Nine Holy Virgins

The Nine Holy Virgins, also called the Nine Maidens, are our venerable mothers of the eighth century, the daughters of Saint Donald of Ogilvy. They lived the monastic life under their father until his death, then came to a monastery in Abernethy. Their day of commemoration is 18 July.

The nine maidens lived in the Glen of Ogilvy at Glamis, in Strathmore, with their parents. When their mother died, their father, Saint Donald, newly widowed, arranged for the household to function as a hermitage. Donald became the elder, and they all together began a rigorous life, working the ground with their own hands and eating only once a day, allowing themselves only barley bread and water.

At the repose of Saint Donald, King Garnard of the Picts granted them lodging and an oratory in a monastery founded by Saints Darlugdach and Brigid in the Pictish capital of Abernethy. King Eugen VII of Scotland visited them often and made them large gifts. At their repose they were buried at the foot of a large oak, where a shrine was raised known as the Abernethy Allon-⁠bacuth. Until the Anglican Reformation it was a much-⁠frequented place of pilgrimage.

Churches throughout Scotland were dedicated to them, among them one at Strathmartine near Dundee, with the Nine Maiden Well, where tradition says the nine maidens of Pitempan were devoured by a serpent; the well is to this day an object of awe and reverence. At Finhaven there is also a fountain on a hill above the prebend of the cathedral of Brechin, called "Nine-⁠well", which may be dedicated either to Saint Ninian of Scotland or to the Nine Maidens.