View from Dun-I
A view of Iona Abbey and Baile Mòr, looking southeast from the Iron Age hill fort of Dun-I, at 331 feet, the isle’s highest point.
View ArticleAdomnán Obtained This Law of God
After fourteen years Adomnán obtained this Law of God, and this is the cause. On Pentecost Eve, a holy angel of the Lord came to him, and again at Pentecost after a year, and seized a staff, and struck...
View ArticleFionnphort Quarry Across to Eilean Earraid
Fionnphort from the old granite quarry, a view to the south and the tidal island of Erraid, a location featured in Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel “Kidnapped” (Chapter XIV).
View ArticleA Beacon of the True Faith
By Thy God-inspired life thou didst embody both the mission end the dispersion of the Church, most glorious Father Colum Cille. Using thy repentence and voluntary exile, Christ our God raised thee up...
View ArticleI Mo Chridhe, I Mo Ghràidh
Stained glass window in Iona Abbey depicting St. Columba. Iona of my heart, Iona of my love, Instead of monks’ voices Shall be the lowing of cattle; But ere the world come to an end, Iona shall be as...
View ArticleThe Brightest Gem in the Spiritual Crown of Rome
The ignorance or supineness which characterises so many English writers on Celtic history is to be found even among Highland and Irish clerics and others who have not taken the trouble to study or...
View ArticleLacrimæ Sancti Columbæ
My collection of polished Iona greenstone. The smaller examples are known as St. Columba’s Tears. A small geological outcrop at the south end of the isle of Iona is the source of a rare stone known...
View ArticleRubha na Carraig-gèire
In this Iland is marble enough, whereof the late Earle of Argyle caused polish a piece at London abundantly beautifull. In a particular place of the Island, neer the sea ebbing and flowing thereinto,...
View ArticleThe Maist Honorable and Ancient Place in Scotland
Colmkill. Narrest this be twa myles of sea, layes the ile the Erische callit I-colm-Kill, that is, Sanct Colm’s ile, ane faire mayne ile of twa myle lange and maire, and ane myle braid, fertill, and...
View ArticleWith All the Display Which the Parties Could Make
The Highlanders had no feasts nor rejoicings at a birth, but a funeral was conducted with all the display which the parties could make. All the clan, and numerous neighbors, were invited and...
View ArticleFertill, Fruitfull, and Full of Natural Grassing
Kildalton Cross, a monolithic high cross in Celtic cross form, in the churchyard of the former parish church of Kildalton (from Scottish Gaelic Cill Daltain, “Church of the Foster Son” (i.e. St John...
View ArticleIn the Mansions of Bliss
Saint Columba, MS Rawlinson B. 514, 16th century. Bodleian Library, University of Oxford. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mercy upon us. Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, hear us. Christ,...
View ArticleCollectio Canonum Hibernensis
Folio 15v of Codex 210 of the library of the Domkapitel of Cologne, an except of the Collectio Canonum Hibernensis, a systematic Latin collection of Continental canon law, scriptural and patristic...
View ArticleAll Affrighted and Adrad
Sound of Iona. Another time when Columcille was in lona, holy Baithin set out for that foresaid isle. Columcille warned him that in the middle of the night tofore a terrible beast had come into the...
View ArticleNext after Colum Cille Himself
Iona Abbey. 9. F. QUINTO IDUS IUNII. BAOITHIN, abbot of I-Coluim-Cille, next after Colum Cille himself; and Tech Baoithin in Cinel Conaill was his chief church, for he was of the race of Conall Gulban....
View ArticleNigg Stone Restored
In April of 2013, restoration work on the Nigg Stone, an incomplete Class II Pictish cross-slab, perhaps dating to the end of the 8th century, was completed in Edinburgh, and the stone returned to...
View ArticleVitreus Codex
OF THE ANGEL OF THE LORD WHO APPEARED VISIBLY TO ST. COLUMBA WHILE STAYING IN HINBA ISLAND, WHEN SENT TO ORDAIN AEDHAN TO BE KING. At another time, while the famous man was staying in Hinba island†,...
View ArticleBack Turned to Ireland
Delightful would it be to me to be in Uchd Ailiun On the pinnacle of a rock, That I might often see The face of the ocean; That I might see its heaving waves Over the wide ocean, When they chant music...
View ArticleLike An Unsullied Sun
Replica of St. John’s Cross, by the door of Iona Abbey. Now when Colomb Cille came to his ending, and when the bell for nocturn was struck on the night of Pentecost Sunday, he went before the rest to...
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