Adamnan

Family: monastery of the city of Coludi · Role: man of the Scottish race and monk · First appears: Book IV · Chap. XXV

Adamnan was a Scottish monk of the monastery of the city of Coludi. Around c. 678, after his priest departed and died, he devoted himself to severe fasting, vigils, tears, and penitence. At the monastery he warned Aebba that a devouring fire would destroy it, and Aebba questioned him closely about the prediction.

Around c. 696, Adamnan, priest and abbot of the monks of Hii, was sent by his nation to Aldfrid, king of the English. After seeing the canonical rites of the English churches, he changed his mind about Easter and then preached in Ireland, bringing many to Catholic unity and teaching them the lawful date. During this time he received Arculf, a bishop of Gaul learned in Scripture and familiar with the holy places, and committed Arculf’s account to writing in a profitable book. He presented it to Aldfrid, who rewarded him with many gifts and sent him back to his country. The account says that Adamnan died before the next year, before he could face further opposition over the observance of Easter.

Around c. 705, Adamnan is again recorded as being sent to Aldfrid and visiting the monastery. Returning into Scotland, he led many toward the Catholic observance of Easter through his preaching. In conversation with Bede, who questioned his Simonian tonsure, Adamnan distinguished the custom from the condemned heresy: “Be assured, my dear brother, that though I wear the tonsure of Simon, according to the custom of my country, yet I detest and abhor with all my soul the heresy of Simon.”