St Ninian
Celebrated on August 26th
![[IMG]](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fa/35/59/fa3559f89ae6f2de0bc1458373d0c199.jpg "[IMG]")
A 5th century British bishop and apostle in Whithorn and Galloway, St Ninian is traditionally also known as the apostle of the Picts.
A number of inscribed Christian stones have been discovered by archeologists around Galloway, which indicate that St Ninian lived there. Bede refers to him living at a monastery in the area near a church painted white. An anonymous 8th century poet wrote about him and the 12th century Ailred of Rievaulx wrote a life of this Scottish saint.
His shrine was a popular pilgrimage place for centuries, surviving up to the Reformation. By that time his cult had also spread to Kent and Denmark. In recent years pilgrims have again begun returning to Whithorn, and a special pilgrimage takes place on the last Sunday of August. Since 1984, excavations have revealed a site of major importance.
Tradition holds that St Ninian’s Cave was the hermitage of its saint. This can’t be verified, but it may well have functioned as a retreat from the monastery at Whithorn.
![[IMG]](https://s0.geograph.org.uk/geophotos/01/94/86/1948638_35241b11.jpg "[IMG]")
St Ninian’s Chapel was first erected in the 1100s for the benefit of both local worshippers and pilgrims to St Ninian’s Shrine at Whithorn. The chapel we see today is a rebuild dating to about 1300.
![[IMG]](https://www.historicenvironment.scot/media/1999/st-ninians.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=1200&height=630&rnd=131841810920000000 "[IMG]")
(from ICN)
Celebrated on August 26th
A 5th century British bishop and apostle in Whithorn and Galloway, St Ninian is traditionally also known as the apostle of the Picts.
A number of inscribed Christian stones have been discovered by archeologists around Galloway, which indicate that St Ninian lived there. Bede refers to him living at a monastery in the area near a church painted white. An anonymous 8th century poet wrote about him and the 12th century Ailred of Rievaulx wrote a life of this Scottish saint.
His shrine was a popular pilgrimage place for centuries, surviving up to the Reformation. By that time his cult had also spread to Kent and Denmark. In recent years pilgrims have again begun returning to Whithorn, and a special pilgrimage takes place on the last Sunday of August. Since 1984, excavations have revealed a site of major importance.
Tradition holds that St Ninian’s Cave was the hermitage of its saint. This can’t be verified, but it may well have functioned as a retreat from the monastery at Whithorn.
St Ninian’s Chapel was first erected in the 1100s for the benefit of both local worshippers and pilgrims to St Ninian’s Shrine at Whithorn. The chapel we see today is a rebuild dating to about 1300.
(from ICN)
