Iona

Copyright © noel.moore@gmail.com All comments and questions are welcome.

The day was not kind to us! 10 degrees C, gusting winds, and then late in the day the mist rolled in again. We rugged up and soldIered on.

Iona has been described as mystical, inspirational, religious, artistic, and a place of magical forces.

We must add that it is remote, scenic, and instructional.

We landed at Martyrs Bay, so named for the two (or more) occasions that monks were killed here by Viking raiders.

 

A convent for Benedictine nuns was established in about 1208, and flourished until the Reformation when the buildings were demolished. It is said to be one of the best remaining ruins of a medieval nunnery in Europe, and would have required some strong willed and well organised women to survive for so many centuries.

I was taken by the mix of stone colours used in its construction.

The Book of Kells was produced on Iona towards the end of the 8th century, and the island's exemplary high crosses were sculpted and here developed the outer ring that became characteristic of the "Celtic cross".


 

The series of Viking raids on Iona began in 794 and, after its treasures had been plundered many times, Columba's relics were removed and divided two ways between Scotland and Ireland in 849 as the monastery was abandoned. The Book of Kells was taken to Ireland for safe keeping.

The photographs to the left and below are from the small but excellently organised museum next to the cathedral.

 

 

The present Benedictine abbey, Iona Abbey, was built in about 1203. According to tradition it was built upon the monastery founded in 563 by the monk Columba, who had been exiled from his native Ireland with twelve companions. The monastery was hugely successful, and played a crucial role in the conversion to Christianity of the Picts of present-day Scotland in the late 6th century and of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Northumbria in 635. Many satellite institutions were founded, and Iona became the centre of one of the most important monastic systems in Great Britain and Ireland.

Iona Abbey, now an ecumenical church, is of particular historical and religious interest to pilgrims and visitors alike.

 

When we visited Derry, we obtained an additional part of the story! (Photo on left)