of Würzburg, built a cathedral on the spot where the martyrs were said to have met their deaths and had their relics unearthed and buried within a vault of that cathedral church. Their skulls, inlaid with precious stones, have been preserved to this day. On St Kilian's Day, a glass case containing the three skulls is removed from a crypt, paraded through the streets before large crowds, and put on display in Würzburg Cathedral (dedicated to Kilian). Statues of these three saints (among others) line the famous Saints' Bridge across the river Main. Patronage Kilian is one of the patron saints for sufferers of rheumatism. Kilian is the patron saint of the parish of Tuosist, near Kenmare in County Kerry, where he is believed to have resided before travelling to Germany. A church and holy well are named after him and his feast day, July 8, is traditionally celebrated with a pattern when crowds visit the well for prayers, followed by evening social events. He is also the patron saint of Paderborn, Germany. Iconography Kilian is usually portrayed wearing a bishop's mitre and holding a sword, which was the instrument of his martyrdom (as in his statue at Würzburg). Legacy The Kiliani-Volksfest, which runs for two weeks every July, is the main civil and religious festival in the region around Würzburg, Germany. St Killian's College, Garron Tower, Northern Ireland is named for him. Also, St. Kilian's Heritage Centre, located in the village of Mullagh in County Cavan. It was opened in 1995 by the then President of Ireland, Mary Robinson. Built by the local community in association with the Diocese of Würzburg in southern Germany, the Heritage Centre features many relics and replicas of the saint. The German School in Dublin, Ireland, is named after St. Kilian as a tribute to the early exchange of education between the two countries of Ireland and Germany. There are religious buildings which bear his name as well: St. Kilian's Abbey, Würzburg and St. Kilian's Church, Heilbronn are two such places. Also there is a basic school in Ghana named after him and also a parish church in Mission Viejo, California. Also a parish in Farmingdale, New York See also Kilianstein References External links Medieval German saints 640 births 689 deaths 7th-century Frankish bishops Irish Christian missionaries 7th-century Christian saints Colombanian saints Medieval Irish saints 7th-century Irish bishops People from County Cavan Irish expatriates