The Weekly Round-Up
St Marnock and Monan
March 1st
St Marnock, A.D 625
St Marnock evangelised Moray leaving a church in Aberchirder in Banffshire. He had previously been under the rule of St Columba of Iona before he was sent to the mainland of Scotland. After his death, in either Aberdeenshire or the Borders, the veneration of this Saint spread with his relics (a head) being placed in a church in what is now Kilmarnock. He was also honoured on an Island near Bute, Argyllshire and Dunkeld.
St Monan (Moinenn of Clonfert?)
St Monans is a small picturesque village on the Fife coast that was named after one of possibly two characters - or at least bits of them both. One St Monan came along with St Adrian to the Isle of May on the East coast and after having preached the gospel on the mainland near to the present village named above and was martyred along with the others on the Isle by the Danes. The other story is St Monan is of Irish descent and Bishop of the major monastery of Clonfert. Barrett writes that his relics were brought to this part of Fife by Irish monks trying to evade those murderous Danes! Depending on who we are talking about it, we could be looking at the 6th or even 9th centuries for his period of earthly activity. The relics of our Saint resided in the Chapel of Invere as described by the Aberdeen Breviary which is also the name of a burn that runs on the west side of the Parish. Many miracles took place including to David II who was healed of a an arrow that his own doctors could bring little comfort to; and a woman who was demon possessed was made well again.
If you have not already had a look, this is just a reminder of the retreat planned for May 5th-7th at Pluscarden Abbey on the Visitation, as well an online zoom course about our baptismal vocation in light of being Prophets, Priests and Kings.
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