"Quattuor sanctissimi episcopi": not just St. Patrick

Abstract

In the 17th century, St. Ibar, Ailbe, Ciaran, and Declan were called quattuor sanctissimi episcopi (‘the four most holy bishops’). It is thought that they played a pivotal role in the conversion of Ireland, especially its southern parts, and were preaching Christianity there before or at the same time as St. Patrick. We learn about them from a number of sources, including Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae, Martyrology of Oengus, Martyrology of Donegal, Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, Book of Leinster, and Speckled Book. They are the founders of monasteries and the episcopal sees in Saigir (St. Ciaran), Emly (St. Ailbe), and Ardmore (St. Declan). St. Ibar founded the monastery on the Isle of Begerin. Their veneration is slowly building up again. The paper represents an attempt at systemising what we know about "the four bishops" from their Lives, the annals, and other sources mentioning them. The aim of the article is to place the aforementioned Saints within the life of the Irish society and Church; distill their distinctive features, spiritual, and social role within the early Medieval Church of Ireland (by analysing narrative patterns, genealogies, and mentions); and describe the development of their modern-day cult. While not claiming to present a definitive and exhaustive answer to these questions, the present paper is nevertheless part of an ongoing research into the subject.