Among a long line of illustrious abbots who presided over Iona, the present holy man is classed. In the Martyrology of Tallagh, at the 3rd of July, the simply entry of Cilline, Abb. Iae, occurs. He is noted in the Martyrology of Marianus O’Gorman, at the 3rd of July. At this date, the Bollandistss have noticed him, also, on the foregoing authority and on that of Sirinus. Some notices of him occur, in the work of Bishop Forbes. This distinguished saint derived his origin from the race of Conall Cremthainne, son to Niall of the Nine Hostages, of the southern Hy-Neill. This saint’s pedigree is thus given in the Naemhsenchas. His father’s name was Dicolla, son of Cilline, son to Amalgadh, son of Feradhaigh, son to Feic, son of Cerbaill, who was son to the aforesaid Conall Cremthainne. He was born in Ireland, probably towards the close of the seventh century. The epithet, suffixed to his original name Cilline, and which was Droicteach, signifying “Bridge-maker,” has reference apparently to work of that kind on which he had been engaged, previous to his leaving Ireland for Scotland. It is likely, that he felt a religious inspiration to join the Columban institute in Iona, and there, too, it would seem, that he chose to live as an anchorite, according to the custom of those monks, who desired to observe a very strict discipline. His virtues were so highly esteemed by that community, after the death of St. Cilline Fada, or the Tall Abbot of Iona, which took place, A.D. 726, Cilline Droicteach was selected as his immediate successor.

Meanwhile, Feidhlimid or Failbhe seems to have been elected Abbot of Iona in the year 722, nor do we find that he ceased to enjoy that title, during the administration of Faelcu, of Cillene Fada, and of Cilline Droicteach, until he departed this life at the very advanced age of eighty-seven years, completed in 759, and during the administratorship of Slebhine. Whether Feidhlimid or Failbhe had been the principal or only a coadjutor Abbot over Iona cannot be gleaned with any degree of distinctness from the Irish Annals. It is thought, that owing to the circumstance of Cilline Droicteach having chosen the rigid rule of an anchorite’s state, the active duties of his presidency, over the monastic institute of Iona, had been in a great measure discharged by his coadjutor, Fedhlimid. He continued alive, during the presidency of Cilline Droicteach. The present holy man brought to Erin that shrine of the many relics, which Adamnan had collected, to make peace and friendship between the Cinel-Conaill and the Cinel-Eoghain. This appears to have occurred in the year 727. The Relics collected by Adamnan were returned to Iona in 730.

The present saint, called Cilleine Droctigh, anchorite of Ia, died on the 3rd of July, A.D. 747. Other accounts have A.D. 751 and 752. He is reputed to have been the fourteenth abbot of Iona, commencing with the great founder, St. Columkille. We have him recorded, in the Martyrology of Donegal, at this same date, as Cillen Droichtech, Abbot of Ia Colum Cille.

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June 9 is the feast day of Saint Colum Cille (Columba) of Iona. The entry in the Martyrology of Donegal reads:9. F. QUINTO IDUS JUNII. 9.

COLUM CILLE, son of Felim, Abbot of Black Monks, at Doire Choluim Chille and at I, in Albain. Crimhthann was his first name; and he was called Colum from his similarity to the bird which is called the dove, from his mildness and gentleness. The reason that he is named Of the cill [or church] is, because he was fostered at Cill-mic-Nenain, in Cinel Conail, in his own patrimonial land. On the seventh day of the month of December he was born at Gartan, in Cinel Conaill aforesaid, A.D. 520.

He spent two score and two years of his life in Erin disseminating religion, piety, and good deeds ; in preaching and teaching the word of God ; healing every disease and every distemper (as is evident from the book which contains his life); founding many monasteries and churches throughout Erin, as at Doire, Rathboth, Senglenn, Torach, Cill-mic-Nenain, Druim Tuama, Gartan, Tulach-Dubhghlaisi, Baile Meg-Robhartaigh, in Cinel Conaill; and at Druim-cliabh in Cairbre Droma-cliabh, and Serin in Connacht; Serin in Meath, Cenannas, Dermagh, Surd, Maein, and many other churches throughout Erin. He afterwards went to Albain on a pilgrimage, and dwelt on the island which is called I Coluim Cille, and this place was offered to him, and many other churches. And he did more service in Albain for the love of the Lord than in Erin, though he did much good there also; for it was he that brought them from the darkness of paganism and of sin to the light of faith and good deeds. And he spent thirty-four years of his life in that country serving God, until he went to Heaven on Sunday night exactly, after completing his seventy-sixth year. His body was brought to Erin after his death, so that it was buried with honour and great veneration in one tomb with Saint Patrick and with Saint Brighit, at Dun-da-lethghlas in Ulster. For these are the three chief patrons of Erin : Patrick, Colum Cille, and Brighit. And Colum Cille was of the noble races of Erin, i.e.,his father was of the race of Conall Gulban, son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. Eithne, daughter of Dioma, son of Noe, of Leinster, of the race of Cathaoir Mor, king of Erin, was his mother ; and what some people say, that his mother was the daughter of Mac Consnamha, is not true, for there were several hundred years from the birth of Colum Cille to the time that O Ruairc had his name, from whom Mac Consnamha is descended.

Cuimin, of Condeire, says, in the poem beginning “Patrick of the fort of Macha loves”, that Colum Cille used not to take of food during the week as much as would satisfy a poor man for one meal. Thus he says :-

“The holy Colum Cille loves :
Son of Feidhlimidh, of generous deeds,
There went not for a week into his body
What would satisfy a poor man one turn.”

It was A.D. 599 when he resigned his spirit.

“Three years was he without light,
Colum in his Duibh-regles.
He went with angels out of his earthly prison
After six years and seventy.”

A very ancient old-vellum-book, in which is found the Martyrology of Tamhlacht-Maoilruain and the Irish saints of the same name, states, that Colum Cille was like unto Andrew the Apostle in his habits and life.

The Life of Ciaran, of Cluain, chap. 47, states that the Order of Colum Cille was one of the eight orders that were in Erin.

Note: Further resources on Saint Colum Cille can be found at my other site Trias Thaumaturga.

We close the month of May with the commemoration of a ninth-century abbot of Iona, Saint Feradacius, although as Canon O’Hanlon admits, we have only the authority of the 17th-century hagiologist, Father John Colgan, for this feast day as a saint of this name is also commemorated on May 18:

ST. FERADACIUS, ABBOT OF IONA, SCOTLAND.
[NINTH CENTURY.]

FOR centuries after the time of St. Columkille, our Island sent several holy men as colonists and missionaries to his greatly frequented monastery at Iona. The place had a renown for holiness; and, from Ireland, from Scotland, as also from distant Norway, there came, during successive centuries, many royal funerals to its shores. At this day, by far the most interesting remains upon the Island are those curious and beautiful tombstones, which lie in Reilig Odhrain, They belong, even the most ancient of them, to an age removed by many hundred years from Columba’s time. But, they represent that lasting reverence, which his name has inspired during so many generations, and that desire of along succession of chiefs and warriors through the Middle Ages, and down almost to our own time, to be buried in the soil where he had trod. However, it is only in the past ages we can seek for its historic greatness.

St. Feredacius was son to Corbmac, and we may assume he was of northern Irish descent, as of birth. He is supposed to have been born, about the beginning of the ninth century; but, where he was educated or by whom does not appear. Yet, it seems very probable, that stirred by the celebrity of that flourishing institute established by St. Columba, at Iona, he went thither at an early age to embrace the rule and conform to the discipline of that monastery. Of his earlier career, little seems to be known. He became Abbot of Iona; most probably, on the death of Abbot Cellach. This took place, A.D. 863, according to the Annals of the Four Masters, or in the year 864 according to those of Ulster. However, in that valuable “Chronicon Hyense,” postfixed to the Rev. Dr. Reeves’ work, the death of this Abbot is referred to the year 865. If such were the case, it must have been during our saint’s presidency, the shrine of St. Columkille was removed to Ireland, lest it should become a prey to the Danes. This removal happened, as variously stated, in the year, 875, 877, or 878. Our saint only survived such an occurrence, for one or two years. However, if we are to credit the Annals of Inisfallen, Ferediach Abbot of Iae Columkille died A.D. 866; but, these Annals are known to be ante-dated. He died, during the year 877, 879, or 880, according to the other Irish Annals. It must be confessed, we have no authority for assigning this saint’s festival, to the 31st, in preference to the 18th of May, as Colgan only says, that a different St. Feradachrichus was venerated on both days. He is of opinion, that either was perhaps identical with St. Feradacius Abbot of Iona.

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