Tassac (also Tassach; died c. AD 497) was an Irish saint, born in the first decade of the 5th century, died c. 497 and whose feast day falls on the 14 April.

Life

He was one of

Saint Patrick Saint Patrick (; or ; ) was a fifth-century Romano-British culture, Romano-British Christian missionary and Archbishop of Armagh, bishop in Gaelic Ireland, Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland", he is the primary patron saint of Irelan ...

's disciples, and when Patrick founded the ''Church of St Tassach'' he placed Tassac in charge of it. The Church of Raholp was situated approximately 1 mile south of

Saul Saul (; , ; , ; ) was a monarch of ancient Israel and Judah and, according to the Hebrew Bible and Old Testament, the first king of the United Monarchy, a polity of uncertain historicity. His reign, traditionally placed in the late eleventh c ...

on the Bannaghan Road in Raholp and was ultimately merged as a church into the Irish Diocese of Down (now the Diocese of Down and Connor).Grattan-Flood, William. "St. Tassach." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 21 Nov. 2013
/ref> Some believe that the Church of Raholp was situated in

Downpatrick Downpatrick () is a town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It is on the Lecale peninsula, about south of Belfast. In the Middle Ages, it was the capital of the Dál Fiatach, the main ruling dynasty of Ulaid. Down Cathedral, Its cathedral is sai ...

, which is approximately 2.5 miles south south-west of Saul, but this is open to debate as the ruins of the original church building are to be found in Raholp. The remains of the church and adjoining lands are protected by law. Tassac was a skilled artisan who made crosiers, patens, chalices, credences, shrines, and crosses for many of the churches founded by Patrick, but is remembered primarily for the fact that he was selected by Patrick to be with him in his last moments and to administer the Holy Viaticum to him. This event is chronicled in " The Martyrology of Donegal"; "Tassach of Raholp gave the Body of Christ to Saint Patrick before his death in the monastery of Saul". Since the 19th century, Tassac has sometimes been confused, with

Assicus Assicus ''(Asicus, Assic)'' was the first bishop of Elphin, Ireland, and venerated as the patron saint of that place. He was also an artisan metalworker. Tradition Assicus was a friend of St. Patrick, and a skilled metal worker in brass and c ...

Elphin Elphin may refer to: Places Canada * Elphin, Ontario, a hamlet in Lanark Highlands, Lanark County Ireland * Elphin, County Roscommon, a small town * Diocese of Elphin, a diocese * Roman Catholic Diocese of Elphin Scotland * Elphin, Highland, ...

County Roscommon County Roscommon () is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is part of the province of Connacht and the Northern and Western Region. It is the List of Irish counties by area, 11th largest Irish county by area and Li ...

, who had the same types of skill and is said to have died in the same year, and with Assam (or Assan).

Prayer to Saint Tassac

''Saint Tassac.'' ''You were one of the first to follow Saint Patrick'' ''and you administered the Holy Viaticum to him at the last.'' ''Please be at my side when it is my turn to leave this earth and help me so that, like you, I will be with Christ forever.'' ''Like Moses' disciples adorning the tabernacle,'' ''you were a skilled artist and craftsman'' ''and are now with Christ.'' ''Please be at my side ensuring that whilst doing my daily chores you'' ''ensure that I will always do as Christ requires from me.''

Raholp

In Raholp and the surrounding area numerous houses are named "Tassac", "Tassac mór" and "Tassac beag". Translated into English from the Irish Gaelic these are "Tassac", "Large (or Big)" Tassac" and "Small (or Little) Tassac".

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tassac Christian clergy from County Down 5th-century Irish Christian clergy 400s births 497 deaths 5th-century Christian saints Medieval saints of Ulster Disciples of Saint Patrick