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History Series: Saint Kilian Traditional Cache

Hidden : 12/28/2007
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Quick, Easy, and Kid Friendly Cache. Stealth is required.

Over the years we have been asked about the name Kilian. If you believe that Kilian is just the name of a beer, you are really missing out on a lot of history. It is in actuality a Gaelic name meaning War or strife or bright-headed, and the name of a Saint revered in Northern Bavaria in Germany.

Saint Kilian, Apostle of Franconia (Northern Bavaria) and martyr, born about 640 AD of noble parents probably in Ireland and died 8 July, probably in 689 AD. He was distinguished from his youth for his piety and love of study and embraced the monastic life. In accordance with the custom then prevailing in the Irish Church, he was assigned to no particular diocese, but was district bishop or travelling bishop. One day he made up his mind to be a missionary, left his native country with eleven companions, travelled through Gaul, then across the Rhine, and finally reached the castle of Würzburg, inhabited by the Thuringian (Frankish) Duke Gozbert, who was, like his people, still pagan. Kilian resolved to preach the Gospel here, but first journeyed with his companions to Rome to receive missionary faculties from the pope. We learn that the arrival of St. Kilian and his companions at Würzburg and the journey to Rome occurred in the summer of 686, that they arrived in the latter city in the late autumn, and that their labors at Würzburg continued during 687 and the following years. The original group separated on the return journey: some departing to seek other fields of missionary work, while St. Kilian with two companions, the priest Coloman and the deacon Totnan, came back to Würzburg. He took this town as the base of his activity, which extended over an ever-increasing area in East Franconia and Thuringia, and converted Duke Gozbert with a large part of his subjects to Christianity. After Duke Gozbert had become a Christian, Kilian explained to him that his marriage with Geilana, his brother's widow, was unlawful under the Christian dispensation, and secured the duke's promise to separate from her. In consequence of this action, Geilana plotted vengeance against Kilian, and caused him and his two companions to be secretly killed in the absence of the duke, their bodies being immediately buried at the scene of the crime together with their sacred vessels, vestments, and holy writings. This is generally held to have happened on 8 July, 689, although opinions vary as to the exact year. The early documents relate further that, after the duke's return, Geilana at first denied any knowledge of what had become of the missionaries; she, however, went mad, confessed the crime, and died miserably. Although Kilian's work was not continued after his death, Saint Boniface on his arrival in Thuringia found at least evidence of his predecessor's influence.

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Please be careful when replacing the container: the original container was punctured because someone was not careful!

CONGRATS to Vante & Sammy Pants for FTF!

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Vg vf abg qbja ng gur perrx yriry.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)