Saint Kilian

Kilian, also spelled Cillian or Killian (or alternatively ; , original Gaelic form Ceallach), was an Irish missionary bishop and the Apostle of Franconia (now the northern part of Bavaria), where he began his labours in the latter half of the 7th century. His feast day is 8 July.

Background Several biographies of him are extant. The oldest texts which refer to him are an 8th-century necrology at Würzburg and the notice by Hrabanus Maurus in his martyrology. The name has several variations in spelling (e.g. Chillian, Killian, Cilian, Kilian). In Ireland, the preferred spelling is Cillian; the name appears thus in the Irish liturgical calendar.

Accounts of his life According to Irish sources, Kilian was born to noble parents in approximately the year 640 in Cloughballybeg, near Mullagh in the south-east of what is now County Cavan in Ireland. Some records state that Kilian served as a monk in the celebrated monastery at Hy, being an early name for what was later known as Iona. From there they traveled to the castle of Würzburg, which was inhabited by the East Frankish ruler, Herzog (Duke) , who was, like his people, still pagan.

The original group separated – some departing to seek other fields of missionary work, while Kilian with two companions, the priest Colmán (also called Colonan or Kolonat) and the deacon Totnan, remained in Würzburg. Kilian made this town the base of his activity, which extended over an ever-increasing area in East Franconia and Thüringen (Thuringia). He converted Duke Gozbert with a large part of his subjects to Christianity. ) St. Kilian's Catholic Church, Blenker, Wisconsin St. Kilian's Church, Heilbronn in Heilbronn, Germany Saint Kilian Catholic Church in Mission Viejo, California Saint Kilian Catholic Church in Farmingdale, New York Saint Kilian Catholic Church and School in Hartford, Wisconsin Saint Kilian's Catholic Church in Blacklion, Greystones, County Wicklow, Ireland Immaculate Conception & St Killian Catholic Church in Clondalkin, County Dublin, Ireland St. Kilian's Church in Bendigo, Australia ("The largest wooden church in Australia, and perhaps the world" ) Saint Kilian Catholic Church in St. Kilian, Minnesota

Monasteries St. Kilian's Abbey, Würzburg

Schools St. Kilian's National School in Mullagh, Co. Cavan, Ireland St Killian's College in Garron Tower, Northern Ireland St Kilian's German School in Dublin, Ireland, is named after St. Kilian as a tribute to the early exchange of education between the two countries of Ireland and Germany. St. Kilian Catholic Basic School in Awutu Breku, Ghana St. Kilian Catholic Junior High School in Obutu, Ghana St. Kilian's Primary School in Bendigo, Australia

Towns St. Kilian, Minnesota

Other St. Kilian's Heritage Centre is located in the village of Mullagh in County Cavan. It was opened in 1995 by the then President of Ireland, Mary Robinson. Built by the local community in association with the Diocese of Würzburg in southern Germany, the Heritage Centre features many relics and replicas of the saint. St. Kilian's well in Cloughbally, Mullagh, Co. Cavan St. Kilian's Café is a building on the Christendom College campus in Front Royal, Virginia. It is used as a classroom, gathering space, and social area. It is attached to the Saint John Paul the Great Student Center.