If you’re a Christian, you’ve probably heard of some of the orthodox Scottish saints. Saint Columba, for example, spread Orthodoxy throughout Scotland and Ireland. But did you know that there were more Scottish saints? Here’s a look at four of them.
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St. Drostan
The life of St. Drostan, orthodox Scottish saint, dates back to the early fifth century. The ancient Pictish ruler granted the site of the monastery to St. Drostan, who became abbot of the monastery. The monastery was close to the Pictish capital of Craig Phadrig. Eventually, St. Drostan became the Abbot of Dalquhongale, but he felt called to greater seclusion and resigned. Eventually, he became a hermit in Glenesk and continued to serve the community.
In addition to the abbey, Saint Drostan is revered as an apostle in Scotland. His relics are held in the church at New Aberdour, 45 miles southwest of Aberdeen. His relics were translated to this church from his former monastery in Old Deer. Nearby, you can visit his holy well. Saint Drostan is one of the twelve companions of St. Columba, who traveled from Ireland to Scotland around the year 563. The abbey became a major missionary center, and Saint Drostan was one of the many saints who traveled with St. Columba.
His life and work are the basis for his sainthood. He was a prolific writer, praising and teaching the Orthodox faith to his followers. His dialogues and Regula Pastoralis are considered classic works of Orthodox literature.
St. Nathalan
St. Nathalan was born in the early seventh century in Scotland, where he grew up in a wealthy family. He dedicated his life to the service of God, and gave away his estate to the poor. He plowed the land for a living, and said that the work brought him closer to God and contemplation. He also grew vegetables during a famine. Although he lived a relatively simple life, he was a great saint.
Among the Scottish saints, St. Nathalan was a great Christian leader. He was a disciple of St. Columba, and led a hermit life in Clonenagh, County Leix. He later became an abbot and had many disciples. He also was the bishop of Gap, France for twenty years.
Besides his influence on the religion of Scotland, St. Nathalan is an important figure in the history of Christianity in the country. As a missionary of the Church of Scotland, he converted many Scots to Christianity. He was also a miracle worker, and he healed seven lepers. He was known for his missionary work, especially among the Picts, and preached in Aberdeenshire.
St. Margaret
St. Margaret was born in a pagan community in Antioch. She lost her mother at a young age and was taken in by a Christian nurse. The Christian nurse baptized and educated Margaret, and she grew up to be a modest and pious virgin. Her father was charmed by the virtues of his daughter, but regretted that she refused to worship idols. When she was a young adult, she told her father that she was a Christian.
Margaret’s personal piety included visiting holy men and seeking their advice. She also attended synods and discussions addressing religious abuses and reform. She was also involved in founding several churches. Her personal piety was so intense that it has been suggested that she may have suffered ill health while fasting.
Margaret was very pious, caring for the poor and orphans. Her piety was so intense that it compromised her health and led to her death at the age of 47. She was buried alongside her husband, Malcolm, in Dunfermline Abbey. Her tomb was said to be surrounded by miracles, which led Pope Innocent IV to canonize her.
St. Fergus
Saint Fergus is an orthodox Scottish saint and was born between 570 and 630 AD. He was a missionary who worked in many areas of Scotland. His relics are located in Aberdeen. There is a festival in honor of Fergus held on the 27th of November.
His relics were moved from the Celtic church to the Abbey of Scone during the reign of King James IV. The head was laid in a silver casket and made a popular pilgrimage site. After the relics were transferred, the monastery was attacked by radical Protestants. However, the monastic life continued until 1640. The monastery is divided into two sections, Old Scone and New Scone.
Another orthodox Scottish saint is St. Ninian. His main monastery in southwest Scotland was founded by the Romano-British St. Ninian, who was born in Whithorn and preached in the Strathclyde region. He also founded the cities of Glasgow and Cumbria in northwest England.
