCallum claims its name from Columba and
9372-435: The abbot". Coluim-Cille was later Latinised to Columba , the name is associated with broad categories of doves and pigeons , coincidently also in Hebrew the translation for dove is Iona which derives from the biblical god Yonah . Saint Columba was a descendant of the royal dynasty Cenél Conaill similarly to the Culdee abbot of Dunkeld . The builder of Dunkeld Cathedral itself was Constantín mac Fergusa , it replaced
9514-425: The ancient Ogham script which originated in Ireland, has inscribed on it 'Magl Dubr' meaning ‘the tonsured servant of Dubricius ’ made by St Samson Abbot of Caldey Island. The ogham stone would have belonged to the old Celtic Christian church that existed before the present chapel, it was dug up in the priory grounds in the 19th century. Philip Schaff Philip Schaff (January 1, 1819 – October 20, 1893)
9656-423: The archbishop. But their claim was disallowed at Rome, and in 1273 they were debarred even from voting. They continued to be mentioned up until 1332 in the records of St Andrews, where they "formed a small college of highly-placed secular clerks closely connected with the bishop and the king". Similar absorptions no doubt account for the disappearance of the Culdees of York , the only English establishment that uses
9798-439: The bishop in 1144, handed over all their vestments, books, and other property, with the island, to the newly founded Canons Regular, in which the Culdees were likely incorporated. The Culdee chapel in St Andrews in Fife can be seen to the north-east of its ruined cathedral and city wall. It is dedicated to "St Mary on the Rock" and is cruciform . It is used by the local St Andrews churches for their Easter morning service. In
9940-419: The brilliant sun of Inis Medcoit", Inis Medcoit being the old Irish for Lindisfarne , an Old Irish form of the Cumbric spelling of Ynys Medcant , which was the language of the Hen Ogledd . In Scotland a sacred pagan site had existed on the Island of Iona also known as Innis na Druineach (Isle of the Druids) before Saint Columba settled on the island and established a small Culdee hermitage. Later
10082-587: The committee that translated the American Standard Version of the Bible, though he died before it was published in 1901. Schaff's History of the Christian Church resembled Neander's work, though less biographical, and was pictorial rather than philosophical. He also wrote biographies, catechisms and hymnals for children, manuals of religious verse, lectures and essays on Dante , etc. He translated Johann Jakob Herzog 's Real-Encyklopädie für protestantische Theologie und Kirche ( Encyclopedia in Real Terms of Protestant Theology and Church ) into English. Working with
10224-664: The country. Around 563 AD he and his twelve companions crossed to Dunaverty near Southend, Argyll , in Kintyre before settling in Iona in Scotland, then part of the Ulster kingdom of Dál Riata, where they founded a new abbey as a base for spreading Celtic Christianity among the pagan Northern Pictish kingdoms . He remained active in Irish politics, though he spent most of the remainder of his life in Scotland. Three surviving early-medieval Latin hymns are attributed to him. Columba
10366-600: The degree of Bachelor of Divinity and passed examinations for a professorship. He then traveled through Italy and Sicily as tutor to Baron Krischer. In 1842, he was Privatdozent in the University of Berlin, where he lectured on exegesis and ecclesiastical history . In 1843, he was called to become Professor of Church History and Biblical Literature in the German Reformed Theological Seminary of Mercersburg, Pennsylvania , then
10508-697: The denomination published Samuel Miller's work entitled A Treatise on Mercersburg Theology: Mercersburg and Modern Theology Compared in 1866. Schaff's History of the Apostolic Church (in German, 1851; in English, 1853) and his History of the Christian Church (7 vols., 1858–1890), opened a new period in American study of ecclesiastical history. In 1854, Schaff visited Europe, representing
10650-637: The diminishing importance of the Pre-Christian site of the Cruachan . The Rathcroghan Pagan tale of the Táin Bó Cúailnge was first written down by Celtic Monks at Clonmacnoise, Lebor na hUidre also has references to the Pre-Christian site of Cruachan, one of the key scribes was Máel Muire mac Céilechair . Other manuscripts originating or connected with Clonmacnoise include, Chronicon Scotorum , Book of Lecan and Annals of Tigernach . In
10792-528: The early days there were several Culdee establishments in Fife, probably small rude structures accommodating 30 or 40 worshippers, and possibly such a structure stood at or near the present church. In 1075 AD, the foundation charter of Dunfermline Church was granted by King Malcolm III, and amongst the possessions, he bestowed on the church was the Shire of Kirkcaladinit, as Kirkcaldy was then known. Crínán of Dunkeld ,
10934-422: The end of the thirteenth century, most Scots Culdee houses had disappeared. Some, like Dunkeld and Abernethy, were superseded by regular canons: others, like Brechin and Dunblane, were extinguished with the introduction of cathedral chapters. One at least, Monifieth, passed into the hands of laymen. At St Andrews, they lived on side by side with the regular canons and still clung to their ancient privilege of electing
11076-507: The fact that the seating Abbot was of the same blood, a successor of the founding saint and a keeper of the relics of the founding Saint. The last Abbots of Iona to hold the title of Coarb was mostly likely Diarmait of Iona and his successor Indrechtach . The final Monks and the Columban Relics of Iona escaped to newly founded monasteries, the title of Coarb followed them onto these new monasteries such as Dunkeld. The position of Coarb
11218-535: The feast day of Saint David was first established around 10th century initially in the early writings of the Annales Cambriae and then formerly celebrated from the 12th century, when he was canonised by Pope Callixtus II in 1120. David was officially recognised at the Holy See by Pope Callixtus II in 1120, thanks to the work of Bernard (bishop of Menevia) . The Cathedral of St Davids or Menevia,
11360-524: The first containing seven lines and six lines in each subsequent stanza. It uses the same format and alphabet as "Adiutor Laborantium" except with each stanza starting with a different letter rather than each line. The poem tells a story over three parts split into the beginning of time, the history of Creation, and the Apocalypse or end of time. Columba is honoured in the Anglican communion, including
11502-745: The founders, and honorary secretary, of the American branch of the Evangelical Alliance, and was sent to Europe in 1869, 1872, and 1873 to arrange for the general conference of the Alliance, which, after two postponements on account of the Franco-Prussian War , was held in New York in October 1873. Schaff was also, in 1871, one of the Alliance delegates to the emperor of Russia to plead for the religious liberty of his subjects in
11644-619: The grandfather of Máel Coluim III , was a lay abbot, and tradition says that even the clerical members were married, though unlike the priests of the Eastern Orthodox Church , they lived apart from their wives during their term of sacerdotal service. The pictures that we have of Culdee life in the 12th century vary considerably. The chief houses in Scotland were at St Andrews , Scone , Dunkeld , Lochleven , Monymusk in Aberdeenshire , Abernethy and Brechin . Each
11786-657: The importance Christ and to the Virgin Mary. Carney had suggested that Blathmac may have originally come from filí and druidic background but later been a convert to become part of the Culdee Reform movement through a detailed study of the structure of his poetry, which resembled in style to the Félire Óengusso. An important Culdee monastery was Clonmacnoise: the Annals of the Four Masters mention Conn na mbocht (Conn of
11928-603: The isles, that once existed in the Western isles of Scotland and included other key locations along the Irish Sea. This kingdom includes the region of Galloway , a name that derives from the old Irish of ‘Gallgaidhel’, which means ‘ foreigner (gall) living among the gaels (gaidhel) ’, it referred to the population mix of Scandinavian and Gaelic ethnicity that inhabited Galloway in the Middle Ages. The Galloway area included
12070-696: The land of the Picts and Alba , the Céli Dé movement was seen as a reformed Post-Columban form of the Celtic Christian church. Diarmait of Iona had strong associations with the monastery of Tallaght , he is sometimes confused with a contemporary, disciple of Mael Ruain , a Culdee abbot called Diarmait mac Aeda Róin, of Castledermot , son of Áed Róin and a descendant of the Dál Fiatach mentioned in Unity of Mael Ruain . Diarmait of Iona would have had
12212-699: The late 9th century many of the Columban relics of Iona during the Viking raids went to Dunkeld , possibly firstly via Kells. The Lia Fáil , once used by Columba to inaugurate Áedán mac Gabráin , the King of Dál Riata , he performed what was said to be the first ever Christian anointment of an Irish or British king. Áedán mac Gabráin was the first of a line of Scottish kings mentioned in The Prophecy of Berchán written by St Mobhi of Glasnevin . The stone of Destiny
12354-503: The later Latinised translation of Bricius meaning "devotee of St. Brigit". The village of Fortingall or in Gaelic Fartairchill , means "Escarpment Church", i.e., "church at the foot of an escarpment or steep slope". A Christian church was first founded in the village by Coeddi, bishop of Iona . In the grounds of the old church, there is what is estimated by some to be up to a 5000 years old yew tree , believed to be
12496-574: The manuscript at the scriptorium under Finnian, intending to keep the copy. Finnian disputed his right to keep it. There is a suggestion that this conflict resulted in the Battle of Cúl Dreimhne in Cairbre Drom Cliabh (now in County Sligo ) in 561, during which many men were killed. Richard Sharpe, translator of Adomnán's Life of St. Columba (referenced in the bibliography below) makes a stern caution at this point against accepting
12638-415: The many references that link the battle and Columba's leaving of Ireland, even though there is evidence in the annals that Columba supported his own king against the high king. Political conflicts that had existed for some time resulted in the clan Neill's battle against King Diarmait at Cooldrevny in 561. An issue, for example, was the king's violation of the right of sanctuary belonging to Columba's person as
12780-729: The monastery around the year 500 in the Life of St Samson, he replaced Samson of Dol , the son of Amon of Demetae and Anna of Gwent . Since the early 20th century it has been home to a group of Cistercian monks, who carried on the Celtic traditions that had existed. There is a Caldey Ogham Stone in St Illtyd's Church, part of the Old Priory on Caldey Island. The stone dates to 5th or 6th Century, and it contains inscriptions both in Latin and in
12922-468: The monastery once stood. Moot hill was similar to the Hill of Tara in its prehistory importance, Moot hill or Statute hill was known as a Brehon hill, a judicial place of assembly in pre-Christian times, its name has also been connected to the historical village of Muthill , an important Culdee centre. The name Muthill translated in Scottish gaelic to Maothail which means soft ground, possibly related to
13064-573: The monks of Iona. Reeves suggests that Maelruan may have been aware of the establishment of canons in Metz by Archbishop Chrodegang , (died 766), as an intermediate class between monks and secular priests, adopting the discipline of the monastic system, without the vows, and discharging the offices of ministers in various churches. Tallaght Abbey became the mother house of the Culdee (Céile Dé) movement. Tallaght or Tamlacht in Irish means 'burial ground', it
13206-633: The much earlier church built by Columba. The cathedral is commemorated by the Martyrology of Tallaght , which stated it as one of the principal Céli Dé monasteries of the day. As a patron of the Céli Dé, he was a key reformer for the movement in Dunkeld perhaps a collaborator of Abbot Diarmait of Iona , in the Martyrology it describes him as Constantin Brito no mac Fergusa do Cruithnechaib , i.e.,
13348-423: The name, borne by the canons of St Peter's about 925 where they performed in the tenth century the double duty of officiating in the cathedral church and of relieving the sick and poor. When a new cathedral arose under a Norman archbishop, they ceased their connection with the cathedral, but, helped by donations, continued to relieve the destitute. The date at which they finally disappeared is unknown. These seem to be
13490-705: The nation. The Scottish Episcopal Church , the Church of Scotland , and the Evangelical Lutheran Church of England also have parishes dedicated to him. The village of Kilmacolm in Renfrewshire is also derived from Colmcille's name. St Columba's Hospice, a prominent hospice in Edinburgh , is named after the saint. Columba currently has two poems attributed to him: "Adiutor Laborantium" and " Altus Prosator ". Both poems are examples of Abecedarian hymns in Latin written while Columba
13632-429: The old Irish word for fiach , which means raven. The name is explained in this manner in a note added to the Félire Óengusso , which says that he received this name when his mother saw him gnawing on a bone and exclaimed "my little raven!" The place name of "Fore" is the anglicised version of the Irish "Fobhar", meaning "water-springs". There are two wells associated with St Feichin: one was called Doaghfeighin well and
13774-570: The oldest living tree in all of the British isles. Both the Gaelic pagan fire festivals of Samhain and Beltaine were celebrated at the nearby sacred mound of Càrn na Marbh , going back well before even the earliest Christian presence was established in the area. The Martyrology of Óengus gives details about the ancient Norse-Gael, Kingdom of the Rhinns also referred to as Na Renna or Kingdom of
13916-733: The only seminary of that church in America. During his time there, he spoke positively of some medieval Catholics and of the Oxford Movement and he was accused of heresy; a church council exonerated him. On his journey Schaff stayed in England and met Edward Pusey and other Tractarians . His inaugural address on The Principle of Protestantism , delivered in German at Reading, Pennsylvania , in 1844, and published in German with an English translation by John Williamson Nevin
14058-600: The only cases where the term "Culdee" is found in England. The term "Culdee" is rarely found in Wales. We do not know the fate of the Culdean house that existed at Snowdon and Bardsey Island in north Wales in the days of Giraldus Cambrensis , mentioned (c. 1190) in Speculum Ecclesiae and Itinerarium respectively. The former community was, he says, sorely oppressed by the covetous Cistercians . Hector Boece in his Latin history of Scotland (1516), makes
14200-408: The other Culdean establishments. Fedelmid mac Crimthainn king of Munster (820–846) was said to have been a prominent Culdee. According to William Reeves , they were analogous to secular canons and held an intermediate position between the monastic and parochial clergy. In Armagh, they were presided over by a Prior and numbered about twelve. They were the officiating clergy of the churches and became
14342-553: The other Tobernacogany from the Irish meaning "Well of the Kitchen". A Céile Dé Monastery existed on Scattery Island or Inis Cathaigh which consisted of a monastery and Round Tower. The island was once the hermitage of Senán mac Geircinn , a 6th-century saint. The saint's name of Senan is said to have derived from the Christianised and masculinised version of Sionann (pronounced Shannon), a pagan River Goddess associated with
14484-499: The papar (Culdee)" or Pabay . Although the name ‘Culdee’ is rarely used to refer to the Celtic Saints in Wales and Cornwall, many of them began as hermits, passed on pre-Christian druidic beliefs and traditions into the new Christian age. They originally lived as anchorites and anchoresses, established isolated retreats in the wilderness such as bogs, forests, and small offshore isles, generally in locations and places that held
14626-488: The permission of the High King Diarmait mac Cerbaill , in the space of only a decade of the abbey's initial establishment, the same High king on the advice of his Brehon, passed a damning judgement against Columba over the copying of a Saint Finnian's book, which sparked the beginning of a period of huge upheaval for the monk, he instigated a bloody rebellion against the king which resulted in many deaths. After
14768-659: The place where Columba set sail for Scotland. He left Ireland, but through the following years, he returned several times to visit the communities he had founded there. Columba's copy of the psalter has been traditionally associated with the Cathach of St. Columba . In 574/575, during his return for the Synod of Drum Ceat, he founded the monastery of Drumcliff in Cairbre, now County Sligo. In 563, he travelled to Scotland with twelve companions (said to include Odran of Iona ) in
14910-565: The prior usually filled the office of precentor, his brethren being vicars choral, and himself ranking in the chapter next to the chancellor. He was elected by his brother Culdees and confirmed by the primate, and had a voice in the election of the archbishop by virtue of his position in the chapter. As Ulster was the last of the Irish provinces to be brought effectually under English rule the Armagh Culdees long outlived their brethren throughout Ireland. The Culdees of Armagh endured until
15052-487: The process was deemed a miscarriage of justice. Columba's own conscience was uneasy, and on the advice of an aged hermit, Molaise, he resolved to expiate his sense of offence by departing Ireland. The term "exile" is used in some references. This, too, can be disputed, for the term "pilgrimage" is used more frequently in the literature about him. A marker at Stroove Beach on the Inishowen Peninsula commemorates
15194-526: The regular canons. At Armagh, regular canons were introduced into the cathedral church in the twelfth century and took precedence over the Culdees, six in number, a prior and five vicars. These still continued a corporate existence, charged with the celebration of the Divine offices and the care of the church building: they had separate lands and sometimes charge of parishes. When a chapter was formed, about 1160,
15336-542: The reliquary made at Iona in the mid-8th century called the Brecbennoch. Legend has it that the Brecbennoch was carried to the Battle of Bannockburn (24 June 1314) by the vastly outnumbered Scots army and the intercession of Columba helped them to victory. Since the 19th century the "Brecbennoch of St. Columba" has been identified with the Monymusk Reliquary , although this is now doubted by scholars. In
15478-507: The saint is commonly known as Colmcille. Colmcille is one of the three patron saints of Ireland, after Patrick and Brigid of Kildare . Colmcille is the patron saint of the city of Derry , where he founded a monastic settlement in c. 540. The name of the city in Irish is Doire Cholm Cille and is derived from the native oak trees in the area and the city's association with Colmcille. The Catholic Church of Saint Colmcille's Long Tower, and
15620-485: The saint. St. Colmcille's Primary School and St. Colmcille's Community School are two schools in Knocklyon , Dublin, named after him, with the former having an annual day dedicated to the saint on 9 June. The town of Swords, Dublin was reputedly founded by Colmcille in 560 AD. St. Colmcille's Boys' National School and St. Colmcille's Girls' National School, both located in the town of Swords, are also named after
15762-456: The saint. The Munich GAA is named München Colmcilles. Saint Columba's Feast Day, 9 June, has been designated as International Celtic Art Day. The Book of Kells and the Book of Durrow , great medieval masterpieces of Celtic art, are associated with Columba. Benjamin Britten composed A Hymn of St Columba for choir and organ in 1962, setting a poem by the saint, on the occasion of
15904-405: The same fashion the Culdee of Monymusk, originally perhaps a colony from St Andrews, became Canons Regular of the Augustinian order early in the 13th century, and those of Abernethy in 1273. At Brechin, famous like Abernethy for its round tower, the Culdee prior and his monks helped to form the chapter of the diocese founded by David I in 1145, though the name persisted for a generation or two. By
16046-519: The secular clergy. It was at the time the name Culdee became almost synonymous with secular canon. According to François Bonifas, however, the Culdean Church was founded in the 2nd century and restored by Saint Patrick in Ireland in the 5th century. In the course of the 9th century, nine places in Ireland are mentioned (including Armagh , Clonmacnoise , Clones , Devenish and Sligo ) where communities of Culdees were established. Óengus
16188-520: The source of the River Shannon. The Old Irish word associated with the name of the island is cathach , also called a Phéist . The word cathach translates as "sea serpent", which formed part of the Aos sí in Irish folklore; it was a legendary sea monster going back to Pre-Christian times that once inhabited the island and terrorised the people on the island. Cathach is also associated with
16330-468: The standing ministers of the cathedral. The maintenance of divine service, and in particular, the practice of choral worship, seems to have been their special function and made them an important element of the cathedral economy. However, after the death of Maelruan in 792, Tallaght is forgotten, and the name Ceile-De disappears from the Irish annals until 919, when the Four Masters record that Armagh
16472-689: The time of Saint Blane in Kingarth and the Isle of Bute, the region was part of Na Renna and the Diocese of the Isles . The Norse-Gael, Kingdom of the Rhinns finally fell when the last king Magnus VI surrendered and conceded the Western Isles to the Kingdom of Scotland at the Treaty of Perth in 1266. Many of the kings of the Kingdom of the Isles are recorded in the Irish annals such as Annals of
16614-489: The whole position passed into the hands of Thurgot and his successors in the bishopric. Canons Regular were instituted and some of the Culdees joined the Roman Catholic church. Those who declined were allowed a life-rent of their revenues and lingered on as a separate but ever-dwindling body till the beginning of the 14th century when excluded from voting at the election of the bishop, they disappear from history. In
16756-416: The word "battle" which Saint Senan fought and won against the giant serpent. According to legend the cathach advanced "its eyes flashing flame, with fiery breath, spitting venom and opening its horrible jaws", but Senan made the sign of the cross, and the beast collapsed and was chained and thrown into the dark waters of Doolough Lake . A hagiography of Saint Senan and Amra Senáin ("The Eulogy of Senán")
16898-552: The writings of St David's cult by chronicler Rhygyfarch in the 11th century, St David already had a significant reputation not only in Wales, but across the Irish Sea. The earliest known reference to the Saint David was to be found in the Catalogue of Irish Saints(AD730) as one of three Welsh saints along with Saint Cadog and Saint Gildas described as the ‘holy men of Britain’. The earliest recording of his feast day of
17040-413: Was ordained a priest . Another preceptor of Columba was Mobhí Clárainech , whose monastery at Glasnevin was frequented by such famous men as Cainnech of Aghaboe , Comgall , and Ciarán . A pestilence which devastated Ireland in 544 caused the dispersion of Mobhi's disciples, and Columba returned to Ulster , the land of his kindred. He was a striking figure of great stature and powerful build, with
17182-566: Was Britain's smallest city and began life as a humble tiny hermit's cell situated beside the river Alun. The River Alun flows southwestwards to St Brides Bay , the bay's derives its name from the Welsh version of the name Saint Brigid called Sant Ffraid. Scholars such as Sabine Baring-Gould , had suggested contrary to the popular belief that the Welsh Brigid(Sant Ffraid) was distinct and not likely to be Brigit of Kildare . She
17324-719: Was a Swiss-born, German-educated Protestant theologian and ecclesiastical historian , who spent most of his adult life living and teaching in the United States. Schaff was born in Chur , Switzerland , and educated at the gymnasium of Stuttgart . His father died when he was young and he was sent to an orphanage. At the universities of Tübingen , Halle and Berlin , he was successively influenced by Ferdinand Christian Baur and Schmid, by Friedrich August Tholuck and Julius Müller , by David Strauss and, above all, Johann August Wilhelm Neander . At Berlin in 1841 he took
17466-417: Was a pagan plague-burial ground that was connected with the people of Parthalón . It was such an important institution that it and the monastery at Finglas were known as the "two eyes of Ireland". Saint Máel Ruain was founder and abbot-bishop of the monastery of Tallaght (Co. Dublin, Ireland). He had been a disciple of Óengus the Culdee , a son of a Óengobann, a king of Dál nAraidi . The monastery produced
17608-402: Was a pioneer work in English in the field of symbolics (that is, the authoritative ecclesiastical formulations of religious doctrines in creeds or confessions). This address and the " Mercersburg theology " which he taught seemed too pro- Catholic to some, and he was charged with heresy . But, at the synod at York in 1845, he was unanimously acquitted. Schaff's broad views strongly influenced
17750-425: Was a sort of borderland between Culdeeism and Romanism. The two met and mingled often in the same monastery, and the religious belief of the nation was a mumble of superstitious doctrines and a few scriptural truths". A controversial movement to put Scotland's church under the authority of Rome was inaugurated by Malcolm III's wife, Queen Margaret and carried through by her sons Alexander I and David I . Gradually
17892-443: Was an Irish nun in legend that first landed from the sea on a floating piece turf at Glan Conwy , in North Wales. The Martyrology of Donegal described her as ‘Brigid of Cille Muine’, where she had her Monastic Cell, with a feast day of 12 November. To the North of the bay is St David's Head , which according to the Culhwch and Olwen , was the location where the mythical Wild boar of the Twrch Trwyth first landed after crossing
18034-430: Was an independent establishment controlled entirely by its own abbot and apparently divided into two sections, one priestly and the other lay . Culdee priests were allowed to marry. At St Andrews about the year 1100, there were thirteen Culdees holding office by hereditary tenure, some apparently paying more regard to their own prosperity than to the services of the church or the needs of the populace. At Loch Leven, there
18176-501: Was at the Iona Abbey . The shorter of the two poems, "Adiutor Laborantium" consists of twenty-seven lines of eight syllables each, with each line following the format of an Abecedarian hymn using the Classical Latin alphabet save for lines 10–11 and 25–27. The content of the poem addresses God as a helper, ruler, guard, defender and lifter for those who are good and an enemy of sinners whom he will punish. " Altus Prosator " consists of twenty-three stanzas sixteen syllables long, with
18318-399: Was born in Gartan. One tradition holds that he was born on a flagstone called Leac na Cumha in the townland of Lacknacoo. He was baptised in Temple-Douglas, in the County Donegal parish of Conwal (midway between Gartan and Letterkenny ), by his teacher and foster-uncle Cruithnechán . Columba lived in the remote district of what is now Glencolmcille for roughly five years, which
18460-400: Was born to Fedlimid and Eithne of the Cenél Conaill in Gartan , a district beside Lough Gartan, in Tír Chonaill (mainly modern County Donegal ) in what is now Ulster , the northern province in Ireland . On his father's side, he is claimed as being the great-great-grandson of Niall of the Nine Hostages , a pseudo-historical Irish high king of the 5th century. Tradition holds that he
18602-400: Was commissioned to supervise the first series of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers . He was later joined by Henry Wace . Schaff's son, David Schley Schaff , was a Presbyterian clergyman and professor of church history. David wrote his father's biography in 1897. Schaff was married to Mary Schley and they had seven children. Schaff also wrote several hymns. The Philip Schaff Prize
18744-427: Was completed in Tallaght Monastery, not long after the death of Saint Máel Ruain and then carried by an anchorite called Máel Dithruib to the monasteries at Terryglass and Lorrha. Saint Máel Ruain was known to be a Anam Cara to this same abbot, Máel Dithruib of Terryglass. The abecedarian hymn of Archangelum mirum magnum is attributed to Mael Ruain. The Hiberno-Latin hymn is in praise of St. Michael, whose name
18886-462: Was estimated that there were as many as 300 monks and 2000 students in residence. Today, all that remains is the pre-Norman building of St Feichin's Church, which was built in the 12th century, on top of the original monastery, the ruins are located near the passage tomb and megalithic at Loughcrew Cairns . It was claimed that St Feichin once acted as a mediator between the Muimne, Luigne and Laigne of Connacht and Meath. The saint's name may derive from
19028-441: Was felt in various parts of Europe and who objected to any form of conformity to a central ecclesiastical organisation. The Monymusk Reliquary is the most priceless surviving relic of the Celtic Church in Scotland. Originally it contained a bone of St. Columba, was venerated as a sacred relic and carried before the Scots army at Bannockburn . The earliest Culdee Prior of Monymusk , had the ancient Gaelic title of Máel Brigte or in
19170-461: Was founded by Saint Molaise , it consisted of an oratory and Round tower. The Devenish Island carried on the Pre-Christian tradition of Stone Carved heads structures that existed on the Pagan Boa Island also on Lough Erne, the lake itself bursts with legend, with its own banshee and ghosts. According to much older pre-Christian folklore the first ever settlement on the Island was said to have been established by Ollamh Fodhla . Sechnall (Secundinus)
19312-417: Was later transferred in the 9th century due to the heavy Viking raids, from Iona to Dunkeld. The abbacy of Dunkeld had become for a short period the main seat of Power and Religion in Alba , the stone was later moved onto Atholl and finally to Scone Abbey . Scholars such as Thomas Owen Clancy credited Abbot Diarmait of Iona as being an instrumental figure in the spread of the Céli Dé church beyond Iona into
19454-478: Was named after him. It is not known for sure if his name at birth was Colmcille or if he adopted this name later in life; Adomnán (Eunan) of Iona thought it was his birth name but other Irish sources have claimed his name at birth was Crimthann (meaning 'fox'). In the Irish language his name means 'dove', which is the same name as the Prophet Jonah (Jonah in Hebrew is also 'dove'), which Adomnán of Iona, as well as other early Irish writers, were aware of, although it
19596-450: Was not necessary just confined to the abbots of Columba at Iona. It was applied to the Celtic Christian abbots related the principal saint in general, for example the Clan MacLea were the "Coarb of Saint Moluag" of Argyll. The Book of Armagh described St Patrick's, Comarba as being Torbach mac Gormáin. An Old Irish law tract exists on the relationship of the Celtic Christian church and early society called Córus Bésgnai which forms part of
19738-551: Was plundered by the Danes but that the houses of prayer, "with the people of God, that is Ceile-De", were spared. Subsequent entries in the annals show that there were Culdees at Clondalkin , at Monahincha in Tipperary , and at Scattery Island . The Danish wars affected the Culdee houses. Clondalkin and Clones disappeared altogether. At Clonmacnoise, as early as the eleventh century, the Culdees were laymen and married, while those at Monahincha and Scattery Island, being utterly corrupt and unable, or unwilling, to reform, gave way to
19880-404: Was reputedly founded by the descendants of his original followers. It is also said that Clan Robertson Clan Donnachaidh / Duncan are heirs of Columba. Clan MacKinnon may also have some claim to being spiritual descendants of St Columba. Sir Iain Moncreiffe of that Ilk speculated that Clan MacKinnon belonged to the kindred of Columba, noting the MacKinnon Arms bore the hand of Columba holding
20022-401: Was the founder and patron saint of Domhnach Sechnaill , Co. Meath, who went down in medieval tradition as a disciple of St Patrick and one of the first bishops of Armagh. Although modern historians have disputed his connection with St Patrick and suggested this was later tradition in fact invented by Armagh historians in favour of their patron saint and that Secundinus is more likely to have been
20164-538: Was towards the end of his life, when he returned to Ireland to found the monastery at Durrow . According to traditional sources, Columba died in Iona on Sunday, 9 June 597, and was buried by his monks in the abbey he created. However, Dr. Daniel P. Mc Carthy disputes this and assigns a date of 593 to Columba's death. The Annals record the first raid made upon Iona in 795, with further raids occurring in 802, 806 and 825. Columba's relics were finally removed in 849 and divided between Scotland and Ireland. In Ireland,
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