Perhaps it’s the bishop’s mitre that catches your eye first. It is a detail in the statue of St. Kilian. We are standing before St. Kilian.
St. Kilian was an Irish missionary. He became the Apostle of Franconia. Franconia is now northern Bavaria. Kilian began his work in the late 7th century. His feast day is July 8.
Born in Ireland around 640, Kilian dedicated himself to Christianity. Some say Kilian was a monk at Hy. Hy was an early name for Iona. He studied in Rosscarbery and Tuosist.
In 686, Kilian traveled to Rome with eleven companions. They sought missionary approval from the Pope. They met Pope Conon and then journeyed to Würzburg. Würzburg was ruled by Duke Gozbert. Gozbert and his people were pagan.
Some of Kilian’s group sought other missions. Kilian stayed in Würzburg with two companions. These were priest Colmán and deacon Totnan. Kilian made Würzburg his base. His work spread across East Franconia and Thuringia. He converted Duke Gozbert and many of his subjects.
Kilian faced a challenge. Duke Gozbert was married to his brother’s widow, Geilana. Kilian told the Duke this violated scripture. Geilana was not Christian. She was angry at Kilian’s words. While the Duke was away, she sent soldiers. They beheaded Kilian, Colmán, and Totnan in Würzburg’s main square.
Later, Boniface appointed Burchard as Würzburg’s first bishop. Burchard built a cathedral where the martyrs died. He unearthed their relics. He buried them in the cathedral’s vault.
Their skulls are preserved to this day. They are inlaid with precious stones. On St. Kilian’s Day, the skulls are displayed. They are paraded through the streets. They are placed in Würzburg Cathedral. Statues of the three saints line the Saints’ Bridge across the Main river.
St. Kilian is a patron saint. He helps those suffering from rheumatism. He is also the patron saint of Tuosist in County Kerry. A church and holy well are named after him there.
In art, St. Kilian is shown as a bishop. He holds a sword. This represents his martyrdom.
Each July, the Kiliani-Volksfest occurs. It is a two-week festival. It is the main civil and religious event near Würzburg.
Several places bear his name. These include churches and schools. St. Kilian’s Heritage Centre is in Mullagh, County Cavan. It features relics and replicas of the saint.
The story of St. Kilian is one of faith. It is a story of courage and sacrifice. Remember this Irish missionary. He brought Christianity to this region. His legacy continues to inspire.