SAINT COLUMBA AND NESSIE
(From Loch Ness in the Highlands of Scotland. First recorded by Adamnan in the Life of Saint Columba sometime in the late 7th Century. The date given for the meeting of St. Columba and Nessie is 565 CE.)

Once upon a time, when Saint Columba was traveling through the country of the Picts, he had to cross the River Ness. When he reached the shore there was a group of people, Picts and Brethren both, burying an unfortunate guy who had been bit by a water-monster. Columba ordered one of his people to swim across the river and get the boat on the other side so that he might cross. On hearing this, Lugneus Mocumin stripped down to his tunic and plunged in to the water. But the monster saw him swimming and charged to the surface to devour poor Lugneus and everyone who was watching was horrified and hid their eyes in terror. Everyone except Columba who raised his holy hand and inscribed the Cross in the empty air. Calling upon the name of God, he commanded the savage beast, saying: "Go no further! Do not touch the man! Go back at once!" The monster drew back as though pulled by ropes and retreated quickly to the depths of the Loch. Lugneus brought the boat back, unharmed and everyone was astonished. And the heathen savages who were present were overcome by the greatness of the miracle which they themselves had seen, and magnified the God of the Christians.

It is thought that Nessie is a mythic symbol for the Picts and the other non-Christians of the area and this story exists to glorify Saint Columba's ability to convert the Picts to Christianity.