User:Nioumad/Brendan

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Brendan of Clonfert (c. AD 484 - c.577), is one of the early Irish monastic saints and one of the Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He is also referred to as, Brendan the Navigator, Brendan the Voyager, Brendan the Anchorite, Brendan the Bold. The Irish translation of his name is Naomh Bréanainn or Naomh Breandán. He is mainly known for his legendary voyage to find the “Isle of the Blessed” which is sometimes referred to as “Saint Brendan’s Island”. The written narrative of his journey comes from the immram The Navigatio Sancti Brendani Abbatis, (Voyage of Saint Brendan the Abbot).

Saint Brendan's feast day is celebrated on 16 May by Catholics, Anglicans, and Orthodox Christians

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The journey of Brendan first begins when he meets with Saint Barinthus. Saint Barinthus describes The Promised Land for Saints (Terra Repromissionis Sanctorum). As Saint Barinthus describes his journey to this island, Brendan decides to also visit this island because it was described as a place of those who lived a certain lifestyle and embraced true faith of Christianity. Brendan complies a group of 14 monks who pray together with him in his community to leave with him on his journey. Before departing, Brendan and the 14 monks fast at 3 day intervals for 40 nights and set out out on the voyage that was described to him by Saint Barinthus. They first embark towards Saint Edna, which is an island. After Brendan and the 14 monks build a small boat for their journey, 3 people join after Brendan already choose his companions. These three extras will not return back to Ireland which is prophesied by Brendan because according to him, this is now an unholy number. They land on an uninhabited island at the beginning their journey. It is here where one of the 3 extra people who have joined Brendan and the 14 monks, die on this island.

For a period of seven years, Brendan and his students travel the seas and come across various locations while searching for the Promised Land. One of the first islands the Brendan and his companions come across is an unnamed uninhabited island. It is here on this island that one of the three extra monks who accompanied Brendan on his travels die. After the death of their companion, Brendan and his men then leave and continue their journey to the Island of the Sheep. Once they arrive to the Island of Sheep, Brendan and his crew arrive on the back of a whale named Jasconius. They had believed that they landed on island but once they had attempted to light a fire, the island started to sink revealing the corpse of the whale. Other places that Brendan and his companions arrive at include the Island of Birds, the Island of Able and the Island of Strong Men. It is on the Island of Strong Men where the second of the 3 extra people remains. He does not continue his journey with Brendan and his men.