"Quattuor sanctissimi episcopi": not just St. Patrick

In the 17th century, St. Ibar, Ailbe, Ciaran, and Declan were called quattuor sanctissimi episcopi (‘the four most holy bishops’). It is thought that they played a pivotal role in the conversion of Ireland, especially its southern parts, and were preaching Christianity there before or at the same ti...

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Main Author: O. A. Kuchtenkova
Format: Article
Language:Russian
Published: Silicea-Poligraf LLC 2024-08-01
Series:Российский журнал истории Церкви
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Online Access:https://churchhistory.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/158
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author O. A. Kuchtenkova
author_facet O. A. Kuchtenkova
author_sort O. A. Kuchtenkova
collection DOAJ
description In the 17th century, St. Ibar, Ailbe, Ciaran, and Declan were called quattuor sanctissimi episcopi (‘the four most holy bishops’). It is thought that they played a pivotal role in the conversion of Ireland, especially its southern parts, and were preaching Christianity there before or at the same time as St. Patrick. We learn about them from a number of sources, including Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae, Martyrology of Oengus, Martyrology of Donegal, Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, Book of Leinster, and Speckled Book. They are the founders of monasteries and the episcopal sees in Saigir (St. Ciaran), Emly (St. Ailbe), and Ardmore (St. Declan). St. Ibar founded the monastery on the Isle of Begerin. Their veneration is slowly building up again. The paper represents an attempt at systemising what we know about "the four bishops" from their Lives, the annals, and other sources mentioning them. The aim of the article is to place the aforementioned Saints within the life of the Irish society and Church; distill their distinctive features, spiritual, and social role within the early Medieval Church of Ireland (by analysing narrative patterns, genealogies, and mentions); and describe the development of their modern-day cult. While not claiming to present a definitive and exhaustive answer to these questions, the present paper is nevertheless part of an ongoing research into the subject.
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spelling doaj-art-07f6169f577c43f5aa284f569e6293c12025-08-20T02:17:00ZrusSilicea-Poligraf LLCРоссийский журнал истории Церкви2686-973X2687-069X2024-08-0152285010.15829/2686-973X-2024-158134"Quattuor sanctissimi episcopi": not just St. PatrickO. A. KuchtenkovaIn the 17th century, St. Ibar, Ailbe, Ciaran, and Declan were called quattuor sanctissimi episcopi (‘the four most holy bishops’). It is thought that they played a pivotal role in the conversion of Ireland, especially its southern parts, and were preaching Christianity there before or at the same time as St. Patrick. We learn about them from a number of sources, including Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae, Martyrology of Oengus, Martyrology of Donegal, Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, Book of Leinster, and Speckled Book. They are the founders of monasteries and the episcopal sees in Saigir (St. Ciaran), Emly (St. Ailbe), and Ardmore (St. Declan). St. Ibar founded the monastery on the Isle of Begerin. Their veneration is slowly building up again. The paper represents an attempt at systemising what we know about "the four bishops" from their Lives, the annals, and other sources mentioning them. The aim of the article is to place the aforementioned Saints within the life of the Irish society and Church; distill their distinctive features, spiritual, and social role within the early Medieval Church of Ireland (by analysing narrative patterns, genealogies, and mentions); and describe the development of their modern-day cult. While not claiming to present a definitive and exhaustive answer to these questions, the present paper is nevertheless part of an ongoing research into the subject.https://churchhistory.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/158st. ciaran of saigirst. ailbe of emlyst. declan of ardmorest. ibar of begerinst. patrickirelandireland in early middle agesconversion of irelandirish church
spellingShingle O. A. Kuchtenkova
"Quattuor sanctissimi episcopi": not just St. Patrick
Российский журнал истории Церкви
st. ciaran of saigir
st. ailbe of emly
st. declan of ardmore
st. ibar of begerin
st. patrick
ireland
ireland in early middle ages
conversion of ireland
irish church
title "Quattuor sanctissimi episcopi": not just St. Patrick
title_full "Quattuor sanctissimi episcopi": not just St. Patrick
title_fullStr "Quattuor sanctissimi episcopi": not just St. Patrick
title_full_unstemmed "Quattuor sanctissimi episcopi": not just St. Patrick
title_short "Quattuor sanctissimi episcopi": not just St. Patrick
title_sort quattuor sanctissimi episcopi not just st patrick
topic st. ciaran of saigir
st. ailbe of emly
st. declan of ardmore
st. ibar of begerin
st. patrick
ireland
ireland in early middle ages
conversion of ireland
irish church
url https://churchhistory.elpub.ru/jour/article/view/158
work_keys_str_mv AT oakuchtenkova quattuorsanctissimiepiscopinotjuststpatrick