Palladius

Palladius (c. 375–c. 457/461?) was the first Bishop of the Christians of Ireland, preceding St. Patrick. He was born about or after 375, the son of Exuperantius of Poitiers, of whom Rutilius Namatianus wrote: "Exuperantius now teaches the inhabitants of the Armorican coastal regions to love the restoration of peace; he re-establishes laws, restores freedom, and prevents the masters from being slaves to their own servants." Exuperantius was apparantly praefectus praetorio Galliarum when killed in an army muntiny at Arles in 424. Palladius was married by 400 and had a young daughter. He is described as a friend and younger kinsman by the Gallician aristocrat Claudius Rutilius Namatianus. Came under the influence of Pelagius in Rome, abandoned his family, and lived as an ascetic in Sicily about 408–409, giving his daughter to a convent in Sicily. To this period is ascribed his authorship of six Pelegian documents. Ordained a priest c.415, after recanting the teachings of Pelagius. Lived in Rome between 418–429, and is the Deacon Palladius responsible for urging Pope Celestine to send Bishop Germanus of Auxerre to Britan, where he guided "the Britons back to the catholic faith." In 431, "Palladius, having being ordained by Pope Celestine, is sent as first bishop to the Irish believing in Christ. He is most stongly associated with Leinster, particularly with Clonard, County Meath. Date of death is unknown; however, the Annals of Ulster contain the following references: 457 "Repose of the elder Patrick, as some books state"
\n461 "Here some record the repose of Patrick"
\n492 "The Irish state here that Patrick the Archbishop died. "Three score years (we deem it few)/And a mystic nine/Patrick spent preaching in Ireland/ .../with many miracles."
\n493 "Patrick, arch-apostle, or archbishop and apostle of the Irish, rested on the 16th of the Kalends of April in the 120th year of his age, in the 60th year after he had come to Ireland to baptise the Irish." Thus, it is possible that later writers confused Pallidius and Patrick. If the earlier dates of 457/461 indeed refer to him, then it seems that the actual St. Patrick died much later about 492/493. Patrick's mission was largely confined to Ulster and Connaught, while Pallidus seems to have being active in Leinster, particulary in the area around Clonard. See O'Croinin, "Who Was Palladius 'First Bishop of the Irish'?", Peritia, volume 12 (2000), 205-37. Category:Ancient Roman Christianity Category:Saints