St. Patrick

St. Patrick (born Maewyn) was a Chalcedonian Christian missionary known for ministry in pagan Ireland.

History

Patrick, born under the name Maewyn, was born in Roman Britain, sometime in 390 AD. Growing up, he was not very fond of the Christian religion despite his father being a deacon. It was in his youth he was kidnapped by Irish slavers and sent to Ireland. He worked as a slave through his youth, growing humility and reflecting on his views on religion. When he grew into a young man, he would escape his life as a slave and returned to his family. With humility and understanding God's grace, he would enter priesthood.
As he grew older, he would be visited in a dream by an angel named Victorius. He was given a scroll, crying out "The Voice of the Irish" that needed the message of God. At first, Patrick was reluctant, for he found it hard to forgive the same people who enslaved him. However, he would see their pain and suffering, and realized they, too, were in slavery.
Thus Patrick went to Ireland and founded a mission. He would attract the ire of the ruling druids, however, for he preached a message against their pagan gods. Patrick would see much persecution. However, the druids would fall out of power, and Patrick would set up a church on the island. He would convert Oengus Mac Nad Froich, the pagan King of Munster, to Christianity, the first of the Irish kings to do so.

Most notably, Patrick would drive the snakes away from Ireland. The pagan idol of Crom Cruach had ruled over the Irish people and brought them much misery. Patrick would destroy it. He faced Crom Cruach later on a mountain, where through his faith, he would drive Crom Cruach and his snakes to the sea, where they drowned themselves. Thus no more snakes in Ireland.
He would also meet Ossian, the son of Fionn MacCumhaill, a bard who had visited the lands of Tir na Nog. Ossian despised Patrick for what he viewed as weakness. Patrick offered hospitality to the old bard, but Ossian took it as hostility. Ossian would die, the remainder of the old pagan powers in the land.
St. Patrick would see resistance from High King Loegaire MacNiall throughout his reign, experiencing persecution. When MacNiall died, however, Ireland began much of a shift towards Christianity. St. Patrick would die around 460 AD, and after his death he was declared a saint. He would become a cultural figurehead for Ireland, as well as their patron saint.

Date of Birth

~390 AD

Date of Death

~460 AD

Birthplace

Roman Britain

Place of Death

Saul, Northern Ireland

Sex

Male