Vast as was his diocese, which embraced the two great Northumbrian kingdoms, and great as must have been his influence over the other Saxon provinces, S. Finan seems to have preserved and exercised an authority not less complete over the country of his origin, the kingdom of the Dalriadian Scots. The Scotch annalists all speak of a certain king Fergus, who, by his violence and exactions, had raised the indignation of the Scottish clergy, and called down upon himself a sentence of excommunication from the bishops of Lindisfarne, Finan and his successors. Bede, who is prejudiced against this holy prelate, because of his adhesion to the Keltic ritual, and resistance of the introduction of the Roman usages in vogue in the South of England, nevertheless admits his great virtues, his contempt of the world, love of poverty and disinterestedness, and great diligence in preaching the Word of Life.[53] [48] Portion lost. [49] A mistake of a copyist for Polychronius, apparently. [50] Lanigan, i. p. 222. [51] Lanigan. ii., p. 345. [52] Whence it appears that S. Fintan was a native of Ross, (in Wexford), for Ross is _Ros_-mhic-Trein; _i.e._, Ross of the Sons of Trein. [53] Montalembert: "Monks of the West." [Illustration] February 18. S. SIMEON, _BM. of Jerusalem_, A.D. 107. SS. LEO AND PAREGORIUS, _MM. at Patara (commemorated by Greeks only)_. SS. MAXIMUS, CLAUDIUS, PRÆPEDIGNA, ALEXANDER, AND CUTIAS, _MM. at Rome_, A.D. 295. SS. CONSTANTIA, AUGUSTA, ATTICA, AND ARTEMIA, _VV. at Rome, 4th cent._ S. FLAVIAN, _BM. of Constantinople_, A.D. 449. S. HELLADIUS, _B. of Toledo_, A.D. 632. S. ANGILBERT, _Ab. of S. Riquier, in France_, A.D. 814. S. THEOTONTIUS, _Prior of S. Cruz, at Coimbra_, A.D. 1166. S. SIMEON, B. OF JERUSALEM. (A.D. 107.) [Roman, and all ancient Martyrologies, but commemorated by the Greeks on April 27th. Authorities:--Eusebius, Hist. Eccl., lib. iii., c. 10, 32; Hegesippus quoted by Eusebius.]