|
|
Brief History of Iona through the invasions of the Danes Recovery in the thirteenth century: Benedictine Abbey From the Reformation to the Modern Community IntroductionThe name "Iona" has an uncertain origin, but it is derived in part, from the name of its most famous inhabitant, St. Columba. In Gaelic, the name of the island is I Chaluim Cille, meaning the "I of Colum cille (Columba's Latin name, which means "dove of the church"). The name "I" refers to the Celtic word for yew tree, which were common on the island. Columba's biographer Admoman referred the island as the Ioua insula (Latin for yewy island). Iona comes from a medieval misreading of Ioua. This mistake, however, was a natural one to make as it is the Hebrew word for dove, which refers to the Latin name for Columba.
Iona was an important center for pilgrimage in the Middle Ages and is still today, as one can see from the photo above. As you take a virtual pilgrimage to Iona here, it it is my hope that you too can feel the sacred nature of this island and be captivated by its spirituality.
Iona has always had a sense of mystery and sanctity about it. According to legend, many Lords of the Isles, forty-eight Scottish kings, eight Norweigian kings, and four Irish kings were buried here in the Relig Odhrain. An unsubstantiated tradition also holds that Duncan and Macbeth, who were immortalized by Shakespeare, are buried here. Iona was also an important center of Celtic Christianity and monasticism in the the Middle Ages. Celtic monks from Iona were instrumental in the conversion of the Scots and, after their arrival on Lindisfarne, of the Northumbrians. Continue to the next page: Brief History of Iona through the invasions of the Danes Return to the Index of Celtic Monasticism: History and Spirituality
To return to the medieval monasticim home page, click here. To return to the virtual tours page, click here. To return to Dr. Vess's home page, click here.
|
Pilgrimage group walking through the Machair
on one of the weekly Wednesday pilgrimages led by the Iona community.
Pilgrims make an arduous six-hour trek to many of the sites you will
see here. 
The
Relig Odhrain, the hill where ancient and mythical kings are believed
to be buried.
