Died c. 689.
Kilian, an Irish monk from Mullagh, County Cavan, was consecrated bishop
and set out to evangelize Germany with eleven companions. They arrived
at Aschaffenburg on the Rhein and then sailed up to the River Main and
Wurzburg. With the able, zealous assistance of Colman, a priest, and
Totnan, a deacon, he was successful in his missionary endeavours,
especially after he converted the local lord, Duke Gosbert (Gospert) of
Wurzburg.
Somewhat anachronistically, about 686, he went to Rome and received
permission from Pope Conon to evangelize Franconia (Baden and Bavaria)
and East Thuringia. Upon his return his mission ran into a roadblock,
Duke Gosbert had married Geilana, his brother's widow. Like most Irish
missionaries, the trio spoke out fearlessly against any breach of faith
or morals. In this case Kilian openly rebuked the duke for his irregular
marriage to his brother's widow. According to legend, while Gosbert was
away on a military expedition, Geilana had the three missionaries
beheaded when she found that Gosbert was going to leave her because
their marriage was forbidden by the Church.
A strong cultus was immediately established in Germany and spread as far
as Vienna, Austria, and Ireland. Even today, the Kilianfest is one of
the better known festivals of the German peoples, including
German-Americans.
Kilian's Bible is exposed on the high altar of Wurzburg cathedral on his
feast and an annual mystery play of his life is produced. Kilian's
relics were translated in 752 by Saint Burchard. The strength of the
veneration of the three martyrs drew the attention of Pope Saint
Zachary, who permitted public veneration of the martyrs in 752. From the
time of the Emperor Charlemagne, it was common for emperors to make a
pilgrimage to their shrine at Wurzburg, which Saint Boniface established
as a bishopric in honour of Saint Kilian. Kilian's name is also found
with that of Saint Boniface in the calendar of Godescale (c. 782).
Kilian, Colman, and Totnan are also unusual in that the Irish themselves
have shown veneration for the expatriates, rather than showing their
usual disinterest. Many illustrious Irishmen have visited Wurzburg over
the centuries to honour the saints. In 1134, one of the 12 Irish
monasteries governed by that in Regensburg was established in Wurzburg
(
Benedictines,
Delaney,
Encyclopaedia,
Farmer,
Montague).
In art, Saint Kilian is a bishop holding a sword (often large) and
standing between two priests. Sometimes all three are shown assassinated
at the command of the duchess or the Kilian is shown between Colman and
Totnan buried in a stable as a blind priest is cured at their grave
(
Roeder).
Kilian's image appears on seals and coins of the region. Some
old hymns in Latin and German survive that honour him
(
Farmer).
They are
venerated at Aschaffenburg, Wurzburg, Munnerstadt, and as the patrons of
whitewashers. They are invoked against gout and rheumatism
(
Roeder).