A Calendar of Scottish Saints

Later on St. Kenneth visited Scotland, where he lived for some years as a monk. He is believed to have founded a monastery at St. Andrews and to have built churches in other parts of the country, converting many of the pagan inhabitants to Christianity by the fervour of his preaching. He spent some time at Iona with St. Columba, and accompanied that saint in his visit to King Brude at Inverness, and it was St. Kenneth who, with the sign of the Cross, caused the King's hand to wither when he drew his sword against the missionaries.

St. Kenneth died in Ireland. He founded the monastery of Aghaboe, and around it grew up the town of that name, which up to the twelfth century was the seat of the Bishops of Ossory, whose residence was later transferred to Kilkenny. In Scotland this saint had many dedications. Kilchenzie, in Kintyre; Kilkenneth, in Tiree; Kilchainnech, in Iona; Kilchainie, in South Uist; Laggan in Inverness-shire, and others. The great abbey of Cambuskenneth takes its name from him, as well as Chenzie Island, in the river of Islay, and Kennoway (anciently Kennochi) in Fifeshire.

13 – St. Comgan or Congan, Abbot, 8th century.

This saint was the brother of the holy recluse, Kentigerna, whose life was given on January 7th, and was consequently the son of a Prince of Leinster. On succeeding his father in the government of the province he ruled his people as a true Christian prince should do; but, meeting with violent opposition from the neighbouring chiefs, he was forced to fly the country to save his life. Taking with him his sister and her son, Fillan, he crossed over to Scotland, and settled in Lochalsh, Argyllshire. Here he lived many years as a monk in great austerity. He was far advanced in years when death came. He was buried at Iona.

His nephew, St. Fillan (see February 3), built a church in his honour at Lochalsh. There were also many other dedications to this saint in Scotland. Among them were Kilchowan in Kiltearn (Ross and Cromarty), Kilchoan or Kilcongan in the island of Seil, St. Coan in Strath (Skye), Kilquhoan in Ardnamurchan, Kilchoan in Knoydart, etc. The church of Turriff in Aberdeenshire was dedicated to him, and the annual fair on his feast-day was called "Cowan Fair." A hospital of St. Congan was founded at that place in 1272 by the Earl of Buchan, consisting of a collegiate establishment for a warden and six chaplains. Thirteen poor husbandmen of Buchan were maintained there. King Robert the Bruce added to its endowment. Some of the remains of this institution are known as "The Abbey Lands." Leo XIII. restored St. Comgan's feast to the Scottish calendar in 1898.

St. Fyndoca, Virgin.

No particulars of this saint's life remain to us. Her feast occurs in the Breviary of Aberdeen on this day. She seems to have been specially venerated in the diocese of Dunblane. An old charter of the thirteenth century mentions a chapel dedicated to St. Fyndoca at Findo Cask, near Dunning, in Perthshire; a fair was formerly held there for eight days from the saint's feast. There are ruins of an old building known as the chapel of St. Fink at Bendochy, near Coupar Angus; this was probably one of her dedications.

17 – St. Rule, Abbot, (about) 6th century.

An old legend, long accepted as history, but rejected altogether by modern critics, makes this saint the bearer of the relics of St. Andrew from Patras in Achaia to Scotland in the fourth century. The story relates that Rule, when engaged in his duties as custodian of the apostle's shrine, was favoured with a Heavenly vision, in which an angel commanded him to set aside certain of the relics – among them an arm-bone and three fingers of the Apostle – and to conceal them for a time in a certain spot indicated. Another vision later on directed the holy man to set sail with the relics in a north-westerly direction "towards the ends of the earth," and when the vessel should be in danger of shipwreck on a northern coast to recognise that as a sign that a church should be built near that spot in honour of St. Andrew, where the relics should be enshrined. St. Rule is said to have carried out the command in company with many fellow voyagers, and to have founded the church of St. Andrew's, where he lived more than thirty years after his landing. A cave on the sea coast hard by still bears his name. He is said to have retired there for prayer. The old church of St. Rule, with its quaint, slender tower, was the first cathedral of the city, which formerly bore the saint's name.

Most modern historians identify St. Rule with an Irish abbot of similar name who is honoured on this day. He was a contemporary of St. Kenneth, and probably ended his days at St. Andrews, after labouring there as a missionary. St. Rule is the patron of Monifieth, Forfarshire; of Meikle Folia, near Fyvie, Aberdeenshire; and of Kennethmont, Aberdeenshire, where an ancient fair, held on the second Tuesday in October as late as the beginning of last century, was known as "Trewell Fair." There was a chapel of St. Rule at St. Cyrus (formerly called Ecclesgreig) in Kincardineshire.

21 St. Mund or Fintan-Munnu, Abbot, A.D. 635, He was born in Ireland, and was a contemporary of St. Columba. He bears the character of being the most austere of all the Irish saints, and suffered grievously from bodily infirmities with the greatest resignation. Crossing over to Scotland, he dwelt for a time upon an island of Loch Leven, still called after him by the title of Eileanmunde.

A more important foundation was afterwards made by this saint at Kilmun, north of the Firth of Clyde, in Argyllshire. An old burial ground still marks the site of the monastery founded by St. Mund; the hills and wooded glens which surround the spot make up a scene of striking beauty. A small bay in the vicinity is called "Holy Loch." It is a matter of dispute whether the title came from its proximity to St. Mund's foundation or from a shipload of earth from the Holy Land, destined to form part of the foundation of a church in Glasgow, and reputed to have been sunk in a storm near that spot.

It is said that St. Mund made application to Baithen, St. Columba's successor at Iona, to be received as a monk of that monastery, but that Baithen advised the saint to return to Ireland and found a monastery there. The holy abbot gave this advice on account of a prophecy of St. Columba, who had foreseen St. Mund's desire, and had declared that God willed that saint to become abbot over others and not the disciple of Baithen.

It was owing to this advice that St. Mund returned to his native land and founded Teach-Mun (Tagmon) in Wexford, which became famous under his rule.

Mediaeval documents mention the saint's pastoral staff as preserved in Argyllshire; its hereditary custodian held a small croft at Kilmun; it may have been in honour of this saint that a fair was held at that place for eight days during April as alluded to in records of 1490. No trace of the above relic now remains. In Ireland this saint is known as St. Fintan-Munnu; but Mundus or Mund is the title which appears in Scottish records.

26 – St. Bean, Bishop, llth century.

This saint was venerated at Fowls Wester and Kinkell, both in Perthshire. His well is pointed out at the former place, and his fair is held there. St. Bean is inserted in the calendar of the Breviary of Aberdeen, but few particulars of his life are known to us. Tradition makes him Bishop of Mortlach, in Banffshire, though the existence of such a see is not generally admitted. St. Bean, probably resided at Morlach of which he became patron (in succession to St. Moluag see – June 25); he is said to have ruled a monastery of Culdees there. An ancient stone effigy, in existence in the eighteenth century in Mortlach Church, was supposed to represent the saint; nothing of the kind is now to be seen. Balvenie, in the neighbourhood, is thought to be derived from Bal-beni-mor ("dwelling of Bean the Great"). The feast of St. Bean was restored to Scotland by Leo XIII.

St. Eata, Bishop, A.D. 686.

He was one of the boys trained by St. Aidan in the monastery of Lindisfarne. When he grew to manhood he made his profession as a monk of that abbey, and in after years became Abbot of Old Melrose, where St. Boisil and St. Cuthbert were among his disciples. He became Bishop of Lindisfarne, and was afterwards translated to the See of Hexham. He was buried in Hexham Cathedral.

30 – St. Talarican, Bishop, A.D. (about) 720.

This saint has been claimed as one of the Irish missionaries to Scotland, but competent authorities maintain that his name shows him to have been of Pictish origin, and they add that the Irish calendars do not contain a saint whose name can be identified with that of Talarican. The saint is said to have been raised to the episcopate by Pope Gregory (perhaps St. Gregory II.). It is specially said of him that he was careful to offer Holy Mass every day. His life was one of stern discipline. He laboured in the northern districts of Scotland, and his popularity is shown by the numerous dedications in his name.

The large district of Kiltarlity in Invernessshire, in which Beauly Priory was situated, takes its name from St. Talarican. A church and burial-ground known as Ceilltarraglan once existed in the Isle of Skye; it was situated on the plain above the rocks to the north of Loch Portree. In the island of Taransay we find Eaglais Tarain, or Church of Talarican. The saint is also associated with the church of Fordyce, in Banffshire, where a fair was held on his feast and during the octave. There is a St. Tarkin's Well at Fordyce and another in the parish of Kilsyth, Stirlingshire, is thought to own this saint as patron. Leo XIII. restored St. Talarican's feast to the Scottish Calendar.

St. Monoch.

At Stevenson, in Ayrshire, an annual fair was formerly held on October 30th, which was called "Sam Maneuke's," or "St. Monk's Day"; it has long been discontinued. An old will of the sixteenth century points to this saint as the patron of the town. Archibald Weir, in his testament, dated October 7th, 1547, says: "I give and bequeath my soul to God Almighty and my body to be buried in the church of St. Monoch, of Steynstoune." A procession once took place annually on this day in the above locality. It was doubtless the remnant of some popular Catholic demonstration in honour of the patronal feast; though mentioned as late as 1845 it has now disappeared. In the parish of Sorn, in the same county, is an estate known by the designation of Auchmannoch, which probably refers to this saint.

31 St. Bees or Begha, Virgin, A.D. (about) 660.

This saint was of royal Irish race. In her youth she was promised in marriage to a Norwegian prince, but as she had vowed virginity in her earliest years she fled from home to escape the force which might possibly be brought to bear upon her to bring about the proposed union. Embarking alone in a small boat, she made her way to the opposite coast of Northumbria. Here she dwelt for some time in a woodland retreat, after receiving the monastic habit from St. Aidan, the bishop. She afterwards presided over a community of virgins, whose government she eventually resigned to St. Hilda. St. Begha founded another monastery in Strathclyde, which was known by her name. The tongue of land on which it stood is still called St. Bee's Head.

In this retreat she died in the odour of sanctity. Kilbagie, in Clackmannan, is probably named after this saint, and also Kilbucho (Church of Begha), in the parish of Broughton, Peebleshire.

NOVEMBER

3 – St. Malachy, Archbishop, A.D. 1148.

Among the Irish saints who benefited Scotland, the illustrious contemporary and dear friend of his biographer, St. Bernard, must not be omitted. St. Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh, twice visited Scotland. On his return from one of his visits to Rome, he stayed with King David I., and by his prayers restored to life the monarch's son, Prince Henry, who was in danger of death. During this visit, St. Malachy erected an oratory of wattles and clay on the sea-shore near Port Patrick. St. Bernard relates that the saint not only directed the work but laboured with his own hands in its construction. He blessed the cemetery adjoining, which was arranged according to Irish usage, within a deep fosse. The second visit to Scotland was shortly before St. Malachy set out on that last journey to the continent from which he never returned, dying on November 2nd, 1148, in St. Bernard's own Abbey of Clairvaux. He had set his heart on founding a monastery in Scotland at a place called Viride Stagnum, "The Green Lake," situated about three miles from the present town of Stranraer. There he marked out the boundaries, and established a community brought from one of his Irish houses. St. Bernard alludes to a monastery in Scotland as the last founded by St. Malachy, and this is undoubtedly the one referred to. Later on, this monastery, which acquired the name of Soulseat (Sedes Animarum), was peopled by Premonstratensian Canons, brought from St. Norbert's own house of Premontre. It became known in after ages as Saulseat.

St. Nidan, Bishop, about the 6th century.

He was one of the Welsh disciples of St. Kentigern, and probably accompanied him on his return to Scotland (see pp. 47-8). He is said to have evangelised the part of Deeside round Midmar, of which he was the patron.

St. Englatius, Abbot, A.D. 996.

This saint, whose feast-day appears in the calendar of the Aberdeen

Breviary, is associated with the parish of Tarves in Aberdeenshire, where he is known by the name of Tanglan. There is a "Tanglan's

Well" in the village, and a "Tanglan's" Ford on the river Ythan.

St. Baya or Vey, Virgin, about the 9th century.

She is said to have inhabited the island of Little Cumbrae, where she lived in solitude surrounded by birds and beasts. The ruins of an ancient chapel, called that of St. Vey, are still to be seen, and the saint is believed to have been buried there. Tradition tells us, in proof of her love of solitude, that when the Rector of Dunbar attempted to carry off St. Baya's relics, a furious storm arose through the saint's intervention, and compelled him to desist. Kilbag Head in Lewis is probably named after a church dedicated to this saint.

St. Maura, Virgin, about the 9th century.

This saint was a friend of St. Baya, and used to visit her upon her island for spiritual converse. She is said to have governed a very austere community of virgins consecrated to God. She died at Kilmaura (Church of Maura) in Ayrshire.

6 – St. Methven.

There are no particulars extant concerning the life of this saint, and it is therefore impossible to determine the time in which he flourished. A church bearing the name of St. Methven formerly stood in the parish of Fowlis Wester, in Perthshire. A fair used to be held there on this day in each year, locally known as St. Methvenmas Market. The day itself was observed as a holiday. Like most of such remains of Catholic merry-makings, the custom has long disappeared.

8 – St. Moroc, Bishop.

Some writers maintain that this saint was formerly Abbot of Dunkeld. His name certainly survives in that neighbourhood in Kilmorick, where a spring is called St. Mureach's Well. Another church named after this saint was at Lecropt, near Stirling, and here his body is said by tradition to have been laid to rest. Kilimrack (Beauly) has been sometimes ascribed to this saint, but the more reliable authorities give it as one of Our Lady's dedications. The period in which St. Moroc flourished is not known with any degree of certainty.

St. Gervadsus or Gernadius, Hermit, A.D. 934,

This saint was of Irish nationality. Longing for a life of entire seclusion from the world, he left his native land and took up his residence in Scotland. He is said to have lived many years as a hermit in the province of Moray, and in corroboration of the tradition a cave was formerly pointed out in the parish of Drainie, near Elgin, known as "Gerardin's Cave," it was situated on the height behind the modern Station Hotel at Lossiemouth. For many centuries this habitation was intact. It had an ancient Gothic doorway and window-opening, but these were demolished more than a hundred years ago by a drunken sailor. Since 1870 the whole face of the cliff known as "Holyman's Head," including the cave, has been quarried. No trace now remains of the spring of water there, called "Gerardin's Well," from which the anchorite drank a thousand years ago.

It is said that a monastery was founded by this saint at Kennedar, in the same parish of Drainie where he associated himself with many fellow-soldiers in Christ, and built a church under the direction of angels. The remains of Kineddar Castle, a residence of the Bishops of Moray, may still be seen there. Tradition tells that on stormy nights, the saint was wont to pace the beach below his cell, lantern in hand, to warn off vessels from the dangerous rocks. This is commemorated in the Lossiemouth Burgh seal, which represents the saint with his lantern and bears the motto: Per noctem lux. A Presbyterian church erected at Stotfield (Lossiemouth) in recent years bears the name of "St. Gerardine."

12 – St. Machar or Mocumma, Bishop, 6th century.

This saint was the son of Fiachna, an Irish chieftain, and was baptised by St. Colman. In his youth he became a disciple of the great St. Columba, and when that saint went to Scotland, Machar accompanied him, together with eleven other disciples. After some years he was made a bishop, and was sent by St. Columba with twelve companions to preach to the pagan Picts of Strathdon, in the northeast of Scotland. It is said that his holy master commanded him to found a church in the spot where he should find a river forming by its windings the shape of a bishop's pastoral staff. Such a configuration he found in the river Don, at the spot now known as Old Aberdeen. Here he accordingly fixed his seat, and the cathedral that rose from the humble beginnings of a church instituted by Machar now bears his name.

Besides the old Cathedral of Aberdeen, there are in the same county two parishes, formerly joined in one, which are known as New and Old Machar, respectively. At Kildrummie, in Aberdeenshire, is a place called (after the saint) "Macker's Haugh." There is St. Machar's Well, near the cathedral, at Old Aberdeen; the water used always to be taken for baptismal purposes to the cathedral.