14th February - St Conran, Bishop (7th cent)

Conran was Bishop of Orkney in the seventh century following in the footsteps of St Palladius who brought the faith to Orkney and of St Sylvester who was appointed by him as the first pastor. Conran is remembered for his austerity of life, his zeal, and eminent sanctity.

There were a great number of holy monasteries in the Orkney Islands, the chief of which was Kirkwall. The Bishop's Palace in Kirkwall (left), now a ruin, and the nearby Earl's Palace, are among the most fascinating ancient buildings in Scotland.