10 May 602 A.D. Likely date of death for Comgall--Irish Missionary, Evangelist, Teacher and Monastic
10 May 602 A.D. Likely date of death for Comgall--Irish Missionary, Evangelist, Teacher and Monastic Graves, Dan. “Irish Abbot Comgall.” Christianity.com. Apr 2007. http://www.christianity.com/church/church-history/timeline/601-900/irish-abbot-comgall-11629719.html . Accessed 10 May 2014. It seems that everyone has heard of St. Patrick, the missionary who more than anyone else was responsible for converting Ireland to Christianity . But there is another founder of great importance to the Islands whose feast is observed on this day, May 10. St. Comgall founded Irish monasticism. As a consequence, he was indirectly responsible for the conversion of much of Europe to Christianity. Comgall's most famous monastery was Bangor, founded about 552. This is where Columba studied--the Columba (or Columbanus) who became a renowned missionary. Unlike Patrick, who was born in Britain, Comgall was Irish-born. After serving in the military, he studied under S...