THE APOSTLES OF IRELAND

By Apostle Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino, Ph.D., D.D.

Apostle in Office, Apostolic Fellowship International Ministries

Chancellor, Apostolic University

© 2011 Dr. Lee Ann B. Marino. All rights reserved.

www.apostolicuniversity.org

• Provides concrete evidence that the office of the Apostle HAS NOT CEASED and shall remain until the time Jesus returns• Shows a continuity of history; even though they may not have been on the radar of common or popular church study, apostles have always been a foundational element to building and expanding God’s church• If there are apostles, the rest of the five-fold ministry has always existed, as well

Why learn about apostles beyond the New Testament?

• They were individuals who came out of the monastic movement, having studied under Finnian’s monastic school• Although regarded as “monastics,” the Apostles of Ireland worked as apostles did, not monastics – they travelled, preached the Gospel, established churches, and trained leaders• They lived during the sixth century•There were a total of fourteen of these apostles

Who were the Apostles of Ireland?

Apostle Finnian of Clonard

470-549 The foundational apostle by which

the others were educated Founder, Clonard Abbey (known for

its education and instruction Average number of scholars under

instruction was 3,000 Considered one of the founders of

Irish monasticism Known for preaching from place to

place and founding churches

Apostle Ciaran of Saighir

“Ciaran the Elder;” sometimes spelled “Kieran” d. 530 (natural causes) Believed to be the first saint born in Ireland Bishop of Ossory

One of four to proceed St. Patrick as a bishop in Ireland

Left Ireland to work in the church elsewhere; most likely received education in France and Rome

Returned to Ireland to live as a hermit; found instead multitudes of followers and people in need of education

Known for many miracles

Apostle Ciaran of Clonmacnoise

“Ciaran the Younger;” sometimes spelled “Kieran”

d. somewhere around 546 in his early thirties (yellow fever)

Teacher Church founder Built an educational monastery

Apostle Brendan of Birr

d. 573 Companion of Apostle Brendan

of Clonfert We will speak of him next

Student Monk Later, an abbot

Apostle Brendan of Clonfert “The Navigator,” “The Voyager,” “The Bold” 484-577 Started out building monastic cells after ordination Set out with sixty other monks and church leaders to

evangelize and build churches Travelled in a leather boat – crossing the Atlantic,

reaching as far as the North American continent Has been proven the voyage was both possible and

likely (somewhere between 512 and 530) Saw St. Brendan’s Island (eighth Canary Island off the

coast of North Africa) Later travelled to Wales, Scotland, and Iona, and

continued to work in evangelism Established a monastery and is founder of Clonfert

Cathedral, in which he installed the pastor

Apostle Columba of Terryglass

d. 522 (the plague) Took over as teacher and

instructor for Apostle Finnian when he became ill

Apostle Columba of Iona

“Dove of the Church” and “Black Bear” 521-597 Involved in a debate over a copied Psalter and his

asserted right to keep it Many fought and died over this issue

Worked in evangelistic efforts in Scotland for the Picts (a native Celtic group) Had an audience with the king Although he didn’t gain the king’s conversion, he was

highly influential in the politics of his day First and sole literacy educational source

Founder of several churches Changed his monastery into a school for missionaries Wrote many hymns and transcribed over 300 books

Apostle Mobhi of Glasnevin

Unknown Founder of the city of Glasnevin

Originally established as a monastery

Apostle Columba of Iona studied under Apostle Mobhi

Apostle Ruadhain of Lorrha

d. 584 Founder and first abbot of the

monastery at Lorrha Operated embassy to King

Diamait Known for a specific prophecy

made to King Diamait, which came true shortly after it was made

Apostle Senan of Iniscathay

b. 488 Founder of Inis Cathaig, a

monastery Founder of five churches Dedicated to the things of God

from a young age

Apostle Ninnidh the Saintly of Lough Erne

“Ninnidh of Inismacsaint” and “Ninnidh the Pious”

Unknown Known for medical eye

treatments and work in healing

Apostle Laisren mac Nad Froich

d. 564 Founder of a monastery in

Devenish Sought to make Devenish an

“Irish Rome” Was not successful

Apostle Canice of Aghaboe

Also spelled “Kenneth” or “Kenny” 515-16/600 Spent his early life as a shepherd

Entered the monastery during the plague to avoid contracting it

Travelled to several lands in the spread of the Gospel

Founder of several monasteries Led an army to overcome Druidic rule Ended his life by writing a commentary

on the four Gospels

Apostle Finnian of Moville

495-589 Famous missionary and teacher

of Druim Fionn Teacher of Columba

Contested his right to copy the Psalter

Wrote a rule for monks and a penitential code

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There are still apostles today! Want to learn more?

References

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles… And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. “

(Acts 2:42-43, 47, NIV)

Marino, Dr. Lee Ann B. “Early/Orthodox Church History, Week 10: The Perseverance Of The Saints, Part 2.” Raleigh, North Carolina: Apostolic University Press, 2011.

“Twelve Apostles Of Ireland.” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve_Apostles_of_Ireland