St. Kenneth, Patron of the Shipwrecked
Most of what is written about Cainnech's life is based on tradition, however he was considered a man of virtue, great eloquence and learning. His feast day is commemorated on the 1 or 14 August in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Cainnech spent his early years watching his chieftain's flocks. In early Christian Ireland the druid tradition collapsed, with the spread of the new faith. Study of Latin learning and Christian theology in monasteries flourished. In 543 sensing a higher calling, Cainnech became a pupil at the monastic school at Clonard. During the sixth century, some of the most significant names in the history of Irish Christianity studied at the Clonard monastery. It is said that the average number of scholars under instruction at Clonard was 3,000. Twelve students who studied under St. Finian became known as the Twelve Apostles of Ireland, Cainnech was one of these. It was at Clonard that Cainnech became a friend and companion of St. Colmcille.
In 544 he was studying in the school of Glasnevin, with St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise and St. Comgall of Bangor, under the tuition of St. Mobhi. When plague scattered that community, he went as a monk to the monastery of Llancarfan in Glamorganshire in Wales, under Saint Cadoc. He was ordained a priest there in 545.
He left for Rome to obtain the blessing of the reigning pontiff. In 550 he had returned to Glengiven, where he converted his foster-brother, Geal-Breagach, who afterwards assisted him in founding Drumachose, in nearby Limavady.
Scotland
Cainnech went to Scotland in 565. In Scotland Cainnech was known as St. Kenneth, and was closely associated with St. Columba's missionary work.
Adamnan tells of the arrival of Cainnech, on Iona. St. Columba had a prophecy of a "certain holy and excellent man, who will arrive here among us before evening." God had provided Cainnech with a safe and calm crossing, even though the sea was perilous and stormy that day. St. Columba received him that evening with all honour and hospitality.
Kenneth was a close friend and associate of the celebrated Columba of Iona, whom he accompanied to the Scottish mainland to help Christianize the Picts. Near Inverness they met the Pictish king Brude Mac Maelchon, whom Kenneth allegedly paralyzed with the sign of the cross when he threatened them; Brude and his kingdom subsequently were converted. **
Cainnech built a church in the place now known as Saint Andrews. Cainnech's name is still recalled in the ruins of an ancient church, Kil-Chainnech on Tiree Island, in a burial ground, Kil-Chainnech, in Iona and Inch Kenneth off Mull.
Cainnech built monastic cells on the island of Ibdon and Eninis, an oratory called Lagan-Kenny on the shores of Loch Laggan, and a monastery in Fife on the banks of the Eden.
Ireland
Cainnech spent a good deal of his time in County Meath and Ossory in what is now County Laois. In Ossory he had a good repute with the king, Colmann son of Feradach. Colman gave him grants of land including Aghaboe("the field of the Ox") which became his principle monastery. He founded a monastery and Abbey of Aghaboe. Aghaboe grew in importance, and in the 7th century it sent St. Feargal as a missionary to the church of Salzburg. Aghaboe became for a time the site of the bishop's see until under Norman influence in the twelfth century the see transferred from Aghaboe to Kilkenny. In 1346 Diarmaid Mac Giollaphádraig burned the town of Aghaboe and the cemetery and church, and completely destroyed Cainnech's shrine along with Cainnech's bones and relics.
St. Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny
Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh "The Church of Cainnech") was originally the name of a church erected by or dedicated to Cainnech, but was afterwards extended to the townland and parish. Kilkenny was one of the last parts of Ireland to be converted to Christianity. Tradition asserts that in 597, Cainnech led a Christian force to Kilkenny to eliminate the last bastion of Druidic rule in Ireland. The last Archdruid of Ireland had retired with his Council to a mound in Kilkenny for safety. Cainnech led an army there and overcame them. He founded a monastery near what is now the Church of Ireland's St. Canice's Cathedral. St Cainnech of Aghaboe is the secondary patron of Kilkenny.
Chain of Cainnech
In his old age Cainnech retired to an island in Loch Cree, since drained, and wrote a commentary on all four Gospels. This became known as Glass Kinnich (Glas-Chainnigh) or Chain of Cainnech. This was long preserved in his church and became a continuous commentary in the Middle Ages.*
Troparion of St Cainnech (tone 8)
In honour thou dost rank with Ireland's Enlightener,
O Lover of the Desert, Composer of sacred verse,
Father of Monks and Founder of Monasteries, O Father Cainnech.
Labouring for Christ, both in thy native land and in Scotland,
thou art a tireless intercessor for the faithful.
Pray for us who hymn thee, that despite our frailty we may be granted great mercy.
Personal Note
I was browsing the icons on the HTM website and came across St. Kenneth. I found it interesting because my father's name is Kenn. I decided to read about this saint and found several interesting connections. First, my father served in the Navy so it was poignant to find that St. Kenneth is an intercessor for the shipwrecked and that St. Kenneth himself was granted safe passage through rough seas by Christ God. Another connection is that the saints feast day in the Orthodox church is celebrated on August 14th, which is my birthday. And finally, most touching of all is the troparion to St. Kenneth - the final verse "Pray for us who hymn thee, that despite our frailty we may be granted great mercy." My father is a three time survivor of cancer, twice of what I have to say was a most severe kind. I think that indeed he has been shown the frailty of the body and yet has also seen great, great mercy. St. Kenneth, intercede to Christ for great mercy for my father Kenn!
My father has an aversion to Scotty dogs. Although the breed wasn't established until well beyond his time I wonder if St. Kenneth would have disliked them also... ;)
* all other source material from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cainnech_of_Aghaboe
** from: http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/314902/Saint-Kenneth
*** icon image from Holy Transfiguration Monastery & available for purchase at: http://www.bostonmonks.com/product_info.php/cPath/27_50_87/products_id/311
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