ST/JD/42

Patrick

Gender

Male

Floruit (period)

Early Christian

Floruit date range

? - ?

Description

Known as the 'Apostle of Ireland', Patrick's mission followed that of Ireland's first bishop, Palladius, in the fifth century. Patrick is known from his own writings, the 'Confessio' and 'The Letter to Coroticus'. Patrick was a Briton, the son of a deacon, Calpornius, who was in turn the son son of a priest, Potitus. At the age of about sixteen, Patrick was taken into captivity by Irish slave-raiders, and spent the next six years in servitude. During this time, Patrick, formerly an unbeliever, gained his Christian faith. He escaped from captivity, returned to Britain, and took holy orders. Eventually, Patrick was consecrated as a bishop; against his will, he is sent to Ireland, where he takes his mission to the most remote parts of the island. As a bishop in Ireland, he is under the jurisdiction of a synod of bishops in Britain, there being no metropolitan bishop in Ireland. He has most success converting the children of kings, rather than kings themselves. Patrick place a great emphasis on the monastic life, and the adoption of a coenobitic life by his converts he saw as the culmination of his mission. See C. Stancliffe, 'Patrick', ODNB.