A MAJOR celebration of the legacy of St Columbanus, marking the 1,400th anniversary of his death, will see 200 pilgrims from Italy visit Northern Ireland this weekend.
Columbanus left Bangor Abbey in 590, embarking on a journey which ended in Bobbio, Italy and also saw him play a key role in the spread of Christianity in France, Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
He and his followers established settlements and monasteries in a period of activity whose influence still reverberates across Europe and which has led to him being regarded as a patron saint for the continent.
To mark the anniversary of St Columbanus's death and the links he first forged between Ireland and Italy, a two-day 'Festival of the Columban Way', centred on Bangor and Armagh, has been organised.
It begins in Bangor on Saturday with morning prayer at Bangor Abbey at 9.30am. Guided tours, a talk on Columbanus and exhibitions will take place throughout the day. Evening Mass at St Comgall's will be followed by a concert of traditional music and dance.
"To be able to welcome so many visitors from Italy, where Columbanus founded his last Abbey, is very special in this the year marking 1,400 years since his death," said Alex Irvine from Ards and North Down Borough Council.
Fr Joe Gunn from St Comgall's said: "The fact that we are seeing so many pilgrims visiting Bangor, not just from Italy, but also France and Germany, in this special year is testament to the influence that the saints from Bangor Abbey and in particular Columbanus played in the development of Christianity in Europe."
On Sunday, the festival moves to Armagh for a Mass of Thanksgiving in St Patrick's Catholic Cathedral at 11am.
The main celebrant will be Archbishop of Armagh Dr Eamon Martin and Fr Neil Collins, a Columban Fathers priest, will give the homily.
The Relic of St Columbanus will be available after Mass for veneration.
Evensong will take place in St Patrick's Church of Ireland Cathedral in Armagh at 3.15pm, where the speaker will be another Columban Fathers priest, Fr Sean McDonagh.
::More information from Bangor Visitor Information Centre on 028 9127 0069 and, for the Armagh events, from Fr Rory Coyle on 028 3752 2802.
