,
Antonios
Pos- Cormach, St.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v4
Edheunanus recommended him to seek the land of Fife, and that country, stretching from the Mons 3o BritannicustotheMonsOkhdl.
3' Withonlytwentyincompany,St.
Servan came to Kinel, where his baculus was thrown beyond the sea.
There it grew
into a fruit-bearing tree, called in modern language Morglas. This the Angel told him should be his place of rest. Brude,3» son of Dargart, was then King of the Picte. 33 When Servan had come to Culenros,34 he removed the thorns and brushwood, at this place. However, the king, not wishing that Servan should settle there, sent his satellites to murder the saint, with all of his com- panions. Wherefore,ajudgmentfellupontheking,andonlyforSt. Servan hewasapparentlyabouttodie; but,havingrepentedofhisrashact,hegave
. a place for a cemetery and for a church, in Culenros. These our saint is said to have founded. He then sought the presence of St. Eudananus, to speak with hira, in the Island, at Lochleven. 35 This was finally granted to St. Servan asaspotsuitedforhissojourn. 3* Forsevenyears,theholymanwasengaged' m building there a monastery. Going out from it, through the whole countnj of Fife, he constructed different churches, which he dedicated to the Most High God. A place called Desart,37 or the Dysert, is mentioned, where there was a cave ; and here, a brother lived with him, who was sick Wine was required for the invalid ; but, it could not be had at the time. However
a fountain was near, and taking water from it, Servanus blessed it and he changed it mto wine. This the sick man drank, and he was healed In the
same cave, also, Servan lay in bed, one morning, after reciting Matins, when thedevilapproachedanddesiredtoengage,inadispute,withthesaint. 38 At
»7
of Forth, m Scotland
Z . ^'r". "^"**? Y- . ^l^'? "*'? -
*"4^! °"e',"e.
to be the Caer Guid. of Venerable Bede ;
and. It seems to have been fortified, previous
to his t. me. See an account of it, in the met with, in the "Imperial Gazetteer of
Probably intended to signify the Firth
en Fiffe. "—". Scala Chronica "
« Now known as Culross," a parish con- 'fining the royal burgh of its own name, in Perthshire. An . iccount of w U
"• ishofKinghom,mI'fesh. re Itis
;, 7^'- '\*°
interesting it found, Imperial Gazetteer of Scot
Imperial Gazetteer of bcotland," vol. li. ,
P'°. 5-
ci, . . . . ,_ M'-. Skfne supposes this to have beena
,
mistake in the Latin Life for Mare.
Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 328 to 330.
*
Here, too, it is Slated, that he estab-
lished a community of KiUdn hermils. See
3' He was the venerable man who sessed Cu. lennros in Srath Hirem, in the Comgells, between Sliabh or Ochel, and the Sea of Ou. d,. . See Rev Dr. Reeves' "Cul- dees of the British Islands, p. 124.
He niled from A. D. 697 to 706, as
William F. Skene's " Celtic ii. , chap, vi. , pp. 259, 260
Scotland," Book
3^
William F. Skene m his
Scotlaml, vol 11. , chap. . . ,pp. 31, 32.
En quel temps veint Saint Servanus
37 This lay on the north side of the Firth of Forth. See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scotland," Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 257
3«The following dialogue then ensued • The Demon enquired, "Art thou a wise cleric, O Servanus ? " He replied •" What do you desire, most wretched of all crea-
shows,
"Celtic
,.
'° 'he par-
supposed,
pos-
land," vol. i. ,
pp. 334
to
^^6
inthe-
3S An interesting account 'of it will be
tures? " The DevU said " :
I wish to
dispute
252 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 20.
a place called Tuligbotuan, rendered Tullbody, our saint cured a man, who had a very voracious appetite. At another place, called Tulicultrin, rendered Tullycoultry,heraisedthetwodeadsonsofapoorwomantolife. InAlueth, or Alva, where he was hospitably entertained, by a very poor man, who had killed the only pig he possessed ; this was found to be living, on the day following. A singular story is given, about a thief, at a place called Atheren, or Airthey,35 and whose theft of a sheep was discovered, in a singular manner. At Dunnensis—also called Dunning—a horrible dragon was destroyed, by the saint wielding his staff. Afterwards, the place where this occurred was called the Dragon's Valley. Three blind men, three that were lame, and three men that were deaf, came from the Alps to St. Servan, whom they entreated to work a miracle, on their behalf. Expressing his diffidence, to afford them the favour of healing ; their belief in his power with God was expressed, on bended knees. Then, St. Servan blesseda certain fountain, and he caused them to wash three different times in it, when they were all restored. Having wrought various wonders, theday of his death—the istof July""—arrived; for, a fever had seized upon him. '*' He called his monks around him, and they wept, at the prospect of his near dissolution. He departed this life, at Dun- ning; but,hisremainswerebroughtforfinaldepositiontoCulenros,where he was religiously interred, psalms, hymns and canticles being heard about his grave. ^^ The foregoing accounts we find, in the Legendary Acts ; and, the following have been drawn, from other sources. By some writers, St.
with you, and to ask you some questions. "
"
not God form a new man, and send him to free the human race ? " The saint answered " Because no one different from Adam's pos- terity could have belonged to us. " " Why are you men, and not we demons, liberated
St. Servan returned for answer :
you miserable creature, be. i;in. " Satan then asked, " Where was God before he created Heaven and earth, and all his creatures. " Blessed Servan faid to him : "As he is not confined to any place, he was within himself; being neither bound wiihin nor extended by any place, nor subject to the movements of time, everywhere he is whole. " The De\ il enquired: "For what reason hath God made creatures? ' The saint returned:
" Because he could not be a Creator without
creatures. " " Why did he make them very
good ? " To this question, the holy man re-
" Because God could not do evil, nor seem to be envious, as if lie willed not any thing to be good but himself. " The Devil said: "Where did God create Adam? " The saint said : "In Ebron. " Satan asked : "Where was he after having been cast out ofPaiadise? " The saint replied : "Where he is formed. " Satan then enquired : "How long did he remain in Paradise after his sin? "
"
plied :
you
no further can I dispute with you. " Then
Only seven hours. " Satan " Why did God permit Adanr and Eve to sin in Paradise ? " To this, the ' ' Because the fore-
Said the saint :
then said
:
saint replied
Almighty
sees something great to come, for Christ should not have taken human flesh, but for the sin of Adam and of Eve. " Satan asked : " Why could not Adam and Eve be liberated of their own accord? " Serv. in said, "Be- fell not of their own accord, but
they
:
through Christ, born of one among tlieir
cause
through another, that is, the Devil templing them. Thoefore, throu. t;h another, that is,
posterity, they are liberated. "
"
Why did
Begin,
Because
the holy man replied: "Go, go, you wretch, hastily depart fiom this pl. ice, nor dare further to appear in it to any person. " The spot was aferwards deemed most vene- rable, as connected with the memory of St. Servan, and because it was believed, that there the Devil could not dwell.
3» All of these places, mentioned in the text, are on the nortli side of theTorth, and extend from Sterling to Alloa. See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scotland," Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 257.
'" At that day, more will be found, regard- ing St. Servanus.
"See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 446, 447.
'•' SeetheLifeofSt. Seivanus,inWilliam F. Skene's "Chronicles of the Picts, Chroni- cles of the Scots, and other early Memorials of Scottish History," Appendix vi. , pp. 412 to 420.
through the Passion of Christ ?
the original fall was not through ourselves, but through you, Devils. But you Devils, be- cause you were not of a fragile nature, and because you would not repent, and because of yourselves you have willingly contracted original sin, as a consequence, the Passion of Christ cannot profit you. ' Then the Devil, finding he could effect nothing against the saint, who overturned all his interrogatories, cried out, "O Servanus, are wise, and
'"
April 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 253
Servanus is styled the first bishop, the Apostle and founder of the Orkneyan Church/3 therefore he is regarded as the Patron. Again, the Lections, in the Breviary of Aberdeen, make Servanus a Scot, who lived under the rite and form of theprimitive Church, until the arrival of Palladius,''-' who was sent by St. Celestine,'«5 to convert the Scots, and who, finding Servanus there, ordained him as his suflFragan. ** Moved by divine inspiration, Palladius in- structedhim,andmadeServanushisassistant. ^' Hewasfound,wearetold, atCulros. AccordingtoBoece,*'PalladiusmadeSt. Serfabishop,andsent him into Orkney, to instruct the rude people there in the Faith. Palladius is said to have preached, with his followers, through all Scotland. ' The re- mains of Servanus were at Culros, in 1530, according to the Martyrology of Aberdeen. InScotland,thisholymanwaschieflyvenerated. 5° Aboutthe
year 15 11, George Browne, Bishop of Dunkeld, dedicated the parochial church of Petcarnia to St. Servan. " Monivard is one of his churches, in Perthshire. 5' Servanus is the patron of Creich and Dysart. sj He was com- memorated, at Dunning, where there were lands, attached to the chapel of St. Servanus. 5-» In the parish church of Monkege, now called Keith-Hall, there was an altar of "St. Serwe," another form of his name. This was in Aber- deenshire. 55 The present parish church is situated, upon a portion of St. Sare's bank, where it is said St. Sare's fair was held, before its removal to Culsamond. 5* AstraditionholdsSt. ServanustohavebeenaScot,itseems probable enough, that he may have been an Irish missionary, who laboured in Scotland. However, we must have more light thrown on his personal his- tory, to decide belter, regarding his native country, and about his period.
ArticleV. —St. Sobhartan,Bishop. Theinfluenceofaholybishop over his flock is greater even than that of a great king over his subjects, or than agreatmihtarycommanderoverhistroops. IntheMartyrologyofTallagh," at this same date, we read St. Sobairihein, a Bishop. However, we have no
account of his- age and place, among our Irish prelates. The Martyrology of »
Donegal records a festival, in honour of Sobhartan, on this day,
" For the»e titles, Dempster cites John Colman, St. Mamach, St. Moloch, Su "
Lesley, Historia bcolorum," lib. iv. , p. Notlilan, St. Marnan, St. Rumold, St.
cxxxvii. , Polydoras Virgilus'
"
Histona Tigernach, St. Medanach, St. Machut, St.
Anglorum. " lib. iii. , p. Iviii.
, Antonios Pos- Cormach, St. Dagamach. See Rev. Dr.
"
icTinus' Apparatus Sacer," p. ccx.
• His feast occurs, at the 6th of July.
« See his Life, already given, at the 6lh of
'"
Gordon's Scotichronicon," vol. i. , p. 68.
s" Alexandro . Millo teste, adds Dempster, in "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scoto- rum," tomus ii. , lib. xviL, num. lOJo,
p. 573.
s' See " New Statistical Survey of Scot-
land," Perthshire, p. 723.
» According to Commissary Records of the Diocese ol Glasguw.
s* According to Ketours, Perth, p. 954.
ss See View of the Diocese of Aberdeen,
April.
* See Bshop Forbes'
Scottish S. iinU," p. 445. " See ibid.
" Kalendars of
"
* Sre Bellenden's translation of Boece's History . nnd Chronicles of Scotland," voL
\,, Book vii. , cap. 18, p. 286.
<* See Breviary of Aberdeen, Pars. Estir. , fol. XXV.
5° HU name is found, in a Procesiional
note.
5° " Tliis great fair stands to the N W. of
the Church [of Culsamond], and i—s holden from a Manuscript Scotichronicon by Prior on the last Tuesday in June. " Bishop
Litany of the Monastery of Dunlield, copied Brockie, of . St. James Ratisbon. The fo—l-
lowing List of Scotcii Bishops are invoked
St. Martn, St. Ninan, St. P. iUadius, St. Serf, St. P. itrick. St. Modnch, St. Fcrran. ich, St. Makessocb, St. Makkoloch, St. Cainach, St. Convall, St. Baldred, St. Colmach, St. Comacli, St. Kelloch, St. Kothalh, St. Cuthbercb, St. Edhan, St. Finoancb, St.
Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints,
p. 447.
Article v. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xxi. The Franciscan copy reads simply Sob^ipchen.
"
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 106, 107.
:
p. 569,
254
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 20.
Article VI. —St. Setrach, or Sedrach, Bishop. In the Martyro- logy of Tallagh,^ a St. Setrach, Bishop, is set down, on this day. There is no due, however, to the place where he Hved, or to the time when he flourished. We find mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegalj^" that Sedrach, Bishop,hadvenerationpaidhim,atthisdate; and,. thisisalltherecord,we can find, in connexion with his memory.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival for the Translation of the Relics of St. Adelarius. {Eighth Century. '] The Translation of Adela- rius, born in Scotia, first Bishop of Hereford, and then Apostle of Franconia, who erected a monastery for his Scots, is a feast we find placed, at the 20th ofApril,byThomasDempster;' while,thesamewritermakeshimoneofthe companions of St. Boniface, whose martyrdom took place, on the Sth of Tune. ' To this latter date, his chief festival is referred ;
although, weare told, that one eminent writer has the Natalis of St. Adelarius, at the 20th of
TheBoUandists noticehim,atthisdate,also,andremark,thathe
April. 3
is venerated in several Martyrologies, chiefly of the more recent dates. In the Breviary of Hereford,5 his Ecclesiastical Office is set down as a double. There seems to have been a Translation of his relics, as likewise an inspec- tion of these, made in 1633 ; and, some accounts regarding these events, have been committed to writing. This holy Martyr flourished, in the eighth
century.
ArticleVIII. —FestivalofHerodius. Wefind,intheFeilireofSt.
^ngus,' the feast of Herodius, Martyr, set down in the Stanza, for the_20th of Apri'l,^ and, as an appendage, a festival at Rome, in honour of Martin, is given. 3 At this date, we do not find, in the BoUandists' great collection, any notice of a Martyr, or Saint, called Herodius, so that it is difficult to find, in what part of the world he had been venerated.
Article VI . —'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p xxi. The Franciscan copy has SeDt\Ac e^rp.
» Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
5 This was printed, in 15x8. Arti"cle viii. — In the
Leabhar
106,107. " Article vil—* In his
Ucer^tj hei\ot> Ct\uimchii\ ci\och'oA X^<^1^"*""1^^"DAile noemtieoi\ApAuiLe.
Menologium Scotorum,"wefind; xx. "HeifordiKAde- larii episcopi primi translalio, qui Fran- conis Apostolus, Scolis suis monasterium
cuiLe
erexit "—Bi-^hop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scotti^sh Saints," p. 197- .
" With (the) suffering of Herodius a pnest
'
See Dempster's
right
' A marginal commentary is also found :
Gentis Scotorum," tomusi. , lib. i. , o
« Laces ad herodi 7rl. comune solemne sanc-
^*
" IHstoria Ecclesiastica
^'
^\° <^TM7'^"^ '^'f r"^f'i'^"
Tt! '"
num. 33,
3 These are the words of Dempster :— torum hiberniae et britanis et totius eorapae
" Colitur die v. Tunii, quo passus, et trans- latio XX. April. Petius Cratepolius, Uvion lib II Lie Vitae cap. XLI. Male Tiithem, lib", iv! Vir. illustr. Ord. S. Bened. , cap. CXXCIII. ei natalem assignat xx Aprilis. "- jl^. j
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis XX. Among the pretermitted feasts, P-744-
et specialiter martini.
Breac
copy we read :—
'"
noble town ! -of all Europe s saints.
3 this is a comment, >" Following
Ir'fh, and thus translated into English, by Whitley
Stokes, LL. D. :_" A great tree was in the world in the east, and the heathen used to adore it, and the Christians fasted against all the saints of Europe that the tree might fall, and forthwith it fell.
April 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
255
Ctuentp-firsit ©ap of apri'U
ARTICLE I. —ST. MAELRUBIUS, OR MAOLRUBHA, OF BANGOR, COUNTY OF DOWN, AND OF APPLECROSS, SCOTLAND.
[SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CENTURIES. ^
in Scottish Ecclesiastical History, there is no other saint
if we except Columkille'—whose life-particuiars are marked with greater exactness, than are those of St. Maelrubha, or whose commemorations are more numerous, especially in the west of Scotland ; yet, only a few years have elapsed, since any correct account of him has appeared. Thefirst attempt of this kind was m a communication to the " Irish Ecclesiastical Journal,'" by the Rev. Dr. William Reeves. Thus, the history of St. Maelrubha has
gamed very considerable illustration, from that distinguished Irish ecclesias- ticalhistorianandantiquary. Thisnoticehasreceivedlateradditions,3from the same writer,'* who alterwards had an opportunity, for visiting the scenes of St. Maelrubha's labours, and for studying Scottish works, bearing on the in-
dividual and on his age. s More recently, Bishop Forbes « has entries regarding this saint. Some notices of Maolrubha are contained, in the Rev. Alban Butler's work,? at this date ; but, the saint is represented as being of Abur- Crossain, and this most incorrectly is placed, in the county of Ross, in Ire- land. Now, it is well known, there is no county bearing that name in Ireland. Moreover, the Rev. Alban Butler incorrectly states, that his festival was kept m Connaught,and that he was slain, by Norwegian pirates, in 721.
This saint had been descended, on the father's side, from the Cinel- Eoghain family ;« and subordinately, through that branch, called the Cinel Binnigh. This clan, at an early period, had obtained a settlement, in the south-eastern part of the present county of Londonderry, where they gave name to a particular district. ' Maelrubha was the son of Elganach, son to Garbh, son of Ollarbach, son to Cuboirenn, son of Crimthann, son to Eochaidh Binnigh," son of Eoghan," son to the celebrated Niall of the Nine
ALTHOUGH
Article i. — His Life will be found, at the 9th of June.
In vol. v. , July, 1849, num. 108, p.
,v ^
*9f-,. J. 1 ,.
It need scarcely be observed, the sub- stance of this exhaustive account has mainly
furnished the notices, we have inserted, in the
' See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal saints," vol. iv. , April xxi.
He refers to Colgan's Manuscripts.
*5f3- See
Breac copy of
. Proceedmgs of the Society of An- tiquanes of Scotland," voL iii. Rev. Dr. Reeves' St. Maelrubha : His History and Churches, Commun. caUon 11. , pp. 258 to
"' Article.
'He dates from the Vicarage, Lusk,
April 20th, 1859. His communication was r^ before the Society, Tuesday, 14th June,
so stated.
" Until 1591, it belonged to the princi-
pality of Tyrone. It comprehended all the modern barony of Loughinsholin, west of the River Bann. It is now comprised, in the
County of Londonderry.
" Krom him the Cinel Binny descended
Pfff
of Tyrone* which extended to Tullaghoge on the south' It gave name to a rural deanery in the diocese of Derry, called Bynnagh or Ben- ""E^- Se« "Acts of Archbishop Coiton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D.
into a fruit-bearing tree, called in modern language Morglas. This the Angel told him should be his place of rest. Brude,3» son of Dargart, was then King of the Picte. 33 When Servan had come to Culenros,34 he removed the thorns and brushwood, at this place. However, the king, not wishing that Servan should settle there, sent his satellites to murder the saint, with all of his com- panions. Wherefore,ajudgmentfellupontheking,andonlyforSt. Servan hewasapparentlyabouttodie; but,havingrepentedofhisrashact,hegave
. a place for a cemetery and for a church, in Culenros. These our saint is said to have founded. He then sought the presence of St. Eudananus, to speak with hira, in the Island, at Lochleven. 35 This was finally granted to St. Servan asaspotsuitedforhissojourn. 3* Forsevenyears,theholymanwasengaged' m building there a monastery. Going out from it, through the whole countnj of Fife, he constructed different churches, which he dedicated to the Most High God. A place called Desart,37 or the Dysert, is mentioned, where there was a cave ; and here, a brother lived with him, who was sick Wine was required for the invalid ; but, it could not be had at the time. However
a fountain was near, and taking water from it, Servanus blessed it and he changed it mto wine. This the sick man drank, and he was healed In the
same cave, also, Servan lay in bed, one morning, after reciting Matins, when thedevilapproachedanddesiredtoengage,inadispute,withthesaint. 38 At
»7
of Forth, m Scotland
Z . ^'r". "^"**? Y- . ^l^'? "*'? -
*"4^! °"e',"e.
to be the Caer Guid. of Venerable Bede ;
and. It seems to have been fortified, previous
to his t. me. See an account of it, in the met with, in the "Imperial Gazetteer of
Probably intended to signify the Firth
en Fiffe. "—". Scala Chronica "
« Now known as Culross," a parish con- 'fining the royal burgh of its own name, in Perthshire. An . iccount of w U
"• ishofKinghom,mI'fesh. re Itis
;, 7^'- '\*°
interesting it found, Imperial Gazetteer of Scot
Imperial Gazetteer of bcotland," vol. li. ,
P'°. 5-
ci, . . . . ,_ M'-. Skfne supposes this to have beena
,
mistake in the Latin Life for Mare.
Scotland," vol. ii. , pp. 328 to 330.
*
Here, too, it is Slated, that he estab-
lished a community of KiUdn hermils. See
3' He was the venerable man who sessed Cu. lennros in Srath Hirem, in the Comgells, between Sliabh or Ochel, and the Sea of Ou. d,. . See Rev Dr. Reeves' "Cul- dees of the British Islands, p. 124.
He niled from A. D. 697 to 706, as
William F. Skene's " Celtic ii. , chap, vi. , pp. 259, 260
Scotland," Book
3^
William F. Skene m his
Scotlaml, vol 11. , chap. . . ,pp. 31, 32.
En quel temps veint Saint Servanus
37 This lay on the north side of the Firth of Forth. See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scotland," Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 257
3«The following dialogue then ensued • The Demon enquired, "Art thou a wise cleric, O Servanus ? " He replied •" What do you desire, most wretched of all crea-
shows,
"Celtic
,.
'° 'he par-
supposed,
pos-
land," vol. i. ,
pp. 334
to
^^6
inthe-
3S An interesting account 'of it will be
tures? " The DevU said " :
I wish to
dispute
252 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 20.
a place called Tuligbotuan, rendered Tullbody, our saint cured a man, who had a very voracious appetite. At another place, called Tulicultrin, rendered Tullycoultry,heraisedthetwodeadsonsofapoorwomantolife. InAlueth, or Alva, where he was hospitably entertained, by a very poor man, who had killed the only pig he possessed ; this was found to be living, on the day following. A singular story is given, about a thief, at a place called Atheren, or Airthey,35 and whose theft of a sheep was discovered, in a singular manner. At Dunnensis—also called Dunning—a horrible dragon was destroyed, by the saint wielding his staff. Afterwards, the place where this occurred was called the Dragon's Valley. Three blind men, three that were lame, and three men that were deaf, came from the Alps to St. Servan, whom they entreated to work a miracle, on their behalf. Expressing his diffidence, to afford them the favour of healing ; their belief in his power with God was expressed, on bended knees. Then, St. Servan blesseda certain fountain, and he caused them to wash three different times in it, when they were all restored. Having wrought various wonders, theday of his death—the istof July""—arrived; for, a fever had seized upon him. '*' He called his monks around him, and they wept, at the prospect of his near dissolution. He departed this life, at Dun- ning; but,hisremainswerebroughtforfinaldepositiontoCulenros,where he was religiously interred, psalms, hymns and canticles being heard about his grave. ^^ The foregoing accounts we find, in the Legendary Acts ; and, the following have been drawn, from other sources. By some writers, St.
with you, and to ask you some questions. "
"
not God form a new man, and send him to free the human race ? " The saint answered " Because no one different from Adam's pos- terity could have belonged to us. " " Why are you men, and not we demons, liberated
St. Servan returned for answer :
you miserable creature, be. i;in. " Satan then asked, " Where was God before he created Heaven and earth, and all his creatures. " Blessed Servan faid to him : "As he is not confined to any place, he was within himself; being neither bound wiihin nor extended by any place, nor subject to the movements of time, everywhere he is whole. " The De\ il enquired: "For what reason hath God made creatures? ' The saint returned:
" Because he could not be a Creator without
creatures. " " Why did he make them very
good ? " To this question, the holy man re-
" Because God could not do evil, nor seem to be envious, as if lie willed not any thing to be good but himself. " The Devil said: "Where did God create Adam? " The saint said : "In Ebron. " Satan asked : "Where was he after having been cast out ofPaiadise? " The saint replied : "Where he is formed. " Satan then enquired : "How long did he remain in Paradise after his sin? "
"
plied :
you
no further can I dispute with you. " Then
Only seven hours. " Satan " Why did God permit Adanr and Eve to sin in Paradise ? " To this, the ' ' Because the fore-
Said the saint :
then said
:
saint replied
Almighty
sees something great to come, for Christ should not have taken human flesh, but for the sin of Adam and of Eve. " Satan asked : " Why could not Adam and Eve be liberated of their own accord? " Serv. in said, "Be- fell not of their own accord, but
they
:
through Christ, born of one among tlieir
cause
through another, that is, the Devil templing them. Thoefore, throu. t;h another, that is,
posterity, they are liberated. "
"
Why did
Begin,
Because
the holy man replied: "Go, go, you wretch, hastily depart fiom this pl. ice, nor dare further to appear in it to any person. " The spot was aferwards deemed most vene- rable, as connected with the memory of St. Servan, and because it was believed, that there the Devil could not dwell.
3» All of these places, mentioned in the text, are on the nortli side of theTorth, and extend from Sterling to Alloa. See William F. Skene's " Celtic Scotland," Book ii. , chap, vi. , p. 257.
'" At that day, more will be found, regard- ing St. Servanus.
"See Bishop Forbes' "Kalendars of Scottish Saints," pp. 446, 447.
'•' SeetheLifeofSt. Seivanus,inWilliam F. Skene's "Chronicles of the Picts, Chroni- cles of the Scots, and other early Memorials of Scottish History," Appendix vi. , pp. 412 to 420.
through the Passion of Christ ?
the original fall was not through ourselves, but through you, Devils. But you Devils, be- cause you were not of a fragile nature, and because you would not repent, and because of yourselves you have willingly contracted original sin, as a consequence, the Passion of Christ cannot profit you. ' Then the Devil, finding he could effect nothing against the saint, who overturned all his interrogatories, cried out, "O Servanus, are wise, and
'"
April 20. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 253
Servanus is styled the first bishop, the Apostle and founder of the Orkneyan Church/3 therefore he is regarded as the Patron. Again, the Lections, in the Breviary of Aberdeen, make Servanus a Scot, who lived under the rite and form of theprimitive Church, until the arrival of Palladius,''-' who was sent by St. Celestine,'«5 to convert the Scots, and who, finding Servanus there, ordained him as his suflFragan. ** Moved by divine inspiration, Palladius in- structedhim,andmadeServanushisassistant. ^' Hewasfound,wearetold, atCulros. AccordingtoBoece,*'PalladiusmadeSt. Serfabishop,andsent him into Orkney, to instruct the rude people there in the Faith. Palladius is said to have preached, with his followers, through all Scotland. ' The re- mains of Servanus were at Culros, in 1530, according to the Martyrology of Aberdeen. InScotland,thisholymanwaschieflyvenerated. 5° Aboutthe
year 15 11, George Browne, Bishop of Dunkeld, dedicated the parochial church of Petcarnia to St. Servan. " Monivard is one of his churches, in Perthshire. 5' Servanus is the patron of Creich and Dysart. sj He was com- memorated, at Dunning, where there were lands, attached to the chapel of St. Servanus. 5-» In the parish church of Monkege, now called Keith-Hall, there was an altar of "St. Serwe," another form of his name. This was in Aber- deenshire. 55 The present parish church is situated, upon a portion of St. Sare's bank, where it is said St. Sare's fair was held, before its removal to Culsamond. 5* AstraditionholdsSt. ServanustohavebeenaScot,itseems probable enough, that he may have been an Irish missionary, who laboured in Scotland. However, we must have more light thrown on his personal his- tory, to decide belter, regarding his native country, and about his period.
ArticleV. —St. Sobhartan,Bishop. Theinfluenceofaholybishop over his flock is greater even than that of a great king over his subjects, or than agreatmihtarycommanderoverhistroops. IntheMartyrologyofTallagh," at this same date, we read St. Sobairihein, a Bishop. However, we have no
account of his- age and place, among our Irish prelates. The Martyrology of »
Donegal records a festival, in honour of Sobhartan, on this day,
" For the»e titles, Dempster cites John Colman, St. Mamach, St. Moloch, Su "
Lesley, Historia bcolorum," lib. iv. , p. Notlilan, St. Marnan, St. Rumold, St.
cxxxvii. , Polydoras Virgilus'
"
Histona Tigernach, St. Medanach, St. Machut, St.
Anglorum. " lib. iii. , p. Iviii.
, Antonios Pos- Cormach, St. Dagamach. See Rev. Dr.
"
icTinus' Apparatus Sacer," p. ccx.
• His feast occurs, at the 6th of July.
« See his Life, already given, at the 6lh of
'"
Gordon's Scotichronicon," vol. i. , p. 68.
s" Alexandro . Millo teste, adds Dempster, in "Historia Ecclesiastica Gentis Scoto- rum," tomus ii. , lib. xviL, num. lOJo,
p. 573.
s' See " New Statistical Survey of Scot-
land," Perthshire, p. 723.
» According to Commissary Records of the Diocese ol Glasguw.
s* According to Ketours, Perth, p. 954.
ss See View of the Diocese of Aberdeen,
April.
* See Bshop Forbes'
Scottish S. iinU," p. 445. " See ibid.
" Kalendars of
"
* Sre Bellenden's translation of Boece's History . nnd Chronicles of Scotland," voL
\,, Book vii. , cap. 18, p. 286.
<* See Breviary of Aberdeen, Pars. Estir. , fol. XXV.
5° HU name is found, in a Procesiional
note.
5° " Tliis great fair stands to the N W. of
the Church [of Culsamond], and i—s holden from a Manuscript Scotichronicon by Prior on the last Tuesday in June. " Bishop
Litany of the Monastery of Dunlield, copied Brockie, of . St. James Ratisbon. The fo—l-
lowing List of Scotcii Bishops are invoked
St. Martn, St. Ninan, St. P. iUadius, St. Serf, St. P. itrick. St. Modnch, St. Fcrran. ich, St. Makessocb, St. Makkoloch, St. Cainach, St. Convall, St. Baldred, St. Colmach, St. Comacli, St. Kelloch, St. Kothalh, St. Cuthbercb, St. Edhan, St. Finoancb, St.
Forbes' " Kalendars of Scottish Saints,
p. 447.
Article v. —' Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly,
p. xxi. The Franciscan copy reads simply Sob^ipchen.
"
Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. 106, 107.
:
p. 569,
254
LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [April 20.
Article VI. —St. Setrach, or Sedrach, Bishop. In the Martyro- logy of Tallagh,^ a St. Setrach, Bishop, is set down, on this day. There is no due, however, to the place where he Hved, or to the time when he flourished. We find mentioned, in the Martyrology of Donegalj^" that Sedrach, Bishop,hadvenerationpaidhim,atthisdate; and,. thisisalltherecord,we can find, in connexion with his memory.
Article VII. —Reputed Festival for the Translation of the Relics of St. Adelarius. {Eighth Century. '] The Translation of Adela- rius, born in Scotia, first Bishop of Hereford, and then Apostle of Franconia, who erected a monastery for his Scots, is a feast we find placed, at the 20th ofApril,byThomasDempster;' while,thesamewritermakeshimoneofthe companions of St. Boniface, whose martyrdom took place, on the Sth of Tune. ' To this latter date, his chief festival is referred ;
although, weare told, that one eminent writer has the Natalis of St. Adelarius, at the 20th of
TheBoUandists noticehim,atthisdate,also,andremark,thathe
April. 3
is venerated in several Martyrologies, chiefly of the more recent dates. In the Breviary of Hereford,5 his Ecclesiastical Office is set down as a double. There seems to have been a Translation of his relics, as likewise an inspec- tion of these, made in 1633 ; and, some accounts regarding these events, have been committed to writing. This holy Martyr flourished, in the eighth
century.
ArticleVIII. —FestivalofHerodius. Wefind,intheFeilireofSt.
^ngus,' the feast of Herodius, Martyr, set down in the Stanza, for the_20th of Apri'l,^ and, as an appendage, a festival at Rome, in honour of Martin, is given. 3 At this date, we do not find, in the BoUandists' great collection, any notice of a Martyr, or Saint, called Herodius, so that it is difficult to find, in what part of the world he had been venerated.
Article VI . —'Edited by Rev. Dr. Kelly, p xxi. The Franciscan copy has SeDt\Ac e^rp.
» Edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp.
5 This was printed, in 15x8. Arti"cle viii. — In the
Leabhar
106,107. " Article vil—* In his
Ucer^tj hei\ot> Ct\uimchii\ ci\och'oA X^<^1^"*""1^^"DAile noemtieoi\ApAuiLe.
Menologium Scotorum,"wefind; xx. "HeifordiKAde- larii episcopi primi translalio, qui Fran- conis Apostolus, Scolis suis monasterium
cuiLe
erexit "—Bi-^hop Forbes' " Kalendars of Scotti^sh Saints," p. 197- .
" With (the) suffering of Herodius a pnest
'
See Dempster's
right
' A marginal commentary is also found :
Gentis Scotorum," tomusi. , lib. i. , o
« Laces ad herodi 7rl. comune solemne sanc-
^*
" IHstoria Ecclesiastica
^'
^\° <^TM7'^"^ '^'f r"^f'i'^"
Tt! '"
num. 33,
3 These are the words of Dempster :— torum hiberniae et britanis et totius eorapae
" Colitur die v. Tunii, quo passus, et trans- latio XX. April. Petius Cratepolius, Uvion lib II Lie Vitae cap. XLI. Male Tiithem, lib", iv! Vir. illustr. Ord. S. Bened. , cap. CXXCIII. ei natalem assignat xx Aprilis. "- jl^. j
* See "Acta Sanctorum," tomus ii. , Ap- rilis XX. Among the pretermitted feasts, P-744-
et specialiter martini.
Breac
copy we read :—
'"
noble town ! -of all Europe s saints.
3 this is a comment, >" Following
Ir'fh, and thus translated into English, by Whitley
Stokes, LL. D. :_" A great tree was in the world in the east, and the heathen used to adore it, and the Christians fasted against all the saints of Europe that the tree might fall, and forthwith it fell.
April 21. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
255
Ctuentp-firsit ©ap of apri'U
ARTICLE I. —ST. MAELRUBIUS, OR MAOLRUBHA, OF BANGOR, COUNTY OF DOWN, AND OF APPLECROSS, SCOTLAND.
[SEVENTH AND EIGHTH CENTURIES. ^
in Scottish Ecclesiastical History, there is no other saint
if we except Columkille'—whose life-particuiars are marked with greater exactness, than are those of St. Maelrubha, or whose commemorations are more numerous, especially in the west of Scotland ; yet, only a few years have elapsed, since any correct account of him has appeared. Thefirst attempt of this kind was m a communication to the " Irish Ecclesiastical Journal,'" by the Rev. Dr. William Reeves. Thus, the history of St. Maelrubha has
gamed very considerable illustration, from that distinguished Irish ecclesias- ticalhistorianandantiquary. Thisnoticehasreceivedlateradditions,3from the same writer,'* who alterwards had an opportunity, for visiting the scenes of St. Maelrubha's labours, and for studying Scottish works, bearing on the in-
dividual and on his age. s More recently, Bishop Forbes « has entries regarding this saint. Some notices of Maolrubha are contained, in the Rev. Alban Butler's work,? at this date ; but, the saint is represented as being of Abur- Crossain, and this most incorrectly is placed, in the county of Ross, in Ire- land. Now, it is well known, there is no county bearing that name in Ireland. Moreover, the Rev. Alban Butler incorrectly states, that his festival was kept m Connaught,and that he was slain, by Norwegian pirates, in 721.
This saint had been descended, on the father's side, from the Cinel- Eoghain family ;« and subordinately, through that branch, called the Cinel Binnigh. This clan, at an early period, had obtained a settlement, in the south-eastern part of the present county of Londonderry, where they gave name to a particular district. ' Maelrubha was the son of Elganach, son to Garbh, son of Ollarbach, son to Cuboirenn, son of Crimthann, son to Eochaidh Binnigh," son of Eoghan," son to the celebrated Niall of the Nine
ALTHOUGH
Article i. — His Life will be found, at the 9th of June.
In vol. v. , July, 1849, num. 108, p.
,v ^
*9f-,. J. 1 ,.
It need scarcely be observed, the sub- stance of this exhaustive account has mainly
furnished the notices, we have inserted, in the
' See " Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs and
other principal saints," vol. iv. , April xxi.
He refers to Colgan's Manuscripts.
*5f3- See
Breac copy of
. Proceedmgs of the Society of An- tiquanes of Scotland," voL iii. Rev. Dr. Reeves' St. Maelrubha : His History and Churches, Commun. caUon 11. , pp. 258 to
"' Article.
'He dates from the Vicarage, Lusk,
April 20th, 1859. His communication was r^ before the Society, Tuesday, 14th June,
so stated.
" Until 1591, it belonged to the princi-
pality of Tyrone. It comprehended all the modern barony of Loughinsholin, west of the River Bann. It is now comprised, in the
County of Londonderry.
" Krom him the Cinel Binny descended
Pfff
of Tyrone* which extended to Tullaghoge on the south' It gave name to a rural deanery in the diocese of Derry, called Bynnagh or Ben- ""E^- Se« "Acts of Archbishop Coiton in his Metropolitan Visitation of the Diocese of Derry, A. D.
