Cormac (also called Corbmac) (c. 430 – 17 February 497),

Bishop of Armagh A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is ca ...

and Abbot of Armagh monastery,

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

from 481 to 17 February 497.

Genealogy and birth

Cormac was from the Clann Chernaig in Crioch-an-Earnaidhe ('Territory of the Oratory', the modern placename of Urney, either in Co. Louth or Co. Tyrone)The Ancient List of the Coarbs of Patrick", by Rev. H. J. Lawlor and R. I. Best in PRIA, Vol. XXXV (1919), p. 319, No. 7. He is often confused with either or both of St. Cormac, bishop of Trim, Co. Meath who died in 745 or Cormac Snithine, the son of Enda, son of

Niall of the Nine Hostages Niall ''Noígíallach'' (; Old Irish "having nine hostages"), or Niall of the Nine Hostages, was a legendary, semi-historical Irish king who was the ancestor of the Uí Néill dynasties that dominated Ireland from the 6th to the 10th centuries. ...

Bishop of Armagh

On the death of Saint

Iarlaithe mac Treno Iarlaithe mac Treno (also called Earlahy, Hierlath, Iarlaid, Iarlaide, Iarlaithi, Iarlathe, Iarlathi, Jarlaide, Jarlaithe, Jarlath, Yrlathei, Yrlatheus) (c. 439 – 11 February 481), was the Bishop of Armagh, Ireland from 468 to 11 February 48 ...

, the Bishop of Armagh, on 11 February 481, Cormac was appointed as the 5th Bishop in succession to

Saint Patrick Saint Patrick ( la, Patricius; ga, Pádraig ; cy, Padrig) was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary and bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Ireland, the other patron saints be ...

. Cormac reigned as bishop for 16 years. During his reign he reconstituted Armagh into a monastic community and he became the first abbot of Armagh abbey.

John Colgan John Colgan, OFM (Irish ''Seán Mac Colgan''; c. 1592 – 15 January 1658), was an Irish Franciscan friar noted as a hagiographer and historian. Life Colgan was born c. 1592 at Priestown near Carndonagh. He joined the Franciscan Order and w ...

states he worked many miracles.

Death

Cormac died on 17 February 497. The Annals of Ireland give the following obits- Chronicon Scotorum 494- "''Bishop Cormac indernidhe, comharb of Patrick, pausavit''" Annals of the Four Masters 496- "''Cormac, of Chrioch-in-Ernaidhe, successor of Patrick, resigned his spirit''" Annals of Inisfallen 497- "''Repose of Cormac, bishop of Ard Macha''" Annals of Tigernach 497- "''Bishop Cormac, of the Ernide, a successor of Patrick, rested''" Annals of Clonmacnoise 497- "''Bushopp Cormack Inderny, Cowarb of St. Patrick, died''" Annals of Ulster 497- "''Repose of Cormac, bishop of Ard Macha, successor of Patrick''" Annals from the Book of Leinster- "''Cormac, first abbot''"

Feast day

After his death Cormac was venerated as a saint and his feast was celebrated on 17 February, the day of his death. The Calendars of the Saints have the following entries which confuse him with St. Cormac, bishop of Trim, Co. Meath who died in 745- Martyrology of Gorman 17 February- "''full Cormac, bishop of Ath Truim, and a successor of Patrick, be the prayer of them all on my behalf that I may repent with tears''"

Martyrology of Oengus A martyrology is a catalogue or list of martyrs and other saints and beati arranged in the calendar order of their anniversaries or feasts. Local martyrologies record exclusively the custom of a particular Church. Local lists were enriched by na ...

17 February- "''Everyone proclaims it as far as the great sea, the feast of Cormac of pure prosperity. Cormac bishop of Áth Truim in Bregia. Or he is a successor of Patrick, i.e. a bishop from Áth Truim Húi Loeguiri in Meath''"

Martyrology of Donegal A martyrology is a catalogue or list of martyrs and other saints and beati arranged in the calendar order of their anniversaries or feasts. Local martyrologies record exclusively the custom of a particular Church. Local lists were enriched by n ...

17 February- "''Cormac, Bishop, of Ath Truim in Laeghaire, and successor of Patrick. Fuineacht, daughter of Maelfithrigh, son of Dioma, son of Colman, was his mother. A.D. 496.''"

References

{{authority control 430s births 497 deaths Bishops of Armagh 5th-century Irish bishops