3 Irish Missionaries Martyred in Germany

Saints Killian, Kolonat & Totnan

 

According to Irish sources, Kilian was born in Mullagh, Cavan, Ireland. The name has several variations in spelling (e.g. Chillian, Killian, Cilian, Kilian). In Ireland, the preferred spelling is Cillian. Saint Kilian's feast day is July 8, and he is usually portrayed, as in his statue at Würzburg, bearing a bishop's mitre and wielding a sword. The Kiliani-Volksfest (two weeks in July) is the main civil and religious festival in the region around Würzburg. 

There are several biographies of him. The oldest texts which refer to him are an 8th century necrology at Wurzburg. With eleven companions he went to eastern Franconia and Thuringia. After having preached the Gospel in Würzburg, he succeeded in converting to Christianity the local lord, Duke Gozbert, and much of the population.

Kilian eventually told the Duke that he was in violation of sacred scripture by being married to his brother's widow, Geilana. When Geilana, whom Kilian had failed to convert to Christianity, heard of Kilian's words against her marriage, she was so angry that she had her soldiers sent to the main square of Würzburg, where Kilian and his colleagues were preaching, and had him beheaded, along with two of his companions, Saint Colman (also called Colonan or Kolonat) and Saint Totnan.

St Killian at Wurzburg

St Totnan

Relics of the Three Saints

The elevation of their sacred Relics was performed by Bishop Burchard, first bishop of Würzburg. Their skulls, inlaid with precious stones, have been preserved to this day. On St Kilian's day, a glass case containing the three skulls is removed from a crypt, paraded through the streets before large crowds, and put on display in Würzburg Cathedral, which is dedicated to St. Kilian. Statues of these three saints (among others) line the famous Saints' Bridge across the river Main.