Who was St Drostan?

It is believed that Drostan was of royal descent but was entrusted to St Columba (some sources believe he was his uncle).  Columba educated and trained Drostan and eventually the pair travelled across Scotland to Aberdour on the north coast of Aberdeenshire.  The Pictish ruler of Buchan gave land at Deer for the monks to settle and they formed a monastery between 563 and 597AD.

When Columba returned to Iona, it was Drostan who remained as Abbot.  Drostan was well known for his preaching and several healing miracles have been credited to him, including restoring the sight of a blind priest called Symon.