The Life of St. Patrick

Muirchú's Account

Muirchú Moccu Machtheni, a 7th-century Irish monk and historian, composed a detailed life of Patrick, known as: "Vita sancti Patricii", that has deeply shaped the modern Irish understanding of their patron saint. While modern secular historians might dismiss portions of this account as mere "embellishment" or "fantasy," those of us who approach this text through the lens of Orthodox Christian faith find something far more profound.

In Muirchú's careful telling, we encounter Patrick not simply as a historical figure, but as a vessel of divine grace whose life radiates the glory of the Holy Trinity. The miracles recorded - from his contests with the druids to his forty-day fast atop Croagh Patrick - speak to us of God's continuing presence in His creation, much like the mighty works of the early Church Fathers. Muirchú lovingly captures Patrick’s deep humility, which particularly moves the Orthodox heart, reminding us of Christ's own kenosis.

Tírechán's Account

Tírechán's hagiography, composed in the late 7th century, stands as a profound testament to Saint Patrick's missionary journey across Ireland. Whereas Muirchú focuses heavily on the miracles of Patrick, Tírechán focuses more on the earthly labours of Patrick's life.

In Tírechán's account, he covers the missionary journey of Patrick from the founding of churches to the baptising of the children of kings showing us how the saint planted the Cross of Christ in Ireland.

Through Tírechán’s account, we encounter Patrick as a true successor to the apostles. His work mirrors the missionary journeys in the Acts of the Apostles. For Orthodox Christians today, this text serves not just as historical record, but as a living witness to how God establishes His Church through the labours of His saints.

These combined sources - both contemporary accounts and later hagiographical works - provide a remarkably complete picture of Saint Patrick's life and legacy. Thus, these sources make him one of the best-documented figures of Celtic Christianity.

Irish Names

I've kept names in their original format as much as possible which means many of them are in Irish rather than the often used Latin variations.

For ease of reading please be aware that "mac" and "Uí" are used to signify patromony. "Mac" meaning "son of" which is a direct descendant and "Uí" meaning "descendant of" which means a indirect descendant such as grandchildren and nephews. These days you will see many people in Ireland with "O" in their names such as "O Neill". This is the modern form of "Uí Néill".

Early Life

St. Patrick was born around 385 AD in Romano-Britain, therefore making him a Romano-British citizen. His father, Calpornius was a deacon and his grandfather, Potitus was a priest. His mother was named Concessa and that is all we know of her. Despite the religiosity of his background Patrick himself had no interest in Christianity. In fact, he later wrote in his Confessio:

"I was taken into captivity in Ireland, along with thousands of others. We deserved this, because we had gone away from God, and did not keep his commandments…. The Lord brought his strong anger upon us, and scattered us among many nations even to the ends of the earth".

His family lived in Bannavem Taburniae in Wales. The exact location of this town today is unknown. His father came from Rome and was involved in the city administration there. The saint’s name was Patricius, (Patrick and Pádraig are English and Irish forms), and means “noble” in Latin. In Muirchú's hagiography he claimed to have found four historical sources tracking the names of St. Patrick: "Patrick son of Calpornius had four names":

• Sochet (birth name)

• Cothriche (slave name)

• Mauonius (student name)

• Patrick (consecration name)

However, in his Confessio Patrick refers to himself "Ego Patricius" which is "I, Patrick". It is possible that as a slave he was given another name but as for his birth name, it is widely accepted as Patrick.

He likely received, at a minimum, a rudimentary education due to his father's and grandfather's positions in society. Despite his education, Patrick could read and write Late Latin – as demonstrated in his Epistola and Confessio – with only a rudimentary syntax.

When he was sixteen, Irish raiders kidnapped him and sold him into slavery to a chieftain called Miliuc moccu Bóin who lived on Sliabh Mis - a mountain in Antrim, Ireland - where he worked as a shepherd for six years. These raids were commonplace across the Irish Sea and as mentioned in Patrick's Confessio thousands had been kidnapped with him.

In his time in Ireland he learned the Irish language fluently, which would be a great help to him in the future when he returned to Ireland to enlighten its people. As a slave he rarely had enough food to eat and was barely clothed to survive the brutal Irish winters. His daily life revolved around pasturing sheep/swine, guarding them from wolves, and enduring isolation in an extremely cold and wet place. But Patrick came to see all of this pain as a sign to turn to Christ. He began to pray day and night eventually praying 100 times a day and 100 times a night.

The Escape

Then one day an angel appeared to Patrick and said to him, "Don’t be afraid, Patrick. Your prayers have been answered by God. I am an angel, Victoricus, and I have come to help you run away from the pagans… Go down the cliff and you will see a boat". Patrick, still unsure as to what he should do didn't immediately follow the guidance of the angel but on looking down the cliff he saw a path formed in front of him.

This was not the first time that Victoricus had appeared to Patrick. Victoricus had earlier assured him, ‘It is well that you fast; you shall soon go home".

Another time, Victoricus had appeared to help Patrick after he had lost some of his swine herd. Obviously distressed by this he prayed for help and his angelic friend appeared to guide him to the lost swine. So with trust in the Lord he began his journey down the narrow path.

Patrick trekked 200 miles to the coast, where he found the boat. Patrick found the boat was full of pagans who demanded Patrick renounce Christianity. When he refused, they initially barred him. But after he turned away, they relented and allowed him onto the boat. But this would not be the end of Patrick's suffering.

After landing in an uninhabited region, described as a "desert" by Patrick (likely Brittany), they wandered lost for 28 days. Patrick and the pagans were hungry, tired and suffering due to the elements when after finishing their prayers the pagans begged Patrick to ask his God for food as their prayers had failed them up to this point.

Moved by the sailors’ desperation, Patrick prayed. A herd of swine miraculously appeared. The pagans, though grateful, offered the meat to their "gods". Patrick abstained, yet felt no hunger—a small miracle amid trials.

That night, Satan assaulted Patrick twice. He felt crushed beneath an invisible weight, as if buried under rocks. Through prayer to God and the prophet Elijah, Patrick endured until dawn, emerging unharmed and strengthened by sunrise.

Intervening Years

Between ages 23 (post-escape) and 30 (pre-Gaul), Patrick wandered Gaul in prayer and asceticism. Historical gaps obscure details of his brief return home and second enslavement. Although, we know that he returned home at some stage in these intervening seven years and was captured and enslaved. Where this happened or when exactly, is not known.

But we know that Victoricus appeared again to Patrick and reassured him: "Two months you shall be with them" and on the 60th day the Lord helped Patrick and his companions to escape. Not only that, but he provided them with dry wood for fire and with plenty of food for 10 days until they encountered people again. He then returned home to his family where he stayed for a while. What he did during this time is unknown.

He lived quite happily with his family. All the while they urged him to never leave them again. But he had frequent visions pushing him to leave home and continue his struggle. As he approached the age of 30 he longed to gain divine wisdom and understand better the holy mysteries.

Then, the angel Victoricus appeared to him again and told him it was the will of the Lord that he return to the land that had enslaved him and enlighten its people. He wrote in his Confessio: "I heard the voice of the Irish calling me". It was in this moment that Patrick decided to dedicate his entire life to God and to serve His will.

Promptly, he left Britain and took a boat to Gaul. His plan was to go through France and down through Italy to reach Rome where he would study and further his knowledge and spiritual struggle. However, he didn't make it past Auxerre in France where he came in contact with Saint Germanus. Muirchú wrote:

"…and there, in perfect subjection, patience, and obedience, he learned, loved, and practised knowledge, wisdom, chastity, and every good disposition of spirit and soul, as was his heart's desire, with great fear and love of God."

n 418 AD he was ordained a deacon by the Bishop of Auxerre who was, at that time, St. Germanus. Later being ordained a priest and eventually a Bishop in 432 AD. Patrick’s consecration likely occurred after Palladius’ death (c. 432 AD), though the exact bishop and location remain debated. A widely believed figure to be the one to have consecrated Patrick is Amatorex, Bishop of Auxerre, but this is impossible because he died in 418 AD. In fact, he was the Bishop replaced by St. Germanus making his role in Patrick’s consecration chronologically impossible! Furthermore, his consecration as bishop was not without controversy due to his perceived lack of education.

The best historical account of where he was consecrated states that Patrick received news of the death of Palladius somewhere near the sea between Gaul and Britain. Once he was consecrated he left for Ireland by boat. It is possible he was consecrated by St. Germanus but it is impossible to know. What we do know is that there is no evidence that Patrick ever arrived in Rome so reports that he may have been consecrated there are apocryphal.

He had spent about 18 years studying in France, mostly in Auxerre. Later traditions claim he studied in Tours and Lérins Abbey (founded c. 410 AD), on an island off southeastern Gaul called Saint Honorat (then called Lerina). Saint Honoratus (after whom the island is named) initially went to live as a hermit but was soon joined by disciples, forming a substantial monastic community by 427 AD. At Lérins Abbey, Patrick may have adopted its ascetic practices, later shaping Irish monasticism.

After his 18 years of preparation, in the year 432 AD, Patrick went to Ireland with some companions. Segetius, assistant priest to St. Germanus, carried testimonial letters endorsing Patrick’s mission. We know little else of his other companions or their numbers but it is said he had a strong team of priests, exorcists, janitors and lectors. This would be needed as Patrick set out to establish as many churches as he could as quickly as possible once he landed in Ireland. Although Patrick had received many visions about his calling, built up this strong team of holy men and had spent many decades preparing, it was evident he was not entering into a hopeful mission.

St. Palladius, was the Bishop of Ireland whom Patrick was being sent to replace. But he left Ireland after only two years as Bishop feeling like it was impossible to spread Christianity to the Irish people. He did build three churches in Leinster (Eastern region of Ireland) but it wasn't enough. He sailed to Britain where he died shortly afterward and was replaced by Patrick.

The Book of Armagh notes Palladius’ failure, framing Patrick’s success as divine: "A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven". Perhaps, a sign that later historians viewed Patrick's mission as divinely driven.

The Book of Armagh is a 9th-century Irish manuscript written primarily in Latin by the scribe Ferdomnach around 807 AD, containing early texts about St. Patrick (including Muirchú's Life, Tírechán's Memoir, and Patrick's Confession), a complete New Testament, and a Life of St. Martin of Tours.

Arrival in Ireland

In those days Ireland was broken into hundreds of kingdoms. War was common, and the druids held massive power over society. They could heal people with their herbs, scare away the demons with their magic, fight the enemy with the power of the occult and see the future. This last power would bring about a terrifying prophecy for a great king of Ireland.

The most powerful king at that time, Lóegaire, son of Níall, held the throne of Tara. Tara being an extremely important area of Ireland, even to this day. Not only is the geography strong for defence with it being the largest hill in the region, allowing the defender to see for many kilometres, but it also held immense spiritual power for the druids.

The druids approached King Lóegaire with a prophecy:

"There shall arrive Shaven-head, with his stick bent in the head, from his house with a hole in its head, he will chant impiety from his table in the front of his house; all his people will answer 'Be it thus, be it thus" 

Muirchú himself states that the language was clunky due to the word-for-word translation. He gave his own translation that isn't word-for-word but gets the point across:

"When all this happens, our kingdom, which is a pagan one, will fall."

Little did they know that Patrick, would use the Hill of Slane, only ten miles from Tara to show all of Ireland the might of the Holy Trinity over paganism only a short while later.

Patrick landed in the north of Ireland, near to where he was once a slave, all those years ago. Interestingly, the man who had enslaved him, chieftain Miliuc, was still alive. Patrick, knowing this, wanted to meet his former captor and buy himself out of slavery. In fact, he planned on paying twice a fair price for himself. He did this not only to "free" himself but also to free the captor from his covetousness.

As he disembarked his boat, he intended to remain low-key as to avoid drawing too much attention to himself before he had bought himself out of his servitude to Miliuc. But his plans were interrupted by a swineherd who saw him and ran to his master immediately to tell him of this trespasser. Unbeknownst to Patrick, the swineherd's master Díchu Mac Trichim, was on his way to the field to kill Patrick under the assumption that he was a thief. Yet, upon seeing the holy face of the saint his anger abated and he started a conversation with Patrick.

Not long after, Patrick had converted him to Christianity. His first convert on the island of Ireland! He remained with Díchu a few more days to help teach him more about Christ and his new religion before he left him, eager to payoff his former captor.

Chieftain Miliuc got wind that his old slave had returned to Ireland and he grew fearful. He heard of his conversions and feared he may be forced to accept a strange way of life so close to the end of his own life. Essentially, he was terrorised by the thought of becoming a slave to his old slave! That is when the devil planted in his mind the seed that it was better to die by one's own hand in freedom than to live under the yoke of another.

Miliuc gathered his wealth into his castle. There, he built a large pyre and, in a final act of defiance, immolated himself. Patrick arrived on the hill across from the castle just in time to catch this horrendous sight. He stood on that hill for two hours, where he watched and prayed before saying:

"I know not, God knows, this man and king, who chose to burn himself in fire rather than believe at the end of his life and serve eternal God, I know not, God knows, none of his sons shall sit on his throne as king of his kingdom in generations to come; what is more, his line shall be subordinate for ever"

He then made his way back to Díchu, with whom he spent the next few days. He spoke to the local people and as word of him spread, the Word of God also spread and the people began to convert to Christianity. Díchu, wanting to help gave Patrick his barn so that he could have his first church in Ireland. There is still a church on this site today in Saul, County Down. The church has of course been rebuilt and renovated many times over it's history and is visited by many pilgrims every year.

Benin and The Early Mission

Benin, also known as Benignus is Patrick's most famous follower. He was born in county Meath in Leinster and started following Patrick very shortly after the latter's arrival in Ireland. This means that Patrick wasted no time heading south once he landed in Ireland. This would make sense as Leinster has always been the most populous region of Ireland, it still is today and is the region in which Dublin is found. It is also where Palladius managed to establish his three churches.

As Patrick moved south he baptised many people and established countless churches. Among these people were the family of Irish Chieftain Sesenan, whose son was Benin. Patrick and his followers rested with Chieftain Sesenan for a few days during their travels. In this time the Chieftain was so impressed with Patrick that he and his family converted to Christianity. They were baptised by Patrick in the river Ailbhine or Devlin in North County Dublin.

Benen would eventually go on to be Bishop of Armagh, be Patrick's Psalmist and be heavily involved in the evolution of Christianity in Ireland. Eventually, his sister Mathona would become a nun with Tírechán stating "she took the veil from Patrick" before becoming the Abbess of Tawney. It is known that she accompanied Benen on his travels and helped to spread Christianity in Ireland.

Benen was only one of about 350 Bishops ordained by Patrick in his time in Ireland. The number of priests he ordained cannot be accurately established as he ordained so many but it is believed to be around 5000.

Patrick built at least 3 churches in what was then known as Mag Breg which was an area that covered County Meath (including the famous Hill of Slane). In these churches he ordained Bishops and at least one of his followers, Saint Erc, was buried there.

The first nobleman to be converted by Patrick was Conall son of Níall, the brother of Lóegaire. Conall gave shelter to Patrick for some days and was impressed by him, accepting the Christian faith and baptism. After this Patrick blessed him and his rule.

Conall's other brother, Cairbre, wanted to kill Patrick. In fact, he had one of Patrick's followers scourged in a river during an interregoation. His aim was to discover Patrick's identity. Upon meeting Cairbre, Patrick cursed him, called him an enemy of God and told him "Thy seed shall serve the seed of thy brothers, and there shall be no king of thy lineage for ever". In fact Patrick made clear to Conall that Cairbre's children would always be servants to his. In return, Conall offered protection to Patrick in the north of Ireland and even gave him land for churches.

On his travels he established another church in which he left three brothers and a sister to run, they were named: Cathaceus, Cathurus, Catneus, and their sister Catnea. They supposedly were able to survive in a secluded area by drinking the milk of wild deer according to witnesses.

As he moved around Leinster establishing churches and baptising converts he made many enemies. In fact, Patrick even wrote himself that every day he woke up expecting to be killed or enslaved. In one incident he found himself in Uisnech in County Westmeath when the son of Fíachu son of Níall killed one of the foreign followers of Patrick. In response Patrick cursed the descendants of the son saying "There shall be no king from thy progeny, but thou shalt serve the seed of thy brothers." - This is a similar curse laid against the other member of the Uí Níall family, Cairbre. Interestingly enough the historical records of these two lineages do seem to disappear after this time whereas the lineages of the other members of the family who converted continues for centuries more in Irish history.

In all, during his mission he baptised around 120,000 people, established around 300 churches and many monasteries.

Paschal Fire at Slane

We know that in either Patrick's first or second year in Ireland, there was a huge pagan festival held around the same time as Pascha. What the festival was, is not clear. However it may have been a desperate attempt to cleanse Ireland of Patrick by seeking the intercession of their pagan "gods". After all, the host of this festival was none other than Lóegaire, son of Níall, who had received that terrifying prophecy from his prognosticating druids. Muirchú described the festival as such:

"a feast of pagan worship was being held, which the pagans used to celebrate with many incantations and magic rites and other superstitious acts of idolatry. There assembled the kings, satraps, leaders, princes, and the nobles of the people; furthermore, the druids, the fortune-tellers, and the inventors and teachers of every craft… were summoned to king Lóegaire at Tara, their Babylon, as they had been summoned at one time to Nebuchadnezzar, and they held and celebrated their pagan feast on the same night on which holy Patrick celebrated Easter"

This celebration seemed to have followed the rules set forth for Bealtaine and other large festivals. That is, everyone in Ireland must extinguish their fires and await the fire at Tara to be lit first. Anyone who lit their fire before the druidic fire at Tara was to be put to death.

Traditionally, the fire at Tara would be lit first, and then Slane, and outward onto all the major hills of Ireland, concentrically, almost like dominoes falling, one by one, each ring igniting. Other than being something that must have been incredible to witness, its purpose was to cleanse the nation of bad spirits, bad luck and anything that would curse the Irish people.

As the king and his guests celebrated, the druids were preparing to light the pyre at Tara. Unknown to them was that Patrick had different plans for that night. He had set up camp on the nearby hill of slane and built his own pyre. His fire would not only be a challenge to the druids and king but would bring the light of the Holy Trinity upon Ireland and its people.

As Patrick lit the fire, it illuminated the entire plain, seen by many, including the king. Enraged that someone would be as bold to light a fire before his druids he demanded to know who had lit it. Obviously, nobody at the party could know who did it but the druids warned the king that if the fire wasn't extinguished that very night that it would never be extinguished at all. They went further and told the king that the fire would engulf their own customs, upend the kingdom by seducing its people and would overpower the king and druids. Thus, forcing all the other kingdoms of Ireland to submit to it.

They were correct, this paschal fire was the first time a fire had been burned in Ireland, not to scare away demons but to enlighten the people with the light of God's love. The king left with his men and druids and headed for the place of the fire with the sole intention of killing Patrick. The main druids, Lucet Máel and Lochru, seemingly aware of the perilousness of their position in power warned the king to not enter into the light of Patrick's camp.

Upon arrival, they seemingly realised it was Patrick's camp and therefore, he, who had lit the fire. They warned the king that he may adore the man who lit the fire so it would be best if they summoned him (that is Patrick) to the king so that Patrick would adore the king. The druids then warned all the men to sit down and not to rise when Patrick was summoned as whoever would rise would adore him.

Upon seeing the chariots and men to the side of his camp Patrick turned to the young clerics who had started to follow him at this time and referenced the words of the psalmist, saying "Let others come on chariots and on horseback, we shall go our way in the name of the Lord our God" and he went to them.

Of course, the men followed the order of the druids and stayed seated, except for one brave man, a druid, who felt compelled by God to stand and show respect to Patrick. Patrick blessed him and he converted there and then. This brave man became Saint Erc, first Bishop of Slane. His monastery built on the hill of Slane was in use for more than 600 years, the ruins of which are still there today and visited every year by thousands of people.

After this moment things became heated, fast. One of the two main druids, Lochru, grew furious and started to verbally abuse Patrick, the Trinity and all professions of the Christian faith. Patrick listened calmly until the blasphemy became too much. With a booming voice and air of authority Patrick exclaimed "O Lord, who art all-powerful and in whose power is everything, who hast sent me here, may this impious man, who blasphemes thy name, now be cast out and quickly perish." After he had spoken the man was raised into the air and violently slammed into the ground without anybody touching him. As he came down, he hit his head on a rock, dying instantly. The king and his men stood frozen in fear for a brief moment before the king, apoplectic with rage demanded his men to catch and kill Patrick.

As they climbed upon their chariots, Patrick exclaimed "Let God arise and let His enemies scatter, and let those who hate Him flee from before His face!" Now, the fire although still burning produced much less light than before, the earth began to shake and the king's men, confused and frightened began to fight among themselves. Blinded by darkness and maddened with confusion they drove their chariots over the edge of a cliff. Many men were left injured or dead from this incident while the rest fled the scene.

Atop the hill remained Patrick, his clerics and the pagan druid, Erc, who had converted upon seeing Patrick, eight people in total. Opposite them was the king and queen, the latter of which begged Patrick not to hurt the king because he would bend his knee to Patrick and accept his God. The king did what his wife told him to and bent his knee and paid reverence to Patrick but his heart was dark and planned vengeance. Patrick being discerning knew this but allowed the king to leave.

Patrick waited a short while until the king should have returned home. The distance not being too far from the Hill of Slane to Tara. The fire, still burning, lit up once again the entire area while Patrick gathered his clerics, and headed for Tara. King Lóegaire, having gathered his surviving men from the massacre on the Hill of Slane had set an ambush. They lay in wait along the road for Patrick and his clerics.

As they approached, the king's men awaited the order to pounce but just before it came Patrick stopped, blessed his followers in the name of Jesus Christ and suddenly the king and his men lost sight of Patrick and his followers. The light from Slane was bright but far away, there were many shadows and darkness behind them. Then the king spotted 8 deer walking through the field beside them, one deer that stood out to the king had a sack on his back with what looked like books inside. The king realising that he could not best Patrick returned home to Tara, depressed but not accepting defeat.

It was this night that Patrick wrote his famous prayer - St. Patrick's Lorica also known as "The Deer's Cry" and another name being "St. Patrick's Breastplate" -

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through a belief in the Threeness,

Through confession of the Oneness

Of the Creator of creation.

Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ on my right,

Christ on my left,

Christ when I lie down,

Christ when I sit down,

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,

Christ in the eye that sees me,

Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through a belief in the Threeness,

Through a confession of the Oneness,

Of the Creator of creation.

This is the "short version" of the prayer. The full version can be found here.

The Battle of Patrick and The Druids

The next day the druids and the king sat in Tara castle, angry and shocked. They discussed the previous night's happenings when suddenly, Patrick entered into the dining hall through a closed door much in the same way Jesus entered into the room of the apostles on pentecost. He wasn't content with simply preaching the faith. He was going to show the power of the one true God to these people whether they wanted it or not. This attitude of Patrick is something that is seen again and again, that indefatigable belief and faith in the one holy Trinity and his drive to spread the Word.

Nobody's surprise lasted too long after what they had seen and heard about happening the night before. The king ordered everyone to remain seated as to not honour the holy Patrick, but one brave man did stand, Dubthach maccu Lugir, a poet of the court became an immediate convert to Christianity after seeing Patrick and receiving his blessing.

The druids asked Patrick to sit and eat with them however, this was not a friendly invitation but rather trickery. Patrick, always a step ahead understood their plan and played along, taking a seat and accepting the food and drink offered.

The main druid Lucet Máel who was still shaken from the night before and worried about being hurt after the death of Lochru but still he persisted with his fight against Patrick. He took Patrick's goblet of wine and poured a drop of poison into it before handing it back to Patrick. With all eyes on him, Patrick blessed the goblet and all the liquid froze. Turning the goblet upside down, the one drop of poison dripped out and fell onto the table. He then turned the goblet right side up and blessed it again turning the contents back to liquid. At this miracle everyone was amazed but the druids were only more angered.

A short while later, Lucet Máel said to Patrick "Let us work miracles in this vast plain," and Patrick asked: "What sort of miracles?", to which the druid replied: "Let us bring snow over the land". Patrick was reticent due to his humility before God, saying "I do not want to bring about anything against God's will," but the druid proclaimed: "I shall bring it about in the sight of all." Then, uttering some spells, he brought snow, reaching up as far as a man's belt, over the entire plain. Patrick, allowed this but then ordered him: "All right, we see this. Remove it now." But the druid replied that until the same hour the next day, he could not remove the snow, that is, it must remain for 24 hours. Patrick, angry, said: "You can do evil and cannot do good. Not so I." With a prayer and a blessing the entire plain became clear of snow without any rain or wind to remove it.

At Patrick's work the onlookers cheered in amazement. But the druid would not be outdone. Through the power of the occult, he brought down a heavy fog on the plain, blocking out the sun. Patrick demanded that he remove the fog but again, the druid could only do acts of evil, not good, so Patrick blessed the plain with the fog ascending and the warmth of the sun once again felt by all present.

The king was growing weary with all of this and ordered both men to throw their holy books into the river: "Cast your books into the water, and he whose books remain unharmed, him we shall adore." Patrick was willing to do this and told the king as much, however, the druid said he would not partake because "water is his God" - this was no doubt related to baptism. The pagans would never have seen such a practice before so it was only normal that through their prism of looking at the world, to assume that St. Patrick worshipped a God of water.

The king ordered the druid to then do the test with fire instead. Again Patrick agreed to such a test but the druid was nervous claiming "This man worships every second year in turn now water now fire as his god." Patrick retorted to clarify to the druid, king and everyone else in ear shot.

"Not so; but you yourself, and one of the boys in my service together with you shall go into a divided and closed house, and you shall wear my garment and my boy shall wear yours, and so you two together shall be set on fire and be judged in the presence of the Highest."

The druid agreed so a house was quickly built. One side built with green wood and the other with dry wood. The druid would stand in the side made of green wood (which shouldn't burn well) and Benen (St. Patrick's favourite student) would stand in the dry wood half of the house. The druid had on St. Patrick's phelonian while the boy wore the druids clothes. Then the house was set alight.

Within one hour the green side of the house had completely burned with druid burned to death but the phelonian of Patrick completely unscathed. On the other side of the house, the fire burned but Benen suffered no injuries or pain but the druids clothes he had been wearing had been completely burned.

Again the king was left outraged that now his second, top druid was dead. He and his men were about the attack Patrick when many of his men who drew weapons dropped dead. Patrick looked at the king and said "If you do not believe now you shall die at once, for the wrath of God has come down upon your head."

King Lóegaire assembled his council and elders and stated "It is better for me to believe than to die" and on that day he relented to Patrick and accepted Christ. With this many new people were baptised in Tara and its surrounding area. But Patrick was not done with the king. Before leaving Tara he said to the king "Since you have resisted my teaching and been offensive to me, the days of your own reign shall run on, but none of your offspring shall ever be king."

On hearing this curse, the queen begged Patrick to spare her unborn baby from this curse and he granted this request. That baby was Lugaid, and Lóegaire's son Lugaid is included in many "all king lists" in Ireland. However, there are no historical documents for any other descendants of king Loíguire taking the throne which is strange as he had many children and two wives! Further to that king Loíguire was son of Níall of the Nine Hostages who was an extremely powerful king whose dynasties ruled for centuries in Ireland, long after Patrick. But this line of the dynasty died with Lugaid!

Ethne Alba and Fedelm Dírmait

Early one morning on the hills of Cruachu, believed to be modern day Rathcrogan in County Roscommon, the two daughters of king Lóegaire headed to the well to wash as was the custom of women in those days. They were accompanied by two druids for protection. These druids were brothers who were tasked with caring for, protecting and educating the girls.

Ethne was known as the fair-haired one while Fedelm as the red-haired one. As they approached the well they saw Patrick and his Bishops, not knowing who they were they at first believed them to be fairies. Fairies are popular in Irish folk tradition, even to this day people will not cut down a tree or a bush if it is believed to belong to a fairy. So the girls would have been apprehensive to approach but it seems their curiosity got the better of them.

They proceeded to ask Patrick "Whence are you and whence have you come?" To which Patrick responded "It would be better for you to profess our true God than to ask questions about our race."

Ethne was intrigued and asked Patrick:

"Who is God and where is God and whose God is he and where is his dwelling-place? Has your God sons and daughters, gold and silver? Is he ever-living, is he beautiful, have many fostered his son, are his daughters dear and beautiful in the eyes of the men of the earth? Is he in the sky or in the earth or in the water, in rivers, in mountains, in valleys? Give us an account of him; how shall he be seen, how is he loved, how is he found, is he found in youth, in old age?"

Patrick's response was enough to convert the girls:

"Our God is the God of all men, the God of heaven and earth, of the sea and the rivers, God of the sun and the moon and all the stars, the God of high mountains and low valleys; God above heaven and in heaven and under heaven, he has his dwelling in heaven and earth and sea and in everything that is in them; he breathes in all things, makes all things live, surpasses all things, supports all things; he illumines the light of the sun, he consolidates the light of the night and the stars, he has made wells in the dry earth and dry islands in the sea and stars for the service of the major lights, He has a son, coeternal with him, similar to him; the Son is not younger than the Father nor is the Father older than the Son, and the Holy Spirit breathes in them; the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit are not separate. Now I wish to join you to the heavenly king since you are daughters of an earthly king, if you are willing to believe."

The girls then asked Patrick to teach them how they could believe in the heavenly king so as they could see him "face to face". Patrick followed up by asking them if they believed in the power of baptism, repentance, life after death, resurrection on the day of judgment, and the unity of the church - to which they responded "We believe" and they were immediately baptised.

They then demanded of Patrick, before all his Bishops, to see the face of Christ to which Patrick responded "Unless you taste death you cannot see the face of Christ, and unless you receive the sacrament." And they answered "Give us the sacrament so that we may see the Son, our bridegroom". Patrick obliged and upon receiving the eucharist they both fell asleep in the Lord.

After their passing from this life to the next, the druid Caplit, who had a close relationship with the girls, was weeping and complained that Patrick not only took the girls from the gods of their nation but also took them from this Earth too. However, Patrick preached to him and he believed, having his druidic hair style shaved off and becoming Christian.

The other druid, Máel (not the same druid as Lucet Máel who died in the fire), was not so easily convinced and even threatened to reconvert Caplit to paganism. Patrick did not give up on him and persisted with his preaching until he too believed and shaved off his druidic hair style and accepted Christ as God.

The girls were buried near the well and the former druid brothers went on to live as Christians.

Under Brehon Law, which ruled the land of Ireland in those days, the king would have been within his rights to seek revenge for the death of his daughters. However, it seems there was no response from the king to Patrick's actions. In fact, it is known that after Patrick's battle with the druids in which Lucet Máel and Lochru perished, Lóegaire ensured Patrick's safety as he preached and spread the gospel in lands under his control despite him remaining a pagan.

This support was vital for Patrick to continue his work unhindered but one wonders what Lóegaire must have been thinking after two of his daughters converted and died (Ethne and Fedelm), one son converted (Conall) and another son was cursed (Cairbre). His brother Fiachu mac Néill refused baptism while his son (Lóegaire's nephew) was cursed (for murdering Patrick's follower). He also lost four of his top druids to death and conversion (Lucet Máel, Lochru, Máel, and Caplit) and finally he, himself was cursed with the end of his bloodline after his son Lugaid.

Further to this we know the children of Énda mac Néill, Fergus mac Néill and Conall mac Néill were all very active in the spreading of Christianity in Ireland and establishing monasteries all over the island.

Conall’s descendants, particularly through his Cenél nEógain lineage, became critical in the Christianization of northern Ireland:

• Eógan mac Néill (son or close kin to Conall): Founded the Cenél nEógain, which became a dominant dynasty in Ulster.

• The Cenél Conaill, another branch from Conall, became patrons of several monastic foundations in Donegal, including Kells and Derry.

Enda’s descendants were part of the Southern Uí Néill dynasties, which held sway over areas like Brega and Tara:

• The Clann Cholmáin and Síl nÁedo Sláine emerged from this lineage. These families became major patrons of the Church in the midlands.

• Their cooperation with monastic leaders like St. Columcille (Columba) in later generations indicates a strong Christian influence likely rooted in Patrick’s initial mission.

Fergus’s lineage, known as the Cenél Fergusa, were part of the northern Uí Néill:

• They contributed to the spread of Christianity in the northwest and supported the establishment of monasteries.

• Their territories overlapped with the areas where Patrick is said to have preached extensively.

With this protection Patrick was safe in practically all of Ireland, however there were still attempts on his life but he always remained one step ahead, converting some and condemning others.

In many places Patrick came across men and women who had already believed in Christ and were already great ascetics. These people learned from the many priests and Bishops he sent out and through the words he spoke on the island. Even to this day, information spreads rapidly by word of mouth in Ireland and things were no different then.

This meant one of the big tasks for Patrick was actually making these holy people literate so that they could be priests, Bishops, monks and nuns. In Ireland at the time as most things were spread orally, reading and writing held less importance. Further to that, the few people who did read only read Ogham which is an ancient form of writing in Ireland.

In Tírechán's hagiography, one can read about the the more mundane aspects of Patrick's journey including him finding these holy men and women and "writing letters" for them, that is, teaching them to read and write, baptising multitudes of people, blessing wells and streams for future baptisms, establishing churches on almost every hill he climbed and spreading his disciples out among the people's of Ireland. Although we know of many miracles of Patrick, most of his day to day life was not battling druids and resurrecting the dead but doing the typical bureaucratic things any Bishop has to do to keep the Orthodox Church running.

Croagh Patrick

In 441 AD, for Great Lent, Patrick went to a mountain in the west of Ireland known then as Cruachán Aigli but nowadays named Croagh Patrick after the saint.

From archaeological discoveries in Ireland we know this mountain has been seen as holy for millennia. Perhaps that is why Patrick chose this mountain as the battleground for the spiritual warfare he was about the wage. After seven years of converting people, battling druids and establishing the church in Ireland he went west and followed the ancient guide stones to the foot of the mountain.

For many years people were unsure as to how Patrick actually got to Croagh Patrick. We knew he would have most likely crossed Tóchar Phádraig (another mountain) to get there but which way remained a mystery until recently. A catholic priest in search of the answer went looking for ancient paths in the area and interviewed local people about what they knew passed down by oral tradition about St. Patrick's route through the area. After some searching he found a woman who told him every morning when she wakes up she goes to her garden and kisses what she calls "Patrick's stone". Upon further questioning the woman says her family had been venerating this stone for generations and she never questioned it. It was through this stone that other stones were located along the route, the route of the druids. These weren't just normal stones but druidic stones, marking a druidic path to Croagh Patrick.

Before reaching the mountain his charioteer, Totmáel, died and was buried by Patrick under stones with him saying "Let him remain like this forever, and he will be visited by me in the last days".

On his climb up the mountain the sky grew dark and looking up expecting to see clouds Patrick saw countless black birds flying above him. These birds harassed him until he reached the peak. Patrick recognised these birds as demons and by ringing his bell he made them all disappear.

During his fast he had a vision of all the Irish people, past, present and future after which he prayed for them and he prayed that Ireland would not lose its faith.

At the end of his 40 day fast Patrick famously made three petitions to the Lord:

1) Save the Irish - Patrick prayed that those Irish who accepted Christianity would be saved and granted eternal life.

2) That Ireland would endure - He knew Ireland would struggle with war, famine, strife, poverty and plague. Therefore he petititoned the Lord to keep the faith of the Irish unwavering in the face of these tribulations and that Ireland would remain a Christian stronghold.

3) That he would be the Judge - Patrick's final petititon was that the Irish people would all be killed, and Ireland flooded seven years before the final judgement to spare the Irish people the pains of those final days and that he (Patrick) would be their judge.

Tradition holds that an angel of the Lord descended to Patrick to ensure him that his petitions had been heard and they have been granted. If that is the case, then every Irish person can expect to stand before St. Patrick on the day of judgement, much as the 12 tribes of Israel will stand before the 12 apostles.

Later Mission

During his travels he came across a large family, one man and his seven sons all of whom were pagan and all requested baptism. After the baptism, Patrick chose one, Macc Erce and wrote him letters and blessed him as a priest. This sort of account is not isolated but is a frequent pattern seen in Patrick's life, in one day he could baptise thousands and often did!

One day in rural Ireland, he found no timber for a church so we drew lines in the dirt and within those lines lay his church. That day a pregnant woman who was very ill was brought to him and she worried for the soul of her unborn baby. Therefore, Patrick baptised the child in her womb saying the amniotic fluid was the baptismal water. Shortly after, the woman and her unborn baby fell asleep in the Lord and they were buried on the hill of the church.

One day he and his followers were hungry and asked for some fish from the fishermen of a certain river but they were given no fish and in response Patrick cursed the river to have no more fish for those who rejected him and his followers. However, he blessed a different river that had no fish after which had many large fish, all good for eating.

Death and Aftermath

As Patrick approached death he returned to Armagh where people chanted pslams and prayed with him. Church history says that Patrick told those with him that an angel of the Lord had spoken to him. The angel told him to have two untamed oxen carry his body and where they stop is where he was to be buried.

Upon his death the room filled with a pleasant odour that those present compared to the sweetness of wine and a fruitful field.

His body was placed on a cart which was yoked to two untamed oxen and they started walking. The oxen, under the guidance of the Lord stopped at Dún Lethglaisse, where Patrick was meant to be buried.

However, war broke out in Ireland in the immediate aftermath of Patrick's death between the Ulaid and the allied forces of the Uí Neill and the Airthir tribes, over his relics. As a battle raged an inlet known as Druimm Bó rose high and broke it's banks causing a rush of high water. The water rose so aggressively and flowed so violently that it ended the battle as the men had to retreat from the area. After the water had abated, Patrick was swfitly buried.

Although this was not the end of it. The retreating waters were met by advancing armies who still sought the relics of Patrick. The Airthir and Uí Neill families together rushed the area in which Patrick was buried where they found a cart yoked to two oxen and on the cart lay a body. The soldiers, knowing that this is the method that Patrick explained to his followers to use to find his burial place, grabbed the cart and body and escaped with it.

Strangely, as they had gotten quite far from the burial place, the body on the cart vanished.

To this day, nobody knows where Patrick is truly buried.

Church tradition tells us that the sky stayed bright for 12 days after Patrick's death. Irish tradition says that the sky never fully darkened again over Ireland. Personally, I can attest to the bright nights during spring and summer in Ireland.

Miracles

In his Confessio, Patrick wrote:

Resurrections

"The Lord hath given to me, though humble, the power of working miracles among a barbarous people, such as are not recorded to have been worked by the great Apostles; inasmuch as, in the Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, I have raised from the dead bodies that have been buried many years"

One day while travelling through Ireland with his followers they came across a huge grave, far too wide and far too long to have been the grave of any human, or so they thought. Patrick said to them "If you wish, you shall see him." To which they obviously said yes and hearing this Patrick hit the stone at the head of the grave with his staff and said "Open, O Lord the grave" and an extremely tall man arose.

The resurected man cried and said "Thanks be to you, o holy man, that you have raised me even for one hour from many pains." He then asked to follow Patrick but he was rejected: "We cannot have you walk with us, for men cannot look upon your face for fear of you. But believe in the God of heaven and receive the baptism of the Lord, and you will not return to the place in which you were. And tell us to whom you belong." He explained to them that he was killed 100 years earlier in battle before being baptised by Patrick and going asleep in the Lord.

The Pagan and The Cross

One time Patrick and his charioteer arrived at the inn they planned on staying for the night when the charioteer asked Patrick if he had seen the cross they passed down the road from the inn. Patrick had not seen it but it piqued his interest so he left the inn and went back the way they had come to see the cross. Upon finding the cross he prayed before it and then realised the grave beside the cross. He asked the dead man if he had lived in the faith but he responded "I was a pagan in life".

Patrick asked him to explain why his grave had a cross beside it to which he said that the grave beside his belongs to a young Christian boy whose mother put the cross on the wrong grave in her grief. This is why Patrick said that he did not see the cross as it lay on the grave of a pagan. Patrick moved the cross to the correct grave and returned to the inn. When Patrick recounted the story to the charioteer, he asked why he hadn't raised the pagan and baptised him so he could sleep in the Lord but Patrick never responded.

Lightening like Fingers

Another time Patrick's charioteer approached him distraught as he had lost his horses and as it was night time he could not see and therefore could not search for them. Patrick remained calm and told him that the Lord is always with us in our time of need. Stepping out into the darkenss, Patrick pulled up his sleeve and stretched his five fingers out and suddenly light came out of each of his five fingers, illuminating the once dark night. This light was so bright that the charioteer was able to find his horses quickly. He famously kept this miracle a secret until after Patrick's death.

Saint Patrick, Holy Hierarch and Enlightener of Ireland, Pray for us!