Columba to Iona & SW Scotland
C O L U M B A
There was a missionary student of Patrick's
schools in Ireland by the name of Columba,
"son of Feidlimyd, chieftain of the territory of
TIR-CONAILL the son of Fergus." J H Merle
d'Aubigne, (The Reformation in England, vol 1, pp 30)
Columcille (Columba) was born on December
7, 521 AD, at Gartan in County Donegal,
Ireland. His mother, Eithne, was daughter of a
Munster chief of the line of Cathair Mor.
Columba ("Dove") was named Crimthann,
and was a nephew of Fergus MacErca, then
King of Scotland, and Fergus' brother, then the
reigning High-King of all Ireland,
Muircheartach MacErca. A High-King who
reigned later in Colm’s (Irish name for
Columba) career, Ainmire, was his cousin.
St Columba is an example of a warrior monk,
admired not only for his spiritual leadership,
but also for his physical vigor.
It was in a time when, as then, the fires of
Christianity glowed at white heat, that a man
of so many royal entanglements could turn his
back upon wealth, rank and power, and give
himself to God. -- "The Story of the Irish Race" The
Devin-Adair Co, NY 1949 pp 160
Columba studied under the distinguished
"Finian of Clonard", and in 551 AD was
ordained a Pastor of the Celtic Christian
Church. During his residence in Ireland, he
lived at Kells and founded a number of
churches and the famous monasteries Daire
Calgaich (Derry) on the banks of Lough Foyle,
and Dair-magh (Durrow) in King's County.
He was a member of the Celtic Christian
Church, which was founded directly upon the
teachings of the Apostles of Christ who
reached Britain.
Joseph of Arimathaea and Mary might have
travelled to Britain shortly after the death of
Christ. Columba observed the correct Passover
(not the Babylonian Mystery religion's Ishtar
- Easter) and kept God's true SABBATH
- day Saturday, NOT the Babylonian's SUN-day, the day of SUN-worship.
Comgall and Columba both visited with Mobhi
Clairenach in Dublin suburb Glasnevin.
Columba Colm Cille was military trained, and
fought the O’Neills at the Battle of Coleraine
west of Belfast, in which thousands were
killed.
The Irish clergy censured him and
drove him out of Kells in Co Meath and
Ireland, as recorded by Adamnan.
So ColumCille “Columba” went to Scotland as
a missionary. 'I will go and preach the Word of
God in Scotland.” Ibib, pp 30
In 563 AD Columba established a monastery on
the Isle of Iona. From there, he acted not only
as missionary to the Picts, but diplomat as well,
helping unite the Scots under Gabhran's son,
King Aidan. Columba required a translator
when he converted Brude, the Pict King.
Part of the Scotic Dal Riada was colonized and
ruled by the Irish Scots. King Conall, son of
Comgall, reigned there, a direct descendant of
Fergus Mor MacErc of the Tir-Conaill family.
He was a Columba kinsman, and the King
made a grant of land where Columba and his
disciples could build a home and establish a
monastery.
Columba hoped the myth about the Pillar-Stone
of Jacob, supposedly placed in the church
previously built by his uncle King Fergus, was
true.
He expelled the pagan Druid priests who
inhabited the island. The non-pagan Druids
were converted. Iona had been known as INNIS
NAN DRUIDHNEAH ("THE ISLAND OF THE
DRUIDS"), and was a sacred spot long before
Columba made landfall in 563 AD.
After a small settlement was constructed, Iona
"developed into the most famous center of
Celtic Christianity, the Mother Community of
numerous monastic houses, whence
missionaries were dispatched for conversion of
Scotland and northern England." Encyclopedia
Britannica." 1943 edition Vol 12, pp 573
9 years after Columba arrived in Iona, Conall,
King of the Dalriadic Scots in the West of
Scotland, passed away. Aidan, son of Gauran,
succeeded to the throne. Columba was held in
high regard by the clergy and people. Being
related to the recently departed King, he was
selected to perform the Ceremony of
Inauguration on the accession of the new King
on An Faradh - the Inauguration Mound – the
Eminence.
As E Raymond Capt notes, "Aidan was
crowned King of Scotland in a Coronation Rite
THAT HAS BEEN USED EVER SINCE by the
succeeding monarchs of Scotland and England.
The ritual included a Confirmation declaring
the future of Aidan's children, grandchildren,
and great-grandchildren, exactly as was done
by JACOB when he blessed his sons before he
died." ("Jacob's Pillar," p 45)
In 597 AD death came to Columba. During May
of that year, he visited the farm on the west
side of the island where his brethren grew the
crops necessary for the survival of the
settlement. "On SATURDAY of that week he
visited the great barn in which was stored the
community's stock of food, and rejoiced in the
great store he found there, which would insure
plenty for his beloved ones for that year. With
earnestness he blessed the barn that it should
ever hold and give in plenty to the ardent
servants of God.
Columba also kept the Bible Sabbath Saturday which God commands in His Decalogue. His last moments are recorded in history:
"Having continued his labors in Scotland 34 years, he foretold his death, and on Saturday, the 9th of June, he said to his disciple Diermit: 'This day is called the Sabbath, that is, the day of rest, and such will it truly be to me; for it will put an end to my labors.'" Butler, Lives of the Saints, vol 6, pp 139
Then he said to those who stood around him: 'THIS DAY IN THE HOLY SCRIPTURES IS CALLED SABBATH, which means rest. And this day is SABBATH TO ME, for it is the last day of my laborious life, AND ON IT I REST. And this night... I shall go the way of my fathers.'...
At the end of the day, when it came time for the Sabbath evening prayers, having reached the end of a page, he laid down his pen, saying: 'Let Baithen write the rest.' And his last written words were those of the 33rd Psalm -- 'They that seek the Lord shall want no manner of thing that is good.'
So that the first words which his successor Baithen, was to write were: 'Come, ye children, and hearken unto me. I will teach you the fear of the Lord.'" ("The Story of the Irish Race," by Seumas MacManus. Revised edition. The Devin-Adair Co, Connecticut. 1992 Pp 172-173)
Shortly afterwards, this remarkable man of God went to his rest.
In 664, Oswald, King of Northumberland, ordered Sunday observance. And the Celtic Sabbath keepers, rather than to submit to it, withdrew to the Isle of Iona and to Ireland." So the Celtic Church had to flee from Sunday observance in the 7th century!