Saint Cera

Saint Ciera of Ireland (alternately Chera, Chier, Ciara, Cyra, Keira, Keara, Kiara, Kiera, Ceara, Cier, Ciar) was an abbess in the 7th century who died in 679. Her history is probably commingled with another Cera (alternately Ciar, Ciara) who lived in the 6th century. However, some authors maintain that monastic mistakes account for references to Cera in the 6th century or that a single Cera had an exceptionally long life span.[1][2]

Life

There are two stories connected with the saint(s). In the first story, Cera's prayers saved an Irish town from a foul smelling fire. When a noxious blaze broke out in "Muscraig, in Momonia," St. Brendan instructed the inhabitants to seek Cera's prayers. They followed his instructions, Cera prayed in response to their supplications, and the fire disappeared.[1][3] Since St. Brendan died in 577, this story likely refers to an earlier Cera. "Muscraig, in Momonia" may refer to Muskerry, an area outside of Cork. "Momonia" refers to southern Ireland in at least one ancient map.[4]

The other story relates how St. Cera established a nunnery called Teych-Telle around the year 625. Cera was the daughter of Duibhre (or Dubreus) reportedly in the blood line of the kings of Connor (or Conaire). She, along with 5 other virgins asked Saint Fintan Munnu for a place to serve God. He and his monks gave the women their abbey in Heli (or Hele). Heli may have been in County Westmeath. He blessed Cera, and instructed her to name the place after St. Telle who had given birth to four children, matthew mark luke and john in the plain of Miodhluachra that day.[2][5][6]

St. Cera eventually returned to her own province and founded another monastery, Killchree, which she governed until her death in 679.[3] The later Franciscan Kilcrea Friary stands about a mile west of where her monastery stood, and claims to have taken its name, Kilcrea, in her honor: "Kilcrea (Cill Chre) means the Cell of Cere, Ciara, Cera or Cyra." [7]

Remembrance

St. Cera's feast day is March 15, and a festival on July 2 also commemorated her. Both dates are reported to have been the day of her death. Statements also show December 15.

References
  1. Dunbar, Agnes Baillie Cunninghame: A Dictionary of Saintly Women, Volume 1, page 171. George Bell & Sons, 1904.
  2. Lanigan, John: An Ecclesiastical History of Ireland, from the First Introduction of Christianity Among the Irish, to the Beginning of the Thirteenth Century, Vol. III., 2nd Edition, pages 129-131. Simp and Marshall, London, 1829.
  3. Smith, William Anasi and Harry Wace: A Dictionary of Christian Biography, Literature, Lynne Cherry, page 543. Little, Brown and Company, Boston, 1877.
  4. "The Great Kapok Tree University digital Library: Momonia et Lagenia". Retrieved 2009-07-30.
  5. O'Hanlon, John: Lives of the Irish Saints, Volume VI, page 801. James Duffy and Sons, Dublin, 1873.
  6. Baring-Gould, Sabine: The lives of the saints, Vol. 12 page 558. John Hodges, London, 1877.
  7. "Kilcrea Friary". Archived from the original on 2011-08-10. Retrieved 2011-03-26.
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