Iona Abbey

I finally made it!


On the way to Fionnphort


Getting to the Abbey involved a ferry to Mull, a bus down the island to Fionnphort, then another wet and windy ferry ride to Iona. Then a fast 15 minute walk through driving rain to the shelter of the abbey, wishing the monks were there to greet me with a roaring fire! 

Iona Abbey, one of Scotland's most historic and sacred sites, is the birthplace of Scottish Christianity and the Book of Kells.

in the 800s three Colomban monks on Iona produced magnificent, finely illustrated and detailed manuscripts that formed one of the oldest books in the world, the book of Kells. They also made altar vessels and exquisitely carved stones.

To protect it from Viking raids, the original book of Kells was taken to a monastery in Kells in Ireland. 

The Abbey is still used for daily prayer by the Iona community.


Our connection:

Somerled, considered a Celtic hero who fought against the Vikings, tried to persuade the head of the Columbian monastic community to relocate from Ireland to Iona to be within his area of influence. St Oran’s chapel at Iona is believed to have been built by his descendants from the Clan MacDougall.

In 1206, descendants of Somerled invited the Benedictines to establish a community on Iona. Many of the Colombian monks stayed as Benedictines.










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