COLMAN, SAINT (d. 676), bishop of Lindisfarne (661), was an Irish monk at Iona. He attended the synod of Whitby in 664, when the dispute between the Roman and the Celtic parties on the date of Easter was considered. He upheld the Celtic usages, but King Oswy decided against him. After this event Colman returned to Iona, and then with many of the Columban clergy went to Ireland. He settled on Inishbofin, where he built a monastery and where he died on Aug. 8, 676.
Colman must be distinguished from St. Colman of Cloyne (c. 522-600), an Irish saint, who became a Christian about 57o; and also from another Irishman, St. Colman Ela (5 53-61 o), a kinsman of St. Columba.