Fillan

Saint Fillan, also called Foelan or Faolan, was an Irish monk of the eighth century, abbot of Strath Fillan in Scotland. His name probably means little wolf in Irish.

He was born in Munster, the son of Feriach and a grandson of Cellach Cualann, king of Leinster, and received the monastic habit at the monastery of Saint Fintan at Taghmon in Wexford. In 717 he crossed to Scotland as a hermit, together with his mother, Saint Kentigerna, and his uncle, Saint Comgan. They settled at Loch Duich. After a time at Lochalsh, where a place called Killilan bears his name, Fillan devoted himself to enlightening the district of Perthshire around Strath Fillan, which is called after him, and he was greatly venerated there. He was abbot of a monastery in Fife before withdrawing to Glen Dochart and Strathfillan.

Tradition credits him with the gift of healing the sick and tells that his arm gave off a light by which he copied Holy Scripture in the dark. A bone from his arm, kept in a silver reliquary, was carried, according to the story, to the battle of Bannockburn, and King Robert the Bruce founded a monastery in thanks. The saint's staff, the Quigrich, is among the sacred relics of Scotland. He is a saint of the undivided Church, commemorated on 9 January (new style).