Early 8th century; in Ireland his feast is celebrated on
January 9.
(And
in some places
January 19.
)
The Irish Fillan, son of Feriach, grandson of King Ceallach of Leinster,
received the monastic habit in the abbey of Saint Fintan Munnu. Then he
accompanied his mother, Saint Kentigerna, and his uncle, Saint Comgan,
to Scotland, where he became a missionary monk. He was perhaps a monk at
Taghmon in Wexford and a hermit at Pittenweem, Fife, before being chosen
as abbot of the nearby monastery, which he governed for some years. He
retired to Glendochart in Perthshire, where he lived a solitary life and
built a church. There he died and was buried at the place now called
Strathfillan in his honour. Until the early 19th century, the mentally
ill were dipped into the pool here and then left all night, restrained,
in a corner of Fillan's ruined chapel. If they were found loose the next
morning, they were considered cured.
Further north, in Ross-shire, there are dedications to his memory and
that of his uncle (Kilkoan and Killellan). Both Irish and Scottish
martyrologies recorded his sanctity, and the Aberdeen Breviary relates
some extraordinary miracles performed by him.
History also records that Robert the Bruce put his hopes of victory at
Bannockburn into the hands of Saint Fillan. It is reported that he
brought an arm relic of the saint into battle having passed most of the
night praying for his intercession. Not surprisingly, the Scottish
victory at Bannockburn revived and perpetuated his cultus, and his feast
is still kept in the diocese of Dunkeld
(
Attwater2,
Benedictines,
Coulson,
Farmer,
Gill,
Montague).
The bell and staff of Saint Fillan still exist.
The outer covering of his staff (crosier) can be seen at
http://www.cushnieent.force9.co.uk/WebSitePhotoGallery/Photogallery1.htm