The end of the sixth and beginning of the seventh centuries AD was indeed the Golden Age of the Bangor monastery, for it became the centre of literature, both sacred and secular, in Europe. Here were compiled the oldest Chronicles of Ireland and the beautiful poetry, the Voyage of Bran, which tells also of those great Cruthin Kings of Dalaradia, Mongan and Fiachna.

 

The Voyage of Bran speaks of the Birth of Christ as follows:

 

A great birth will come after ages,
That will not be in a lofty place,
The son of a Virgin Mother,
He will seize the rule of many thousands.

A rule without beginning, without end,
He has created the world so that it is perfect,
Whose are on earth and sea,
Woe to him that shall be under His unwill:

It’s He that made the heavens,
Happy he that has a white heart,
He will purify hosts under pure water,
It’s He that will cure your sickness.

 

Yet the most beautiful poetry of that age is contained in the Bangor Antiphonary. The “Commemoration of our Abbots” in the Antiphonary is perhaps the most valuable in the collection for by it the date of the manuscript can be determined. In itself it is an interesting poem and one can see that after the prefatory verse the lines run in alphabetical order.

 

Sancta sanctorum opera The Holy, Valiant deeds
Patrum, fratres, fortissimo, Of sacred Fathers,
Benchorensi in optima Based on the matchless
Fundatorum ecclesia, Church of Bangor;
Abbatum eminentia, The noble deeds of abbots,
Numerum, tempora, nomina, Their number, times and names,
Sine fine fulgentia, Of never-ending lustre,
Audite, magna merita; Hear, brothers; great their deserts,
Quos convocavit Dominus Whom the Lord hath gathered
Caelorum regni sedibus. To the mansions of his heavenly kingdom
Amavit Christus Comgillum; Christ loved Comgall,
Bene et ipse Dominum; Well, too, did he the Lord;
Carum habuit Beognoum; He held Beogna dear;
Dominum ornavit Aedeum; He graced the noble Aedh;
Elegit sanctum Sinlanum, He chose the holy Sinlan,
Famosum mundi magistrum Far-famed teacher of the world.
Quos convocavit Dominus Whom the Lord hath gathered
Caelorum regni sedibus. To the mansions of his heavenly kingdom.
Gratum fecit Fintenanum, He made Finten accepted,
Heredem almum inclitum; An heir generous, renowned;
Illustravit Maclaisreum, He rendered Maclaisre illustrious,
Kaput abbatum omnium The chief of all abbots;
Lampade sacrae Seganum, With a sacred torch (he enlightened) Segan,
Magnum scripturae medicum, A great physician of scripture.
Quos convocavit Dominus Whom the Lord hath gathered
Caelorum regni sedibus. To the mansions of his heavenly kingdom
Notus vir erat Beracnus; Beracnus was a distinguished man;
Ornatus et Cuminenus; Cummian pre-eminent in glory;
Pastor Columba congruous; Columba a congenial shepherd;
Querela absque Aidanus; Baithene a worthy ruler;
Summus antestes Crotanus. Crotan a chief president.
Quos convocavit Dominus Whom the Lord has gathered
Caelorum regni sedibus. To the mansions of his heavenly kingdom.
Tantis successit Colmanus, To these so excellent succeeded Colman,
Vir amabilis omnibus, A man to be beloved by all;
Xpo (Christo) nunc sedet suprimus Singing praises to Christ
Ymnos canens. Quindecimus He now sits on high. That Cronan,
Zoen ut carpet Cronanus, The fifteenth, may lay hold on life.
Conservet eum Dominus. The Lord preserve him.
Quos convocavit Dominus Whom the Lord hath gathered
Caelorum regni sedibus To the mansions of his heavenly kingdom.
Horum sanctorum merita The truest merits,
Abbatum fideliddima, of these holy abbots,
Erga Comgillum congrua, Meet for Comgal,
Invocamus altissima; Most exalted, we invoke;
Uti possimus omnia That we may blot out
Nostra delere crimina, All our offences
Per Jesum Christum, aeterna Through Jesus Christ
Regnantem in saecula.Who reigns for ages everlasting.