St. Columba, Abbot of Iona
Gaelic COLUMCILLE
VI Century
St. Columba (or Columcille) of Iona was an Irishman who converted Scotland
to Christianity in the sixth century. Born c. 521, he was the scion of a
noble family, and as a youth, he studied with the bard, Master Gemman. He
later studied under Sts. Finian of Moville and Finian of Clonard. In 551,
Columba was ordained a priest; after his ordination, he founded several
monasteries in Ireland. A dispute between him and King Diarmuid led to the
saint's departure, in 563, to Iona, where he and twelve companions
established a monastery. Columba made two trips to Ireland to attend
synods, but he spent the rest of his life in Scotland. He died in 597.
Karen Rae Keck
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