Saint Columba of Iona

As with a number of Celtic Saints, Columba came from Irish nobility. His Latinized name, Columba, comes from Columcille, meaning, “dove of the Church,” given from his early habit of often being found in prayer.

In his youth he was visited by his Guardian Angel who offered him a choice. Columba chose chastity and wisdom. He was also given the gift of prophecy as a reward for his choice. At an early age he went to the monastery of St. Finian at Movilla in County Down to study theology, manuscript copying and illustration. It was here that he was ordained deacon. At Leinster, he studied poetry and music and some of his manuscripts are now preserved in the Bodleian Library in Oxford.

In 546 A.D., at the age of 25, he founded his first monastery on the Druid’s sacred grove site at Doire Calgach, which he renamed Doire Cholm Cille, now known as Derry. This was the place that Columba loved best. The monastery of Durrow, Kells and Moone followed. It is said that the saint founded 37 monastic churches in Ireland during his ministry.

Throughout his life Columba used his copyist and illuminating skills, but it was these that lead to a great tragedy, for in 561 A.D. at the age of 40 Columba secretly copied the manuscript, “St. Martin’s Gospel.” St. Finian, outraged at the act demanded that the copy be retained in the library of Movilla. The High King of Ireland, Diarmid, judged in St. Finian’s favour. Columba and his clan contested the decision in battle at Sligo and was victorious but, tragically, with a great loss of life on both sides. The Synod at Teltown decided on Columba’s excommunication for this act. This was later commuted in 563 A.D. to life-long exile from Ireland.

Related articles:
Rule of Saint Columba
Celtic Orthodoxy

In his search for a new home, St. Columba finally settled on the Isle of Iona where his cousin had founded a church and which was the burial place of the Irish Kings of Dalraida, as Scotland was known at that time. Iona’s monastery became Columba’s chief foundation and he was subsequently Scotland’s patron saint until superseded by St. Andrew.

Like many of our early Celtic saints, St. Columba had an affinity with the wild creatures round about him which he helped alongside his fellow men.

His repose was in this manner. Knowing that his time to rest was at hand at Pascha, he told his fellow monks that he had no wish to turn the joyous festival into a time of mourning, so he would wait a little longer. On 9 June, 597 A.D., (the year St. Augustine landed in Kent), St. Columba reposed. First buried on Iona, his relics were later transferred to Downpatrick to lie alongside St. Patrick and St. Bridget. On his feast day, 9 June, there takes place at Glencolmcille, a “turas” or three mile pilgrimage.

Iona of my heart, Iona of my love,
instead of monk’s voices, shall be lowing of cattle;
but ere the world come to an end,
Iona shall be as it was.
Stanza attributed to St. Columba