Venerable, Hegumen Columba (Columcille) of Iona

Venerable Columba was born on December 7, 521, in Ireland, coming from a noble family. He took monastic vows and became one of the "Twelve Apostles of Ireland" — missionary disciples who continued the work of enlightening the British Isles. In 563, on the eve of the feast of Pentecost, Venerable Columba together with twelve disciples sailed to the island of Iona off the coast of Scotland, where he founded the first monastery on that land and became its abbot. The Iona community served for centuries as a crucial center of Christian enlightenment for Scotland and northern Britain. He died on June 9, 597. His memory is kept on June 9/22.