Saints of Scotland

St. Columba of Iona: Apostle to Scotland Saint Columba (c. 521–597), known in Irish as Columcille (the dove of the church), stands as one of the three patron saints of Ireland alongside Patrick and Brigid, and as the primary founder of organised Christianity in Scotland. His establishment of the monastery at Iona around 563 transformed an obscure Inner Hebridean island into the spiritual heartland of Celtic Christianity, from which missionaries would eventually Christianise the northern Picts, the Gaels of Dál Riata, the northern English, and ultimately entire regions of continental Europe. Origins and Noble Lineage Saint Columba was born on December 7, 521, in Gartan, County Donegal, Ireland, into one of the most powerful noble families of early medieval Ireland: the Uí Néill dynasty, which traced its descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages, the legendary High King of Ireland who died around 450. His parents were Fedelmid mac Ferguso and Eithne, …

Saint Faolán also known as Fillan, Foillan, Faelan, and Foelan as an eighth-century Irish monk and missionary whose evangelistic labours in Scotland established him as one of the most venerated Celtic saints of medieval Caledonia. Born around 695 in Munster, Ireland, Faolán descended from Irish royal lineage: his father was Feriach, a prince or king of Dál Riata, while his mother was Saint Kentigerna, daughter of King Cellach Cualann of Leinster. Faolán was born with a stone in his mouth and his father Feriach interpreted this as a curse rather than divine blessing. In a terrible act of paternal rejection, Feriach threw his son into a nearby lake. Miraculously, Faolán survived for an entire year in the water, sustained by angels. At the end of the year, a holy bishop called Saint Ibar received a divine revelation directing him to the lake, where he discovered the child playing with angels …