Commemorated June 9 (New Calendar) June 22 (Old Calendar)

Saint Columba, also called Colum Cille, “the dove of the Church,” was born in County Donegal in 521, of the Uí Néill. He was raised by the priest Cruithnechan. After the battle of Cúl Dreimhne he left Ireland as a pilgrim for Christ. With twelve companions he settled on Iona in 563, founded a monastery there, and preached among the Picts and the Scots. He reposed on Iona in 597, before the altar, at seventy-five.

What the reading keeps

St. Demetrius of Rostov does not keep a separate life for him. The memory the Church keeps is the life written from Saint Adomnan and given in English on the OCA page. It records the life and death. It does not come to us as a Rostov reading of spoken words.

His parents named him Crimthann. He was later called Colum, then Columba. He founded houses at Derry and Durrow before he left Ireland. The battle of Cúl Dreimhne was in 561. The synod of Teltown met in 562. In 563 he took twelve companions to Iona, off the southwestern coast of Mull. He asked to live there thirty years and then be called. The reading says the call was delayed four years more.

In 574 he anointed Aedan mac Gabrain to succeed King Conall of Dalriada. By then Iona had a dependency on Hinba and others on the islands.

In May of 597 the brethren were working on the western side of the island. He was seventy-five and had to be taken there in a cart. He blessed the island toward the east. On Saturday he went with his servant to bless the nearest barn. On the way back a white horse that carried milk to the monastery laid its head on his breast and mourned. A cross was later set at the place where he had to stop and rest, fixed in a millstone.

That same day he copied the Psalms as far as Psalm 33/34:10 and stopped at the end of the page for Baithene to write what followed. He slept on bare rock with a stone for a pillow. When the bell rang for the Midnight Office he went to the church first and knelt before the altar. His soul departed there. The funeral rites lasted three days and nights. His relics were wrapped in linen and placed in the grave.

Who stood with them

Fedelmid mac Ferguso and Eithne were his parents. Cruithnechan, a priest, raised him. Saint Finnian of Moville stands in the dispute over the copied book. The High King Diarmait mac Cerbaill judged that case. Saint Brendan of Birr met him after the synod of Teltown had moved against him. Twelve companions crossed with him to Iona. Aedan mac Gabrain received anointing at his hand. Diarmait was his servant in the last days. Baithene was to take up the page he left unfinished. Lugaid mac Tailchain and Ernene moccu Fir Roide saw his passing from far off. Saint Adomnan, ninth abbot of Iona, wrote the life.

He left the land that had raised him, and he stayed on a small island until the work was done.

We ask his prayers when harm we helped to cause must be repaid by a long obedience, and when we are told to remain after we were ready to go.

Pray for us

Troparion, Tone 5 “By your God-inspired life you embodied both the mission and the dispersion of the Church, most glorious Father Columba. Using your repentance and voluntary exile, Christ our God raised you up as a beacon of the True Faith, an apostle to the heathen and an indicator of the Way of salvation. Wherefore O holy one, cease not to intercede for us that our souls may be saved.”

Kontakion, Plagal of the Fourth Tone “O Thou prince of Celts and founder of monasteries, in obedience to the revelation of the Archangel Michael, thou didst endure exile and in so doing didst carry the Faith to the unenlightened. As one who received the grace of illumination by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant that the hearts of us sinners may be purified by His radiance. Intercede thou that peace may rule throughout thy land and the whole world, and forget not thine erring children, O holy Father Columba.”

Saint Columba, pray for us.

Sources

Azbyka, Православная богословская энциклопедия, «Колюмба». https://azbyka.ru/otechnik/Lopuhin/pravoslavnaja-bogoslovskaja-entsiklopedija-ili-bogoslovskij-entsiklopedicheskij-slovar-tom-12-knigi-simvolicheskie-konstantinopol/109

Orthodox Church in America, Saint Columba of Iona, Enlightener of Scotland. https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2023/06/09/101679-saint-columba-of-iona-enlightener-of-scotland

This site is a lamp, not a parish. Listen to the life. Then find a living Orthodox church and ask a priest to pastor you. https://pieceofhumanity.com/find-a-parish/