Palladius

Palladius was a Christian monk, bishop, and chronicler who lived in the late fourth and early fifth centuries. He was born in Gaul to a noble family and became a deacon of the Roman Church. He was sent by Pope Celestine I as the first bishop of Ireland in 431, preceding Saint Patrick. He landed at Arklow and founded three churches in Leinster. He faced opposition from the local druids and was expelled from Ireland after a year. He then travelled to Scotland and preached to the Picts. He died there around 457 or 461. He is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church, the Eastern Orthodox Church, and the Anglican Communion. He is the patron saint of Leinster and Kincardineshire. He is best known for his Lausiac History, a collection of biographies of early Egyptian and Middle Eastern Christian monks, which is the most valuable source for the origins of Christian asceticism. He also wrote a Dialogue on the Life of Chrysostom, a defense of his friend and mentor, Saint John Chrysostom, who was exiled and persecuted by the imperial authorities. Palladius was a learned and pious man who devoted his life to the service of God and the Church.