Died 1065. An Irishman by birth, St. Duthac became bishop of Ross in
Scotland, where his memory is preserved in several place names, e.g.,
Kilduthie
(
Benedictines).
There is a ruined chapel in Tain in Easter Ross which is believed to
have been built over the place of Duthac's birth. He was of a good
Scottish family but went to Ireland for his education returning to his
native land as a Bishop, working in the districts of Moray and Ross. An
Irish chronicler describes him as "Primus anamchara, praecipius
confessarius", first among soul friends and chief among confessors, and
he is honoured for his devotion to hearing confessions and giving
spiritual direction to his people.
Bishop Elphinstone who was Bishop of Ross before going to Aberdeen is
responsible for adding a number of stories about the saint to the
Aberdeen Breviary. When he was quite young his mother sent him to the
smithy to ask for coals as the fire in their house had gone out. The
smith scornfully threw a shovel full of coals at the boy who calmly
gathered up the glowing embers in his apron and carried them home
without suffering any harm.
Once when he was dining with a noble a drunken guest ordered one of
Duttac's disciples to take a gold ring and a lump of meat to his house.
While the young man was on this errand he stopped at a churchyard to
pray for the dead and a kite flew down and took the ring and the meat
from the tombstone on which they had been laid. When Duthac was told of
this calamity he prayed to God and the bird flew down to the saint and
deposited the stolen articles at his fleet. The ring was restored to the
young man but the kite was allowed to consume the meat as a reward for
his obedience.
There is another story concerning meat, this time it is about a portion
of meat sent by a Canon of Dornoch to the Bishop. He had just killed an
ox and dispatched a piece as a present, the bearer being guided by a
light like a lamp going before him so that Duthac received the gift the
next day still fresh.
When he died in 1065 he was buried at Tain which is called in the Gaelic
Baile Duich, Cuthac's Town, and his tomb became a place of pilgrimage,
James IV making three visits. Among his relics were his bell and a shirt
which was believed to give the wearer miraculous protection. He has a
holy well at Cromarty
(
Barrett,
Forbes,
Towill).