June 9 — is the day of remembrance of the « most Irish of the Irish saints» Columba Kille, Saint Columba of Ireland (December 7, 521 — June 9, 597). He is also called Colum Cille — Dove of the Church.
Saint Columbus is indeed one of the most «living» early Irish saints. Perhaps even more so than Saint Patrick, who, due to his enormous popularity, almost completely disappeared into folklore.
The saint's estimated date of birth ranges between 521 and 523, his place of birth — being Gartan in northern Ireland. He belonged to the royal family of the Ui Neils, and from the very beginning was considered by his relatives as a possible candidate for the throne of the High King. However, he chose a different path, devoting himself from his early youth to serving the Church.
A disciple of St. Finnian, a monk, poet and scholar, he was distinguished by ardent energy and active restlessness while simultaneously inclined to prayerful contemplation and mental concentration.
«Life» says that Columbus's appearance was «completely like an angel». The same «Life» paints a more detailed portrait of him — tall and thin, « like a crane», bony but well built, athletic strong and « with such a loud voice that he could be heard a mile away». Obviously, this is exactly what the angel looked like in the minds of a medieval Irishman.
Passionate and impetuous, vengeful and gentle, hot-tempered and kind-hearted, he was no less willing to intervene in all kinds of worldly strife than to indulge in contemplation. Perhaps these features of his nature are associated with the rather confusing story of his exile.
Columba was already famous and revered by everyone, founded several monasteries (Derry, Durrow and Kells), performed «many other feats and miracles for the sake of Christ» — suddenly left his homeland and went as a missionary to Scotland... One legend cites a quarrel with King Diarmaid as the reason for such a sudden pilgrimage.
When the king ordered the burning of the church in which his enemy was hiding, Columbus, outraged by this, raised his clan against the king. And there was a battle at Quil Dremne, in which three thousand men died, and the blame for their death was laid on Columbus. A Local Council was hastily convened at Telltoon, which was to excommunicate Columbus, and so it would have been had it not been for the intercession of St. Brendan.
Tormented by remorse, Columba decided to atone for his sin himself and went to Scotland with the intention of remaining there until he turned as many people to Christ as died in that battle«. This is the most romantic and, it is believed, the least reliable version of his exile. Be that as it may, Columbus and his twelve companions arrived on the island of Jonah (in another pronunciation — Iona), where he founded one of his most famous «» monasteries, the Iona Abode, the future center of Christianization of Scotland.
Of the creations of Saint Columba, several hymns and poems in Irish and Latin have survived, as well as the Old Irish Psalter (Cathnach), which was revered as a relic and served as a talisman for kings during battles.
Colum Cille is one of the most famous Celtic saints revered in both Ireland and Scotland. In Ireland, the worship of Colm Kill in the North (in Donegal and Ulster) is traditionally strong, and many spiritual songs and a number of perfect miracles are attributed to him.