Colman of Würzburg

Saint Colman, hieromartyr, also called Kolonat, was a priest and missionary of Irish birth, killed at Würzburg in the year 689. He is regarded as a patron of the city of Würzburg, together with his companions. He is commemorated on 8 July and on 27 October.

He was a companion of Kilian and of the deacon Totnan in preaching the Gospel in Franconia and Thuringia. In 686 the three, with nine other Christians, went to Rome, where they met Pope Conon. Then they went on to Würzburg. There the three stayed in the city, while the others traveled through the region. Duke Gozbert of Würzburg accepted Christianity, but his wife remained a pagan.

Kilian told Duke Gozbert that he was breaking Christian Scripture by marrying his brother's widow, Geilana. Geilana was so angry that she sent soldiers to the main square of the city, where the three missionaries were preaching, and had them beheaded.

After their death their relics were revered as a cure for illnesses. In 752 Burchard of Wessex became the first bishop of Würzburg and moved the relics of the three into the new cathedral, dedicated to Saint Kilian. They rest in the cathedral of Würzburg still.