Iona Abbey

Today we made a pilgrimage to Iona Abbey, located on the sacred island of Iona, more than a two-hour drive from Tobermory, the main town on the Isle of Mull. It is one of the oldest Christian religious centers in Western Europe and has been regarded as a holy place for nearly 1,500 years.

The production of Christian manuscripts, books, and annals was an important activity of the Iona monastery. The famous illuminated manuscript known as the Book of Kells is believed to have been created by the monks of Iona in the years leading up to 800 AD.

One of the more sobering realities of Iona’s history is that the abbey was repeatedly attacked by Vikings. During a raid in 806 AD, 68 monks were massacred. Yet history has a remarkable way of coming full circle. By the late 10th and early 11th centuries, many Vikings had converted to Christianity, and some of their leaders were later buried on Iona. Also buried here are numerous Scottish kings—tradition says as many as 48—as well as kings from Ireland, Norway, and France.

It was impossible not to feel the layers of history, faith, tragedy, and transformation that have unfolded here over the centuries. Looking out across the barren landscape today, one can easily imagine how vulnerable the abbey was—not only to invaders, but also to the relentless forces of wind, rain, and sea. The solitude and isolation, though peaceful, carried a weight of its own, adding to the profound sense of this sacred place.Read more