E06254: Tírechán, in his Collection, describes how a round ditch (ferta) was built in the manner of the pagans at the burial site of *Ethne and Fedelm (virgins and daughters of King Loíguire mac Néill in Ireland, 5th c., S02332), and how *Patrick (missionary and bishop of Ireland, 5th c., S01962) later built a church there. Written in Latin in Ireland, probably shortly after c. 668.
Creators: name: Bsavill
Publisher: name: University of Oxford
Year: 2018
Subjects: History

description: Tírechán, Collection (BHL 6496)<br><br>For an overview of this text, see E06131.<br><br>26.<br>(1) Deinde autem uenit sanctus Patricius ad fontem qui dicitur Clebach in lateribus Crochan contra ortum solis ante ortum solis et sederunt iuxta fontem, (2) et ecce duae filiae regis Loiguiri Ethne alba et Fedelm rufa ad fontem more mulierum ad lauandum mane uenierunt et senodum sanctum episcoporum cum Patricio iuxta fontem inuenierunt [...]<br><br>(13) Et dixerunt filiae si ex uno ore unoque corde "quomodo credere possimus caelesti regi doce nos dilegentissime, ut uideamus illum facie ad faciem. Indica nobis, et quomodo dixeris nobis faciamus". (14) Et dixit Patricius: "si creditis per babtismum patris et matris iecere peccatum?" Responderunt: "credimus". "Si poenitentiam creditis post peccatum?" "credimus". "Si creditis uitam post mortem? Si creditis resurrectionem in die iudicii?" "credimus". "Si creditis unitatem aeclessiae?" "credimus". (15) Et babtitzatae sunt et candida ueste in capitibus earum. Et postulauerunt uidere faciem Christi, et dixit eis sanctus: "nissi mortem gustaueritis, non potestis uidere faciem Christi, et nissi sacrificium accipietis". (16) Et responderunt: "da nobis sacrificium, ut possimus Filium, nostrum sponsum, uidere", et acciperunt eucharitziam Dei et dormierunt in morte, et posuerunt illas in lectulo uno uestimentis coopertas, et fecerunt ululatum et planctum magnum amici earum [...]<br><br>(20) Et consumpti sunt dies ululationis filiarum regis et sepilierunt eas iuxta fontem Clebach et fecerunt fossam rotundam in similitudinem fertae, quia sic faciebant Scotici homines et gentiles, nobiscum autem relic... uocatur, id est residuae puellarum. (21) Et immolata est ferta Deo et Patricio cum sanctarum ossibus et heredibus eius post se in saecula, et aeclessiam terrenam fecit in eo loco.<br><br><br>'(1) Then holy Patrick came to the well called Clébach, on the slopes of Cruachu to the east, before sunrise, and they sat beside the well, (2) and, behold, the two daughters of king Loíguire, fair-haired Ethne and red-haired Fedelm, came to the well, as women are wont to do, in the morning to wash, and they found the holy assembly of bishops with Patrick beside the well ...<br><br>(13) And the maidens said as with one voice and one heart: 'Teach us with all diligence how we can believe in the heavenly king, so that we may see him face to face. Tell us, and we will do as you say.' (14) And Patrick said: 'Do you believe that through baptism you cast off the sin of your father and mother?' They answered: 'We believe.' 'Do you believe in penance after sin?' 'We believe.' 'Do you believe in life after death? Do you believe in the resurrection on the day of judgement?' 'We believe.' 'Do you believe in the unity of the Church?' 'We believe.' (15) And they were baptized, with a white garment over their heads. And they demanded to see the face of Christ, and the holy man said to them: 'Unless you taste death you cannot see the face of Christ, and unless you receive the sacrament.' (16) And they answered: 'Give us the sacrament so that we may see the Son, our bridegroom', and they received the eucharist of God and fell asleep in death, and their friends placed them on one bed and covered them with their garments, and made a lament and great keening ...<br><br>(20) And the days of mourning for the king's daughters came to an end, and they buried them beside the well of Clébach, and they made a round ditch after the manner of a ferta, because this is what the heathen Irish used to do, but we call it relic, that is, the remains of the maidens. (21) And the ferta was made over to Patrick with the bones of the holy virgins, and to his heirs after him for ever, and he made an earthen church in that place.'<br><br><br>Text and translation: Bieler 1979, 143-5.