An Exile For The Sake Of the Gospel

Throughout the 7th century hundreds of Irish monks left Ireland to preach the Gospel throughout mainland Europe. One such missionary was St. Kilian of Muliagh who evangelized Franconia and was martyred there in 689 A.D.

Kilian was born in Muliagh, Co.Cavan about 640 A.D. some two hundred years after St. Patrick had first brought Christianity to Ireland.

There was a flowering of monasticism in Ireland at the time. Great monastries, centres of religion and learning, prepared monks like Kilian to bring the gospel back to Europe - Clonmacnoise, Durrow, Deny, Clonard, Giendaiough.

Wearing a course grey tunic, and carrying a staff and the Book of the Gospels, Kilian journeyed South to Tuosist near Kenmare in Kerry. He set sail for the Continent along with eleven companies in 686c. from Kilmackilloge harbour. Kitian and his,companions made their way along the Rhine and the Maine into Franconia where according to tradition he planted a Cross on a hill known as the Krenzberg overlooking the modem city of Wurzburg.

Franconia at the time was a largely pagan country where Christianity had made little impact. According to tradition he first secured the Pope's permission before selling about his mission. Over the next few years Kilian and his companions baptized thousands of Franconians indudrng the ruler, Duke Gosbert. So successful was his mission that he became known as the Apostle of Franconia. The conversion of Gosberf was to have fatal repercussions for Kilian and two of his conpanions Colonat and Totnan. The 1Oth century Passio minor tells the story of their martyrdom:

They arrived in East Franconia at The castle of Wurzburg and there they preached Ihe Word of God. When Duke Gosbert heard of this he called them to him. When they appeared before him, Bishop Kilian and the noble Duke conversed and it was not long until God's pious Bishop had persuaded ihe latter to become a Christian But Duke Gosbert was married to his brother's wife. Kilian turned to him with The following words "You must leave your wife to whom you are wrongfully marrie" When, however, Geilana, the wife of Gosbert learned of this, she was consumed with rage and jealously and schemed day and night to destroy the holy man of God. And when Almighty God wished for his warriors to end their earthly struggle their executioners approached them with their swords drawn ready to behead Them on the orders of Geilana.

When Kilian saw This he spoke to his men saying "Fear not those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul." Upon these words, all were beheaded in the same way.

When Duke Gosbert came and enquired where Ihe servants of God were, his infidel wife replied that she did not know. But the wretched man who was responsible for Ihe deaths could not find the punisnment that came upon him as revenge for the martyrs. But when the miserable creature was released before all the people he began to rave and tear himself apart wirh his own teeth until he finally killed himself. An evil spirit look possession of Geilana and tormented her until at length she passed away.

Some time around 752 A.D the remains of the three martyred Irishmen were discovered buried in a stable. They were disinterred and moved to a round church on the Marienburg. Soon pilgrims began to flock from ail over Europe to the shrine of Kilian, Colonat, Totnan, including many from Ireland.

The Wurzburg Glosses, notes in Gaelic written by students on the Espistles of St Paul In the middle of the 8th century are evidence of the link between the two counties. They are presently preserved in Wurzburg University library. It was partly on these Glosses that the famous German linguistic scholar, Johann Casper Zeuss based his Grammatica Celtic published in 1853 which still remains a standard work for students of early Irish.

In 1139 the Schottenkloster of St. James, an Irish monastry in Wurzburg was founded to cater for Irish pilgrims. It survived for three and a half centuries. For a time it maintained a daughter priory in Rosscarbery in West Cork.

Both in Germany and back home in Ireland, Kilian has always been A people's Saint. The people of Wurzburg chose him as their Patron and gave him a central place in their devotions. Each generation had paid its own trfoute to him, in stone, metal or wood. He is depicted as a simple missionary, a powerful prince-bishop or a pious evangelist.

Each year on his feast (8 July) the relics of the three martyred Irishmen are carried in solemn procession through the streets of the city.

In his native Mullagh his feast is marked by prayers at St. Kilian's holy well in the townland of Cloughballybeg. Until recently he was also honoured by a pattern at Kilmackilloge in Kerry and at Rosscarbery in Cork. Churches and schools all over Ireland are dedicated to him.

In 1991 relics of the saint were brought back from Wurzburg to Mullagh, a special homecoming twelve centuries after he left on his epic spiritual journey that made him the most venerated and beloved Irish saint on the Continent of Europe.