St. Manire of Scotland, Bishop
(Manirus, Niniar)
19 December
Date unknown. Manirus is venerated as one of the apostles of northern
Scotland. His work seems to have concentrated on encouraging the newly
converted Highlanders in their faith
(Benedictines).
[
http://www.cushnieent.force9.co.uk/manire.html ]
The last of the Celtic apostles to bring the Gospel to Deeside were St
Devenick and St Manire. Both were active in the valley during the 9th
century but their establishments were widely separated.
St Manire (sometimes spelled Monire, Miniar or Niniar) is said to have been
one of Drostan's successors at Deer, and to have had a foundation in that
district near Aberdour.
St Manire's main sphere of activity was on upper Deeside, in Crathie
district, where he established his church. The site of Manire's foundation
is at Rhynabaich, a knoll to the north of the North Deeside Road. A solitary
standing-stone is all that remains of Manire's establishment {NO 301962},
but local place-names such as alt eaglais, "the burn of the church"; creag
eaglais, "the hill of the church"; pollmanire, "the pool of Manire" - a deep
salmon pool on the river Dee almost opposite Balmoral Castle - recall the
activities of this almost forgotten saint. The ancient church site at
Crathie {NO 264947}, south of the present Crathie-Kirk, is under his
invocation. He is said to have suffered persecution, but did not receive the
crown of martyrdom. Hence he appears in the Calendars as a confessor, not a
martyr.
Manire is said to have died in 824AD and is believed to have been buried in
his church at Crathie.
Lives kindly supplied by:
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content © 2008, Ambrose Mooney
layout © 2008, Kathleen Hanrahan and Mo! Langdon
Page last updated: 13 December 2008
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Mo!.
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