Fáelán of St Fillans

Fáelán of St Fillans (Fáelán, Fóelán, Fillan) was a Scottish saint active in the 8th century, around the years 730 to 740. He is venerated in the Western Church.

His feast is celebrated in the Martyrology of Óengus (around 800) on 20 June, and in later notes he is linked with Strathearn in Scotland. The Aberdeen Breviary, which celebrates him on 9 January, identifies him as the son of Kentigerna, daughter of King Cellach Cualann mac Gerthidi of Leinster, who had emigrated with her brother Comgán and her son Fáelán to Strathfillan in Scotland and then alone to Loch Lomond. According to the same source, by divine inspiration Fáelán left his mother and uncle and settled at Glendeochquhy (perhaps Glen Dochart) in Perthshire, where he built a church. Shrines of his are found at Aberdour and Pittenween on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, at Forgan in north-⁠east Fife and at St Fillans at the east end of Loch Earn.

William Forbes Skene thought that a Scot named Fáelán was a disciple of Ailbe of Emly, from the early 6th century. It is possible that a confusion arose between two saints Fáelán of the same name, one celebrated on 9 January and the other on 20 June. Also known are Fáelán of Fosse in Belgium (died around 655) and Fáelán of Fertullagh in Westmeath, who shares the day 9 January. The sources do not agree with one another, and the identity remains uncertain.