Máel Ruba facts for kids

Máel Ruba (born around 642, died 722) was an important Irish saint in the Christian Church. He spent most of his life working in Scotland. Máel Ruba came from Bangor, Ireland. He was a monk who started a special religious community. This community was the Applecross monastery in Ross. It was one of the earliest and most famous Christian monasteries in what we now call Scotland. His name has many forms, like Máelrubai in Old Irish or Maol Rubha in Scottish Gaelic. Sometimes, his name was changed to Rufus in Latin.

Life of Saint Máel Ruba

Early Life and Education

Máel Ruba was born into a famous family. His father, Elganach, was a descendant of Niall of the Nine Hostages, a powerful King of Ireland. Máel Ruba's mother, Subtan, was the niece of Saint Comgall. Saint Comgall was a well-known saint from Bangor. Máel Ruba was born near Derry in Ireland. He received his education at the Bangor monastery.

Journey to Scotland

In 671, when Máel Ruba was about 30 years old, he left Ireland. He sailed to Scotland with a group of other monks. For two years, he traveled around Scotland. He mostly explored the area of Argyll. During this time, he might have founded some churches. Many churches in Scotland are still named after him today.

Founding Applecross Monastery

In 673, Máel Ruba settled in a place called Aporcrosan. This place is now known as Applecross. It was in Pictish land, on the west coast of Ross. It faced the islands of Skye and Raasay. From Applecross, he went on many missionary journeys. He traveled west to the islands of Skye and Lewis. He also went east to Forres and Keith. His journeys took him north to Loch Shin, Durness, and Farr.

The Applecross Monastery

The Gaelic name for Applecross is "A' Chomraich". This means 'The Sanctuary'. It refers to a special protected area around the monastery. This area was originally marked by stone crosses. Sadly, only a small piece of one cross remains today. You can find it in a farmyard in Camusterrach.

Máel Ruba's journey to Scotland was very important. So was his founding of Applecross. These events were recorded in old Irish records. This shows how significant they were at the time. Máel Ruba's monastery became a major Christian center. It helped spread Christianity and Gaelic culture. This was especially true among the Picts in northern Scotland.

Records of the monastery's leaders stopped in the 800s. This was likely due to attacks by Vikings. These attacks were not recorded in detail. A small group of stones in the Applecross graveyard is believed to be his grave.

Death of Saint Máel Ruba

Local stories say that Máel Ruba died on his last journey. They say Danish Vikings killed him. This likely happened at Teampull. Teampull is about nine miles from Farr, up Strathnaver. Máel Ruba had built a small monastic cell there. He was buried near the River Naver. His grave is still marked by a rough stone with a cross. However, the year 722 might be too early for Viking attacks. The first recorded Viking raids in Scotland and Ireland happened around the 790s.

Another story comes from the Aberdeen Breviary. It says he was killed at Urquhart. Then he was buried at Abercrossan. This story might be a mistake. It could be due to similar-sounding Gaelic place names.

The most reliable records are old Irish ones. They say he simply 'died' at Applecross. This happened when he was 80 years old.

Veneration of Saint Máel Ruba

Máel Ruba was a very popular saint. After St Columba, he was perhaps the most loved saint in northwest Scotland. At least 21 churches are named after him. Many different forms of his name exist.

He died on April 21. In Ireland, his special day has always been April 21. But in Scotland, his day is also celebrated on August 27. This might be because of confusion with Saint Rufus. In 1898, Pope Leo XIII brought back his feast day for the Catholic Church in Scotland. It is celebrated on August 27. The Scottish Episcopal Church honors him on April 20.

Máel Ruba's name has changed over time. For example, in Keith, Moray, he is called "St Rufus". The St Rufus Church is named after him. In other parts of Scotland, his name became "Maree". This is how Loch Maree got its name. "Summereve" is another form of his name. There are several places named after Máel Ruba.

Places Connected to Saint Máel Ruba

• Applecross and the Loch Broom area.
• Keith, Moray, sometimes called 'Kethmalruff' in ancient times.
• Loch Maree, which has Isle Maree (Eilean Maree). The island has a well dedicated to the saint.
• Dingwall and Tain, in Easter Ross. Both towns held fairs to celebrate the saint.
• Amulree in Perthshire. Its name means 'Maol Rubha's ford'.
• Ashaig, on the Isle of Skye.
• Contin Island, a small island in a river in Ross and Cromarty. The church there is dedicated to Máel Ruba. There has likely been a church on this spot since the 600s or 700s.
• The chapel of Kilmarie at Kirkton. This is on the Craignish peninsula in Argyll. The chapel is said to have been founded by Máel Ruba. The name Kilmarie comes from him.
• The medieval church of Kirkden (formerly Idvies), near Letham, Angus. It was dedicated to Ruffus or Maelrubha in 1243.
• The medieval church of Kinnell, near Friockheim. It was dedicated to "St Malruib, Confessor".

See also

• Wish Tree: This is a tree often found near holy wells. It is sometimes associated with the saint's well.