Saints -- Scotland; Scotland -- Church history -- Biography
He was a bishop in the Isle of Man, which {74} then formed part of
Scotland. His name is variously written as Machalus, Machella, and
Mauchold. One of the parishes in the island bears his name, and in
the churchyard is the saint's holy well. A ledge of rock hard by is
called his "chair"; it used to be a favourite devotion of pilgrims
to seat themselves on this ledge while drinking the miraculous water
of the well and invoking the saint's aid. The water is said to have
been effective in preventing the action of poison. Many churches in
Scotland are called by his name. There was a chapel near Chapeltown
in Banffshire known as Kilmaichlie, which seems to refer to this
saint. A holy well is still to be found in the vicinity.
29--St. Middan, Bishop.
Very little is known of this saint. Some think him to be identical
with St. Madden or Medan, who was honoured at Airlie, in Angus. Near
the church of Airlie is a spring called by the name of St. Medan,
and a hillock hard by is known as "St. Medan's Knowe." The bell of
the saint was also preserved there till it was sold for old iron
during the last century. Ecclesmaldie, {75} now called Inglismaldie,
in the Mearns, has also a "Maidie Well," which may possibly be
connected with St. Middan.
30--St. Brioc, Bishop, A.D. 500.
This saint was British by birth. He became a disciple of St. Germanus
and devoted himself to preaching the Gospel to his fellow-country
men. Flying for his life from the fury of the pagan Saxons, he passed
over the sea to Brittany, and there built a monastery on the sea
coast which was afterwards called by his name. The town which grew up
in the vicinity became the seat of a bishop, and is still known as
St. Brieuc.
There is no record of the saint having visited Scotland, but there
was much devotion to him among Celtic peoples, and Scottish
dedications bear witness to the honour in which he was held in that
country. He is the patron of Rothesay; the church bore the
designation of St. Mary and St. Brioc, and "St. Brock's Fair" was
held there on the first Wednesday in May. "Brux day fair," which
seems to refer to this saint, was instituted in 1585 to be {76} held
in July every year on the island of Cumbrae, but it has long ceased
to be kept. Dunrod Church, in Kirkcudbright, bears the dedication of
St. Mary and St. Brioc. The island of Inchbrayock in the Esk, near
Montrose, is called after him. The French keep his feast on May 1st,
but in Scotland it was celebrated on April 30th.
MAY
1--St. Asaph, Bishop, A.D. (about) 590.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account