33. A certain boy of the company of holy Kiaranus, called Crithir of
Cluain (a boy of great wit, but hurtful and wanton) fled from Saint
Kiaranus to the settlement of Saigyr, in the northern border of
Mumonia, that is, the land of Hele, to the other Kiaranus, the most
holy aged bishop. And that boy, sojourning for some days with the holy
bishop, after his devilish manner took the drink of the brethren, and
poured it over the fire; extinguishing thus the consecrated fire. Now
Saint Kiaranus the elder would have no other fire in his monastery
save the consecrated fire, maintained without being extinguished from
Easter to Easter. When Saint Kiaranus the elder heard what the boy
Crithir did, it greatly displeased him, and he said, "Let him be
chastened for this of God in this life." When he heard that Saint
Kiaranus the elder was angry with him, he went out from the settlement
of Saigyr, and when he was gone a short space from the settlement,
wolves met him and killed him; yet they did not touch his body after
he was dead, after the likeness of that prophet who was killed by the
lion.
Now when Saint Kiaranus the younger heard that his boy had been with
Kiaranus the elder, he went to him; and on the day when the aforesaid
things took place, he came to the settlement of Saigyr and was
received with fitting honour by the holy bishop Kiaranus the elder.
And the holy abbot Kiaranus the younger said to the holy bishop
Kiaranus, "Restore to me, holy father, my disciple alive, who hath
been slain while with thee." To him Saint Keranus the elder said,
"First needs must your feet be washed, but we have no fire in the
monastery, to warm the water for you; and ye know that it is because
your disciple quenched our sacred fire. Wherefore beseech for us
consecrated fire from God." Then the holy abbot Kieranus the younger,
son of the wright, stretched his hands in prayer to God, and
straightway fire from heaven came into his breast, and thence was the
hearth kindled in the monastery.
But the holy bishop Kiaranus the elder prayed to God for that youth
slain by wolves, and straightway he arose sound from a cruel death,
with the scars of the wolf-bites visible upon him. And blessing them
all, he took food and drink with the saints, and afterwards he lived
many days.
Then the two Saints Kiaranus made a compact and brotherhood in heaven
and in earth between their successors; and they said that should any
wish to name or to beg aught for one of them, he should name them both
and ask, for they would hear him.
After this the holy abbot Kiaranus the younger said to the bishop,
Kiaranus the elder, "In thy place, father, shall remain honour and
abundance of riches." To him said the holy bishop, Kiaranus the elder,
"Also in thy place, dearest son, shall last the strength of religion
and of wisdom, unto the end of the world." When these things were
said, having received the kiss of peace and blessing of the most holy
bishop, Kiaranus the elder, Saint Kiaranus the younger with his own
people and with the aforesaid youth Crithir returned to his settlement
of Cluain meic Nois.