Saints -- Scotland; Scotland -- Church history -- Biography
According to some writers, he was one of the companions of St. Adrian
(who was honoured on March 4), and preached the Gospel in Fifeshire;
his relics being afterwards translated to Abercrombie in that
county--King David II., in thanksgiving for cures obtained through
the saint's intercession, erecting there a noble church to contain
them. Dr Skene, however, is of opinion that this saint was not a
martyr, but was St. Monan, Bishop of Clonfert, known in Irish
calendars as Moinenn, and that his relics were brought to Abercrombie
by Irish who had fled from the Danes then plundering and burning
Irish monasteries about the year 841. On account of the great
devotion of the saint, Abercrombie became generally known as St.
Monan's, but has now reverted to its original title. The church was
given by James III. to the Dominicans; later on it was transferred to
the Canons Regular of St. Andrews. St. Monan's Well is near the
ancient building. {35}
2--St. Fergna, Bishop, A.D. 622.
This saint, a fellow-citizen and relative of St. Columba, became
eventually Abbot of Iona. During his rule many of the young nobles
who had fled from the sword of the King of Deira took shelter in the
monastery. They were instructed and converted to the Christian Faith.
St. Fergna is said to have been made a bishop in the later years of
his life, but this is called in question by some writers. He seems to
have been of partly British descent and is often styled "Fergna the
Briton."
4--St. Adrian and Companions, A.D. 875.
An old legend, which was long regarded as authentic, relates that
this saint was of royal birth and was a native of Hungary, and that
he came to Scotland with several companions to preach the Faith.
Modern historians identify him with the Irish St. Odhran, who was
driven from his country by the Danes and took refuge in Scotland. He
preached the Gospel to the people of Fifeshire and the eastern
counties. Eventually he founded a monastery on the Isle of May in the
Firth of Forth. Here he suffered martyrdom, together {36} with a
great number of his disciples, in an incursion of the Danes. A Priory
was built on the island by David I, and placed under the Benedictine
Abbey of Reading. Later on it was given over to the Canons Regular
of St. Andrews. The Isle of May became a famous place of pilgrimage
on account of the connection with it of other saints besides St.
Adrian and his companions. James IV visited it several times, having
evidently a great affection for the holy place. In 1503 he took the
"clerkis of the Kingis chapell to Maii to sing the Mes thair." Other
records occur in his treasurer's accounts, such as the following: "To
the preistis to say thre trentals of Messis thair"; for "the Kingis
offerand in his tua candillis in Maii."
6--St. Baldred, Hermit, A.D. 608.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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