St. Patrick

• St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland and he is celebrated on St. Patrick’s Day, held on the 17th March.
• He brought Christianity to Ireland in the 5th century CE, first as a missionary, then as Bishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

Date of Birth and Death

• St. Patrick’s dates are uncertain: He was born either in 372 or 387 CE at Kilpatrick, Dumbarton, Scotland.
• According to Medieval Tradition, he died on March 17th 493 CE, which is celebrated as St. Patrick’s Day, at Saul, Downpatrick in Ireland. However due to conflicting sources his date of death is also given as either 440, 460, or 461 CE.

Prelate of All Ireland

• Captured in Britannia, around the age of 16, he spent six years in Ireland.
• He then escaped or returned to Britannia, where he trained to become a Christian Priest.
• In c. 461 CE he returned to Ireland as a Christian Missionary. St. Patrick is considered to have been the first Bishop of Armagh and Prelate of all Ireland.

The Banishment of Snakes from Ireland

• Legend has it that the absence of snakes in Ireland is due to them being banished by St. Patrick.

The Shamrock

• The Shamrock is the national symbol of Ireland and is attributed to St. Patrick, who used the three leafed plant to teach the Holy Trinity.

St. Patrick’s Crosses

• Two crosses are associated with St. Patrick. The Cross Patte was used in the coat of arms of the Archdiocese of Armagh. The Saltyre, a blue diagonal cross shaped like an X, was used at one point as the National flag of Ireland.

The Relics of St. Patrick

• These were a collection of items removed from his tomb by Colum Cille in the 5th century CE, consisting of Patrick’s Bell, Patrick’s Goblet and The Angels Gospel.

Shrines

• A Shrine to St. Patrick exists in Armagh Cathedral, Northern Ireland, and another exists in St. Patrick’s Chapel located in the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey, Somerset in England.

Burial Place

• Down Cathedral in Downpatrick, Northern Ireland is considered to be the burial place for St. Patrick.