ST/JD/15

Fillan/Fáelán

Gender

Male

Floruit (period)

Early medieval

Floruit date range

? - ?

Description

The Aberdeen Breviary is the principal source of information about Fillan. The Life in the Breviary says that he was descended from an Irish of noble blood (ex Scotorum nobili familia sanguinis propagine), the son of Feriach and Kentigerna (whose death in 734 is recorded in the Annals of Ulster), and the nephew of Comgan (Conganus). He becomes the abbot of a monastery. He goes to a place called Siracht in the ‘upper parts’ of Glendochart (Glendeochquy), Perthshire, where he builds a church (basilica); he dies at Strathfillan. It should be noted that there appear to have been at least three other saintly figures with this name, but who are obscure.