Saint Odran
Encyclopedia
Odran was the charioteer of Saint Patrick
and was the first Irish
Christian
Martyr
. He lived about 430.
There are two different versions given about Odran’s martyrdom. The first is in the Vita tripartita Sancti Patricii
which states that on the borders of the present counties of Kildare and Offaly, the chieftain of that district Failge Berraide worshipped the pagan god Crom Cruach
and vowed to avenge the god’s destruction at Magh Slécht
by killing Patrick. Odran overheard the plot, and as they were setting out in the chariot to continue their journey, requested that he be allowed to hold the place of honour instead of Patrick, who granted his wish, and scarcely had they set out when a lance pierced the heart of the devoted follower, who by changing places thus saved Patrick's life.
The second version is contained in the Pseudo-Historical Prologue
to the Senchas Már and states that the High-King Lóegaire mac Néill
persuaded his nephew to kill Patrick as follows- "The cause of the Senchus Mor having been composed was this :-Patrick came to Erin to baptize and to disseminate religion among the Gaedhil, i.e. in the ninth year of Theodosius and in the fourth year of Laeghaire, King of Erin, son of Niall. But the cause of the poem having been composed was as follows -Laeghaire ordered his people to kill a man of Patrick's people; and Laeghaire agreed to give his own award to the person who should kill the man, that he might discover whether he (Patrick) would grant forgiveness for it. And Nuada Derg, the son of Niall, the brother of Laeghaire, who was in captivity in the hands of Laeghaire, heard this, and he said that if he were released and got other rewards, he would kill one of Patrick's people. And the command of Laeghaire's cavalry was given him, and he was released from captivity, and he gave guarantee that he would fulfil his promise; and he took his lance and went towards the clerics, and hurled the lance at them and slew Odran, Patrick's charioteer."
St.Patrick then asked the Chief Ollam of Ireland
, Dubhthach moccu Lughair
to try the case and the murderer was convicted and executed, thus creating the earliest judgement on the conflicting values of Christian and Pagan laws in Ireland.
Saint Odran's feast-day is 19 February.
Due to the similarity of the name some people have identified Odran with Odhran
. There is a link in the fact that both men voluntarily sacrificed themselves in assist the work of a greater saint.
Saint Patrick
Saint Patrick was a Romano-Briton and Christian missionary, who is the most generally recognized patron saint of Ireland or the Apostle of Ireland, although Brigid of Kildare and Colmcille are also formally patron saints....
and was the first Irish
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...
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...
Martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
. He lived about 430.
There are two different versions given about Odran’s martyrdom. The first is in the Vita tripartita Sancti Patricii
Vita tripartita Sancti Patricii
The Vita tripartita Sancti Patricii is a bilingual Life of Patrick, written partly in Irish and in parts in Latin from the late 9th century. It is the earliest example of a saint's Life written in the Irish language and it was meant to be read in three parts over the three days of the saint's...
which states that on the borders of the present counties of Kildare and Offaly, the chieftain of that district Failge Berraide worshipped the pagan god Crom Cruach
Crom Cruach
Crom Cruach or Cromm Crúaich , also known as Cenn Cruach /ˈkʲɛnˠ: ˈkɾˠuəxˠ/ or Cenncroithi /ˈkʲɛnˠ: ˈkɾˠoθʲɨ/, was a deity in pre-Christian Ireland, reputedly propitiated with human sacrifice, whose worship is said to have been ended by St...
and vowed to avenge the god’s destruction at Magh Slécht
Magh Slécht
Magh Slécht is the name of an historic plain in Ireland. It comprises an area of about three square miles situated in the south-eastern part of the Parish of Templeport, Barony of Tullyhaw and County of Cavan. It is bounded on the north by Templeport Lough, on the east by Slieve Rushen mountain,...
by killing Patrick. Odran overheard the plot, and as they were setting out in the chariot to continue their journey, requested that he be allowed to hold the place of honour instead of Patrick, who granted his wish, and scarcely had they set out when a lance pierced the heart of the devoted follower, who by changing places thus saved Patrick's life.
The second version is contained in the Pseudo-Historical Prologue
Prologue
A prologue is an opening to a story that establishes the setting and gives background details, often some earlier story that ties into the main one, and other miscellaneous information. The Greek prologos included the modern meaning of prologue, but was of wider significance...
to the Senchas Már and states that the High-King Lóegaire mac Néill
Lóegaire 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...
persuaded his nephew to kill Patrick as follows- "The cause of the Senchus Mor having been composed was this :-Patrick came to Erin to baptize and to disseminate religion among the Gaedhil, i.e. in the ninth year of Theodosius and in the fourth year of Laeghaire, King of Erin, son of Niall. But the cause of the poem having been composed was as follows -Laeghaire ordered his people to kill a man of Patrick's people; and Laeghaire agreed to give his own award to the person who should kill the man, that he might discover whether he (Patrick) would grant forgiveness for it. And Nuada Derg, the son of Niall, the brother of Laeghaire, who was in captivity in the hands of Laeghaire, heard this, and he said that if he were released and got other rewards, he would kill one of Patrick's people. And the command of Laeghaire's cavalry was given him, and he was released from captivity, and he gave guarantee that he would fulfil his promise; and he took his lance and went towards the clerics, and hurled the lance at them and slew Odran, Patrick's charioteer."
St.Patrick then asked the Chief Ollam of Ireland
Chief Ollam of Ireland
The Ollamh Érenn or Chief Ollam of Ireland was a professional title of Gaelic Ireland.-Background:An ollam was a poet or bard of literature and history. Each chief or tuath had its own ollam...
, Dubhthach moccu Lughair
Dubhthach moccu Lughair
Dubthach maccu Lugair is a legendary Irish poet and lawyer who supposedly lived at the time of St Patrick's mission in Ireland and in the reign of Lóegaire mac Néill, high-king of Ireland. In contrast to the king and his druids, he is said to have readily accepted the new religion...
to try the case and the murderer was convicted and executed, thus creating the earliest judgement on the conflicting values of Christian and Pagan laws in Ireland.
Saint Odran's feast-day is 19 February.
Due to the similarity of the name some people have identified Odran with Odhran
Saint Otteran
Odran or Odhran , a descendant of Conall Gulban, is usually identified with Odhron , who preceded Saint Columba in Iona. His death is recorded in 548 and his grave was greatly revered in Iona....
. There is a link in the fact that both men voluntarily sacrificed themselves in assist the work of a greater saint.
Sources
-
- University of Frankfurt: in four parts (http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/celt/mir/vitatrip/vitat001.htm, http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/celt/mir/vitatrip/vitat002.htm, http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/celt/mir/vitatrip/vitat003.htm, http://titus.uni-frankfurt.de/texte/etcs/celt/mir/vitatrip/vitat004.htm)
- K. R. McCone, “Dubthach maccu Lugair and a Matter of Life and Death in the Pseudohistorical Prologue to the Senchas Már” in Peritia v (1986).
- D. A. Binchy, "The Pseudo-historical prologue to the Senchas Mar" in Studia Celtica x/xi (1975–76), p. 15.
- J. Carey, "The two laws in Dubthach's judgment" in CMCS, 1990, n°19, pp. 1–18
- J. Carey, "An edition of the Pseudo-historical prologue to the Senchas Mar" in Eriu, 1994, n°45, pp. 1–32.