Iona

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Alternative uses: see Iona (disambiguation).

Image:Iona Village from seawards.jpg Iona is a small island, in the Inner Hebrides, Scotland. Iona has an important place in the history of Christianity in Scotland and is popular for its tranquility and natural beauty. Its Gaelic name is Ì Chaluim Cille (Saint Columba's Island), or sometimes just Ì or Idhe.

1 Geography
2 History
3 Iona Abbey
4 Iona Community
5 Other Information
6 See also
7 External links
8 References

[edit] Geography

Iona lies approximately one mile (1.6 km) from the coast of Mull. The island is 1 mile wide (1.6 km) and 3.5 miles (5.6 km) long with a resident population of 125.<ref name=census>Scotland Census 2001 - anaylser</ref>

Iona's highest point is Dun I (101 m), an Iron Age hill fort dating from 100BC-AD200. Its geographical features include the Bay at the Back of the Ocean and Carn cul ri Eirinn (the Hill with His Back to Ireland), said to be adjacent to the beach where Saint Columba first landed.

[edit] History

In 563 Saint Columba, exiled from his native Ireland, founded a monastery here with 12 companions. From here they set about the conversion of pagan Scotland and much of northern England to Christianity. Iona's fame as a place of learning and Christian mission spread throughout Europe and it became a major site of pilgrimage. Iona became a holy island where several kings of Scotland, Ireland and Norway came to be buried.

Many believe that the Book of Kells was produced, in whole or in part, on Iona towards the end of the 8th century. A series of Viking raids on the monastery 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.<ref name=bbc>BBC - Iona - A Beacon of Light Through the Dark Ages</ref> A convent for the Order of Benedictine Nuns was established in 1203, with Beathag, daughter of Somerled, as first prioress. The present Benedictine abbey was built in the same period. The monastery itself flourished until the Reformation when buildings were demolished and all but three of the 360 carved crosses destroyed.<ref>Travel Scotland</ref>

[edit] Iona Abbey

Main article: Iona Abbey

Image:St-martins-cross.jpg

Ninth century St Martin's Cross

Iona Abbey, now an ecumenical church, is of particular historical and religious interest to pilgrims and visitors alike. It is the most elaborate and best-preserved ecclesiastical building surviving from the Middle Ages in the Western Isles of Scotland. In front of the Abbey stands the 9th century St Martin's Cross, one of the best-preserved Celtic crosses in the British Isles, and a replica of the 8th century St John's Cross (original fragments in the Abbey museum).

The ancient burial ground, called the Reilig Odhráin, contains the 12th century chapel of St Odhrán (said to be Columba's uncle), restored at the same time as the Abbey itself. It contains a number of medieval grave monuments. The abbey graveyard contains the graves of many early kings of Scotland, as well as kings from Ireland, Norway and France. Iona became the burial site for the kings of Dál Riata and their successors. Notable burials there include:

In 1549 an inventory of 48 Scottish, 8 Norwegian and 4 Irish kings was recorded. None of these graves are now identifiable (their inscriptions were reported to have worn away at the end of the 17th century).

The graveyard is also the final resting place of John Smith, the former Labour Party leader, who loved Iona. His grave is marked with the epitaph: "An honest man's the noblest work of God".<ref name=rowe>Independent 4 June 2006 Walk Of The Month: The island of Iona</ref>

Other early Christian and medieval monuments have been removed for preservation to the cloister arcade of the Abbey, and the Abbey museum (in the medieval infirmary).

The ancient buildings of Iona Abbey are now cared for by Historic Scotland (entrance charge).

[edit] Iona Community

Main article: Iona Community

In 1938 George MacLeod founded the Iona Community, an ecumenical Christian community of men and women from different walks of life and different traditions in the Christian church committed to seeking new ways of living the gospel of Jesus in today's world. This community is a leading force in the present Celtic Christianity revival.

The Iona Community runs 3 residential centres on the Isle of Iona and on Mull. These are places of welcome and engagement giving a unique opportunity to live together in community with people of every background from all over the world. Weeks at the centres often follow a programme related to the concerns of the Iona Community.

[edit] Other Information

Visitors can reach Iona by the 10-minute ferry trip across the Sound of Iona from Fionnphort on Mull.

There are very few cars on the island, as they are tightly regulated and access with vehicles is not allowed for non-residents, who have to leave their car in Fionnphort. The island is small enough that one generally doesn't need a car. A horse-drawn carriage can be hired at the pier. Bike hire is available at the pier, and on Mull.

Iona Nunnery is a site of beautiful 12th-13th century ruins of the church and cloister, and a colourful and peaceful garden. Unlike the rest of the Abbey buildings, the nunnery has not been restored and is the most complete survival of a medieval nunnery in Scotland.

Iona is home to the Monastery Of Sound, a club night in the Iona Village Hall, which is held every Friday from June until September. The Monastery Of Sound also sponsers the Iona Beach Party, which is held in Mid-July and is now in its third year.

[edit] See also

Clann-an-oistir

[edit] External links

Image:Commons-logo.svg	Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Iona

Isle of Iona, Scotland (produced on behalf of the Iona Community Council)
The Iona Community
Computer-generated virtual panorama Summit of Iona Index
Map sources for Iona

[edit] References

Islands of the Hebrides
Inner Hebrides
Ascrib Islands \| Canna \| Cara \| Coll \| Colonsay \| Crowlin Islands \| Easdale \| Eigg \| Gigha \| Iona \| Isay \| Islay \| Jura \| Kerrera \| Lismore \| Luing \| Lunga \| Oronsay \| Muck \| Mull \| Raasay \| Rùm \| Seil \| Shuna \| Skye \| Soay \| Staffa \| Summer Isles \|Tiree
Outer Hebrides
Barra (Isles) \| Benbecula \| Berneray \| Eriskay \| Flannan Isles \| Great Bernera \| Harris and Lewis \| North Uist \| Rockall \| Scalpay \| South Uist \| St Kilda