Tassac
Encyclopedia
St. Tassac, also known as St. Tassach was an Irish
saint, born in the first decade of the 5th century, died c. 495 and whose feast day falls on the 14 April.
He was one of Saint Patrick
's disciples, and when St Patrick founded the Church of Raholp he placed St Tassac in charge of it. The Church of Raholp was situated approximately 1 mile south of Saul
and was ultimately merged as a Church into the Irish Diocese of Down (now the Diocese of Down and Connor
). Some believe that the Church of Raholp was situated in Downpatrick
, which is approximately 2.5 miles south south west of Saul, but this is open to debate as the ruins of the original Church building are to be found in Raholp. The remains of the church and adjoining lands are protected by law.
St Tassac was a skilled artisan who made church artifacts for many of the churches founded by St Patrick, but is remembered primarily for the fact that he was selected by St Patrick to be with him in his last moments and to administer the Holy Viaticum to him. This event is chronicled in "The Martyrology of Donegall"; "Tassach of Raholp gave the Body of Christ to Saint Patrick before his death in the monastery of Saul".
Since the 19th century, St Tassac has sometimes been confused, with Saint Assicus
of Elphin
, County Roscommon
, who had the same types of skill and is said to have died in the same year, and with St Assam (or Assan).
You were one of the first to follow Saint Patrick
and you administered the Holy Viaticum to him at the last.
Please be at my side when it is my turn to leave this earth and help me so that, like you, I will be with Christ forever.
Like Moses' disciples adorning the tabernacle,
you were a skilled artist and craftsman
and are now with Christ.
Please be at my side ensuring that whilst doing my daily chores you
ensure that I will always do as Christ requires from me.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
saint, born in the first decade of the 5th century, died c. 495 and whose feast day falls on the 14 April.
He was one of Saint Patrick
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....
's disciples, and when St Patrick founded the Church of Raholp he placed St Tassac in charge of it. The Church of Raholp was situated approximately 1 mile south of Saul
Saul, County Down
Saul is the name of a townland and civil parish in County Down, Northern Ireland.The townland lies to the east of Downpatrick and has strong links with Saint Patrick. It is claimed that when Saint Patrick came to Ireland in 432, strong currents swept his boat through the Strangford Lough tidal...
and was ultimately merged as a Church into the Irish Diocese of Down (now the Diocese of Down and Connor
Diocese of Down and Connor
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Down and Connor, is a Roman Catholic diocese in the north-eastern part of Ireland. It is one of eight suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Armagh and is subject to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Armagh...
). Some believe that the Church of Raholp was situated in Downpatrick
Downpatrick
Downpatrick is a medium-sized town about 33 km south of Belfast in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is the county town of Down with a rich history and strong connection to Saint Patrick. It had a population of 10,316 at the 2001 Census...
, which is approximately 2.5 miles south south west of Saul, but this is open to debate as the ruins of the original Church building are to be found in Raholp. The remains of the church and adjoining lands are protected by law.
St Tassac was a skilled artisan who made church artifacts for many of the churches founded by St Patrick, but is remembered primarily for the fact that he was selected by St Patrick to be with him in his last moments and to administer the Holy Viaticum to him. This event is chronicled in "The Martyrology of Donegall"; "Tassach of Raholp gave the Body of Christ to Saint Patrick before his death in the monastery of Saul".
Since the 19th century, St Tassac has sometimes been confused, with Saint Assicus
Assicus
Saint Assicus was the first bishop of Elphin, Ireland, and venerated as the patron saint of that place. Converted to Christianity by Saint Patrick, he is said to have been Patrick's worker in iron....
of Elphin
Elphin, County Roscommon
Elphin, sometimes spelt Elfin , is a village in north County Roscommon, Ireland. It forms the southern tip of a triangle with Boyle and Carrick-on-Shannon to the north west and north east respectively. It is at the junction of the R368 and R369 regional roads...
, County Roscommon
County Roscommon
County Roscommon is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the town of Roscommon. Roscommon County Council is the local authority for the county...
, who had the same types of skill and is said to have died in the same year, and with St Assam (or Assan).
Prayer to St Tassac
Saint Tassac.You were one of the first to follow Saint Patrick
and you administered the Holy Viaticum to him at the last.
Please be at my side when it is my turn to leave this earth and help me so that, like you, I will be with Christ forever.
Like Moses' disciples adorning the tabernacle,
you were a skilled artist and craftsman
and are now with Christ.
Please be at my side ensuring that whilst doing my daily chores you
ensure that I will always do as Christ requires from me.