A 5th-century Irish hermit became the only man brave enough to honor Saint Patrick
When a pagan king forbade the lighting of fires across Ireland, a lone hermit named Erc defied the royal decree to help Saint Patrick usher in a new era of faith.
In the 5th century, King Laoghaire ordered all fires extinguished until his own great bonfire was lit at Tara. Defying the king, Saint Patrick lit a paschal fire on the Hill of Slane to celebrate Easter. Only one man in the king's court, a judge named Erc, had the courage to stand and honor the saint as he approached.
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