Monks and Missionaries |
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| In the Dark Ages Christianity was flourishing a long way away from the Roman Empire, in the Celtic society of Ireland. Christians had come to Ireland from Europe, and had spread the good news about Jesus. Because Ireland was a long way from the rest of Europe the Christian Church there developed its own way of doing things. |
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Celtic Christians loved books and learning and their monasteries produced beautiful writings like the famous "Book of Kells". They also believed in "pilgrimage for the love of God". Monks did not stay all the time in monasteries, and Celtic monks travelled far and wide to spread the Christian faith - even going as far as Iceland and Kiev in Russia. The Celtic Missionary monks lived simple lives and walked everywhere - they said horses separated them from the people they might meet on the way. Their lives of love, goodness and constant prayer impressed people and through them the Christian faith grew in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Northern England. They started monasteries like those at Iona and Lindisfarne. Celtic missionary monks included St Patrick, St David, St Columba, St Aiden and St Kentigern. The Celtic and Roman churches became one at a meeting of Christian leaders held at Whitby in 664 AD. Until this time, Celtic Christians had celebrated Easter on a different day to Christians in the former Roman Empire. |
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The monastery on Iona |