The Greek Menology asserts that it was
carried thither by Simon Zelotes, but this is contradicted by the Roman
Breviary and the Martyrologists. Simeon Metaphrastes attributes it to
St. Peter, Vincent of Beauvais to St. James. Unreliable as these
traditions may be taken singly, they nevertheless agree in placing the
conversion of Ireland at a very early date, probably, as Geoghegan says,
in the fourth century. It is certain that about the middle of the sixth
century an Irish prince of distinguished ancestry, and himself a saint,
led a band of missionaries from Donegal to Iona. It is curious to
observe that the event is almost contemporary with the renovations of
Justinian at Byzantium, and only a short time before the founding of the
famous Abbey of Monte Cassino by St. Benedict. Before the existence of
the Benedictine Order there was a monastery at Durrow, in Ireland, and
in this monastery the aforesaid prince was educated. His name was
Columba. At least, so he is called, but whether it be merely in allusion
to his mission--"the Dove"--or really a patronymic, it is hard to say.
He was the messenger of peace to the natives of Iona, and even the name
of the island seems to suggest an allusion to the Old Testament
missionary to the Ninevites, Jonah.
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