Cianán
Encyclopedia
St. Cianán was a Bishop
of Duleek
in Ireland
. He was descended from the royal blood of the kings of Munster
.
, by whom he was set free at the intercession of Bishop Kieran. He then went into France, and passed some time at Tours
in the monastery of St. Martin.
Returning to his native country, he converted great numbers to Christianity
in Connacht
. Then he went to Leinster
, and founded a church in a place called to this day The Wood of Cianán. At length he went into the territory of Owen, (Tír Eoghain,) whose niece, Eithne, was Cianán's mother. There he broke down an idol with an altar that was dedicated to it, and on the place built a Christian
church. In the office of St. Cianán extant in manuscript in the library at Cambridge, it is said that the saint built here a church of stone, on that account called Damliag, corrupted into Duleek.
Duleek having suffered greatly by several fires and devastations of the Danes, its episcopal see was united to the diocese of Meath
.
Modern research indicates he may have been the namesake of the Ciannachta
.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
of Duleek
Duleek
Duleek is a town in County Meath, Ireland, close to the Louth border.Duleek takes is name from the Irish word daimh liag, meaning house of stones and referring to an early stone-built church, St Cianan’s Church, the ruins of which are still visible in Duleek today...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. He was descended from the royal blood of the kings of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
.
Life
According to his acts quoted by Usher, he was a pupil of the religious man, Nathan; and, when a youth, was one of the fifty hostages whom the princes of Ireland gave to king Lóegaire mac NéillLóegaire mac Néill
Lóegaire , also Lóeguire, is said to have been a son of Niall of the Nine Hostages. The Irish annals and king lists include him as a King of Tara or High King of Ireland. He appears as an adversary of Saint Patrick in several hagiographies...
, by whom he was set free at the intercession of Bishop Kieran. He then went into France, and passed some time at Tours
Tours
Tours is a city in central France, the capital of the Indre-et-Loire department.It is located on the lower reaches of the river Loire, between Orléans and the Atlantic coast. Touraine, the region around Tours, is known for its wines, the alleged perfection of its local spoken French, and for the...
in the monastery of St. Martin.
Returning to his native country, he converted great numbers to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for...
. Then he went to Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
, and founded a church in a place called to this day The Wood of Cianán. At length he went into the territory of Owen, (Tír Eoghain,) whose niece, Eithne, was Cianán's mother. There he broke down an idol with an altar that was dedicated to it, and on the place built a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
church. In the office of St. Cianán extant in manuscript in the library at Cambridge, it is said that the saint built here a church of stone, on that account called Damliag, corrupted into Duleek.
Duleek having suffered greatly by several fires and devastations of the Danes, its episcopal see was united to the diocese of Meath
Diocese of Meath
The Diocese of Meath is an Irish diocese which took its name after the ancient Kingdom of Meath. In the Roman Catholic Church it still exists as a separate diocese, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other dioceses.-History:...
.
Modern research indicates he may have been the namesake of the Ciannachta
Ciannachta
The Ciannachta were a population group of early historic Ireland. They claimed descent from the legendary figure Tadc mac Cein. They first appear in historical sources in the 6th century, and were found in several parts of the island, including in Brega and Tír Eoghain...
.