Saint Patrick - in his own words

Window Armagh Cathedral

For the first time, this year, the Royal Irish Academy has published the writings of Saints Patrick in a freely accessible form on-line, both in Latin, Irish and several other modern languages. In the Confessio, St Patrick tells the story of his life with great clarity and simplicity, beginning: ‘My name is Patrick... I am a sinner, a simple country person, and the least of all believers. I am looked down upon by many...'

The second document is a letter to the warrior Coroticus protesting at his practice of capturing new-converted Irish people and selling them into slavery in what is now Scotland.

'The newly baptised anointed were dressed in white robes; the anointing was still to be seen clearly on their foreheads when they were cruelly slain and sacrificed by the sword..' Patrick writes.

The website includes digital images of the manuscripts dating back to 800AD onwards, commentaries, essays and audio presentations. These are the oldest texts written in Ireland that are known to have survived.

The project was funded under an Irish government programme and launched in Dublin in the presence of the Chirch of Ireland and Roman Catholic Archbishops of Dublin.

To visit The St Patrick's Confessio go to: www.confessio.ie