Columba, St.

(c. 521-June 9, 597). Founder of many churches and monasteries in Ireland. He was born in Gartan, County Donegal, Ireland. Columba was trained in several Irish monasteries. He was ordained priest around 551. In 563 Columba left Ireland with twelve companions and went to the Isle of Hy or Ioua, now called Iona. He founded a monastery and school at Iona to train missionaries for the evangelization of the Northern Picts. He spent the remaining thirty-four years of his life at Iona. His greatest triumph was the conversion of King Brude of the Picts at Inverness. Columba was a scholar, a preacher, and a courageous leader. He is commemorated in the Episcopal calendar of the church year on June 9.