Posted on 08/14/2012 4:58:26 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Students and local people have uncovered what are thought to be remains of St Donnan's monastery... St Donnan brought Christianity to many places in the West Highlands in the seventh century before settling on Eigg.
According to local folklore, he became a martyr after he was killed by Norsemen, along with 50 monks, while giving Mass on Easter Sunday in the year 617...
The dig at Kildonnan Graveyard on the south-east side of the island has now uncovered evidence which experts believe shows it is the exact site...
Pictish pottery from the same period was also found in the graveyard.
Emeritus Professor John Hunter, a forensic archaeologist based at the University of Birmingham, has been leading the excavation thanks to his fascination with the story of St Donnan...
"We now know that this part of the island was a special place for worship and burial throughout time, dating back some 4,000 years. Donnan died in 617AD and monasteries of that time had circular or sub-circular walls which separate the world of God on the inside from the world outside. We found remains of a sub-circular enclosure and remains of seventh century activity, which would fit in with Donnan's time. Donnan was fairly anonymous until he was martyred there, and there is a some special folklore there and his story has built itself into folk legend."
...Donnan is said to have gone to Iona first to ask St Columba, a leading figure in evangelising the Picts to Christianity, to be his "annam cara" -- his "soul friend". But St Columba declined, claiming to see "the red cloak of martyrdom around him" and telling Donnan he was destined for sainthood.
(Excerpt) Read more at scotsman.com ...
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| GGG managers are SunkenCiv, StayAt HomeMother & Ernest_at_the_Beach | |
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He was the Eigg man, not the walrus. |
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“While giving mass . . .” Sure he wasn’t ‘pitching’ mass or ‘driving’ mass? I mean these masses just don’t offer themselves.
Something to Mull over ... or Muck about with ...
:’)
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