Bonifacius Queretinius

Bonifacius Queretinius (called also AIbanus Kiritinus) has his history inextricably entangled with fable. According to the legend, he was the pope of that name, of Jewish stock, descended from a sister of St. Peter and St. Andrew, and born at Bethsaida. He was ordained priest by John, patriarch of Jerusalem, in his thirty-sixth year, and four years after went to Rome, where he occupied the chair more than seven years. With a large retinue he entered Pictland, and founded churches at Invergowrie and Restnoth, Forfarshire. He baptized king Nectan and court, and, after evangelizing and building churches among the South Picts, retired to Ross-shire, and built a church at Rosemarkie, dedicating it to St. Peter. Here he died at the age of eighty and upwards. A closer determination appears to be beyond our reach than to say that he was an Italian who, in the beginning of the 7th century, came to Scotland to induce the Scottish Church to conform with Roman customs. For list of authorities see Smith, Dict. of Christ. Biog. s.v.