Saint Colman or Kolonat (; ; 600 July 8th, 689 AD in Würzburg, Germany) was an Irish-born Christian priest and missionary.

Life

He was a companion of Kilian and Totnan as missionaries to Franconia and Thüringen in Germany.

Saint Colman (martyr)

In 686, the three of them travelled to Rome with nine other Christians and met Pope Conon. They then travelled on to Wurzburg. At this point the three stayed in Wurzburg while the others travelled throughout the area. Duke Gozbert of Wurzburg became a Christian, but his wife remained a pagan.

Saint Colman (martyr)

Kilian told Duke Gozbert that he was breaking Christian scripture by marrying his brother's widow, Geilana. Geilana was so angry that she sent her soldiers to the main square of Würzburg, where the three missionaries were preaching, and had them beheaded.

Saint Colman (martyr)

Legacy

After their deaths, their relics were revered as cures for illnesses.

In 752 Burchard of Wessex became the first bishop of Würzburg. He transferred the relics of the three men into the new cathedral which was dedicated to St Kilian.

The Saint Colman's day feast is celebrated on July 8.

References

7th-century births

7th-century Irish priests

689 deaths

People of medieval Bavaria

7th-century Christian saints

Medieval Irish saints

Medieval German saints

Colombanian saints

Irish expatriates in Germany