Marnock or Marnock of Kilmarnock (died
c. 625 AD), also known as Marnocus, Marnan of Narnach, Marnanus, Marnocalso[1] or originally Ernin (from
Irish Mo-Ernin-og)[3] was a
Scottishmonk,
bishop and
saint.[1]
Biography
Details on the life of Marnock that have survived to the present day are limited,[4] though some facts are known. Marnock was born in
Ireland, most likely in the late 6th century.[3] He became a monk on the
abbey at
Iona where he became a student and disciple of
Saint Columba.[4] He later left the monastery to become a missionary bishop on the Scottish mainland.[4]
It is widely accepted that Marnock died at
Annandale in 625,[1] however at least one account gives his place of death and burial site as Inchmarnoch near
Aboyne in
Aberdeenshire.[5]
A strong cult of veneration developed for Marnock after his death, particularly in the region of the
Scottish Borders.[1] Marnock's head was kept as a
relic at
Kilmarnock, where a tradition emerged where it was washed each Sunday, with the resulting wash water given to the sick to effect miraculous cures.[6]
The strength of Marnock's cult in the centuries that followed his death is demonstrated in the great number of locations, in
Scotland as well as in
Ireland, named in his honour, including:
Ardmonoch, a locality within
Kilfinan in Argyll and Bute[7]