Odran of Iona

Odran
Born	County Meath, Ireland
Died	548 Iona, Scotland
Honored in	Roman Catholic Church
Feast	October 27

Odran or Odhran (earlier: Otteran), a descendant of Conall Gulban, is usually identified with Odhron (also called Odhrán or Oran), who preceded Saint Columba in Iona. His death is recorded in 548 and his grave was greatly revered in Iona.

According to Irish tradition Odran served as abbot of Meath and founded Lattreagh. He is described variously as companion, brother or son of Columba, and died soon after his arrival on Iona. Columba saw devils and angels fight over Odran's soul before it ascended into heaven.

Another legend tells that the chapel that Saint Columba wanted to build on Iona was destroyed every night. Finally he was told by a voice that it could never be finished until a living man was buried below. So Odran was buried alive willingly and the chapel could be finished. But one day he pushed his head through the wall and said that there was no hell as was supposed nor heaven that people talk about. Alarmed by this Columba let Odran's body be variously covered with earth more securely or removed with haste.^[1]

In a Hebridean version of this tale the sacrifice is promised that his soul will be safe in heaven. Some time after the burial Columba wants to see Odran once more and opens the pit under the chapel. When Odran sees the world he tries to come out again, but Columba has the pit covered with earth quickly to save Odran's soul from the world and its sin.^[1]

In the song "Oran" in the 1997 Steve McDonald album "Stone of Destiny", he has Oran's disinterred head speaking the haunting lines: "Heaven is not what it is said to be. Hell is not what it is said to be. The saved are not forever happy, the damned are not forever lost." McDonald's albums feature many historical and legendary events from Scottish history.

These legends are one of the few instances of foundation sacrifice in Great Britain.^[1]

The oldest remaining church on Iona is dedicated to Saint Odhran and the surrounding cemetery is called Reilig Odhráin in his memory.

He was chosen by the Vikings as patron of the city of Waterford in 1096 and later became patron of the diocese.

Odran's feast day is October 27.

Due to the similarity of the name some people have identified Odran with Saint Odran, the first Irish Christian martyr. There is a parallel in that each man voluntarily sacrificed himself to further the work of a better-known saint.

References

General

• The Diocese of Waterford and Lismore
• Farmer, David Hugh, The Oxford Dictionary of Saints, Oxford University Press, Oxford, New York, 1987, 2nd Edition, ISBN 0-19-869149-1

Specific

1. ^ ^{a b c} MacLeod Banks, M. (1931). "A Hebridean Version of Colum Cille and St. Oran". Folklore 42 (1): 55–60. JSTOR 1256410. 

Persondata
Name	Otteran
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth	County Meath, Ireland
Date of death	548
Place of death	Iona, Scotland