Scottish Blog

Warrior saint

Recently, we have published a number of articles on Scottish history that concerned St Columba. Undoubtedly, he was an important figure that influenced the shape of Scotland and Scottish Clans in this very day.

The image that is invoked when thinking about St Columba is normally one of a peaceful spreader of Christianity. What many don’t realize is that, this image is not wholly true. In fact, St Columba was both in his time and after his death considered to be a warrior saint. Although, for the most part the early church decried violence, some priests, like St Columba established an almost cult following. One possible explanation of this was proposed to be that St Columba acted as a replacement for the warring deities of the converted local tribesmen. In some cases, St Columba was compared and likened to the ancient war god, Odin.

Within 50 years of his death, it had become customary amongst some groups to call upon the patronage of St Columba to bring victory in conflict. Such was the power of such an act, that in some cases it caused victories not through any mythical power but through shear fear. It also became customary to carry relics from the living days of St Columba, which was thought to ensure victory. In more specifics, in Scotland, the crozier of St Columba and a house shaped reliquary that belonged to St Columba came to be used as such relics. In Ireland on the other hand, the prayer book of St Columba, called “Cathach” or Battler, came to serve the purpose of the war relic.

Many, researchers proclaim that the war like spirit of St Columba came into strong effect during times of violence in that time period. One such time was the consolidation of Alba or it’s take over by the Dal Riada.