A CELTIC APPROACH TO REACHING ORAL LEARNERS: THE IONA COMMUNITY CA. 600-800Ed Smither, Columbia International University

COLUMBA (521-597)There came from Ireland to Britain a priest and abbot named Columba, a true monk in life no less than habit; he came to Britain to preach the word of God to the kingdoms of the northern Picts . . . Columba came to Britain when Bridius [Brute] . . . a most powerful king, had been ruling over them for over eight years. Columba turned them to the faith of Christ by his words and example and so received the island of Iona from them in order to establish a monastery there (Bede, Ecclesiastical History, 3.4).

Map from: Moreau, Corwin, McGee, Introducing World Missions, 105

Map from: http://www.caingram.info/Scotland/Pic_htm/scotland_map.htm

Map from: http://encarta.msn.com/map_701513349/Iona.html

View of Iona from today’s ferry (photo: Ed Smither)

Original site of Columba’s monastery. This structure is a Benedictine abbey built in the 12th century and refurbished in the mid-20th (photo: Ed Smither)

This small chapel is believed to be where Columba is buried. The Celtic cross is a reconstruction of one of the original crosses on the island (photo: Ed Smither).

St. Martin’s cross. This is the original cross though the top beams are broken off. On close examination, several Bible stories and figures are depicted (photo: Ed Smither)

Page from the Book of Kells depicting a very Pictish looking Jesus (all images from www.snake.net).

Page from the Book of Kells showing the Pictish stone art images put to use in book art (snake.net)

Latin text in the Book of Kells (snake.net).