ST. COLUMBA OF IONA (JUNE 9TH)
A Contemporary Icon of St. Columba of Iona By Bp. Joseph ( Ancient Church of the West ) Introduction Today, we commemorate the life and legacy of St. Columba of Iona (AD 521 - AD 597), as one of the "12 Apostles of Ireland", who is one of the "Three Patrons Saints of the Celtic People", along with Sts. Patrick and Brigid. He is also remembered with Sts. Joseph of Arimathea, Alban, Aidan, Kentigern, Augustine, Dunstan, Theodore and Brendan as an influential saint in Ancient Great Britain and one of the founders of our Western Orthodox Patrimony. Childhood and Young Life St. Columba was born of Christian parents, descendent of the 5th Century Irish King, Niall of the Nine Hostages. He was baptized in the parish of Conwal, County Donegal, Ireland. His birth name was Crimthan, "little fox", but took the name Colmcille, or "Dove", either at priestly ordination or his later episcopal consecration. This name has subsequently been anglicized as ...
