St Donan and the Picts illustrated presentation

St. Donan’s Journey into Pictland
Modern Pilgrimages Project
Contemporaries or enemies?
Romans
(AD43 -AD410)
Britons of Strathclyde
(Pre-AD600-AD1000)
Angles of Northumbria
(AD604-AD729 when alliance formed with Picts)
PICTS
(AD300-AD900)
SCOTS (Gaels)
(AD400-present)
Vikings
(AD790-AD1200)
Pre-900/Picts/Pictland
Pre-900/Dal Riata 9Scots/Gaels)/Argyll
10th-13th centuries/Scots(Gaels)/Alba
The Kingdom of Dal Riata 500AD?
Irish Gaelic meaning “Riata’s portion of land”
A Gaelic over kingdom that included parts of western Scotland and northeastern Ulster
in Ireland, across the North Channel. In the late 6th–early 7th century it encompassed
roughly what is now Argyll and Lochaber in Scotland and also County Antrim in Ulster.
These Gaelic migrant monks brought Christianity to Pictland!
St. Columba and the Celtic Church
In 563AD Columba left Ireland when some Irish settlers in Dalriada (now Argyll) were
killed by King Brude of the Picts. Columba and 12 friends travelled by coracle of wicker and
hide and eventually landed at Iona. Iona was called “Innis nan Druinidh” (Islands of
Druids). This is where the first Columban monastery was built.
Columba’s Monastery on Iona (Island of Druids)
“Crithan” meaning a wolf or fox and
“Colum” meaning a dove.
Columba was a priest among his own people – not a missionary.
Monastery life involved daily prayer, farm work, helping the sick, training missionaries,
illuminating manuscripts and welcoming PILGRIMS
Book of Kells c.800AD
Book of Kells (Book of Columba)
Illuminated manuscript gospel in Latin
Four Gospels of the new Testament
Iona?
Northumbria?
East Pictland?
Pilgrimage and Early Christianity
The arrival of a guest or pilgrim was celebrated and everyone was given extra food
(Bread, milk, fish, eggs and probably seal’s flesh – mutton and beef on great occasions)
Prayer of thanksgiving in the church and cleaning of feet
Retreat where the pilgrim’s soul was closer to God
Columba meets the Pictish King Brudei at Inverness
Columba and his monks sailed by coracle,
along the south coast of Mull, passing Lismore
and sailing up Loch Linnhe. Through the Great
Glen of Alban (now Caledonian Canal), Loch
Ness and eventually arriving at
Craig Phadrig Iron Age Fort
Columba uses the sign of the CROSS on two occasions to impress the Pictish King.
Columba is a politician using his Dal Riatan royal connections to impress Brudei and
negotiates an alliance. Columba returns to Iona.
Who was St. Donan?
Unfortunately, the annals of the life of St.
Donnan is lost. According to the martyriology
of Oengus, St. Donnan was the slightly
younger than St. Columba. He may have
been an Irish Pict born c.AD550.
Early in his adult life he travelled from
Ireland to Galloway, near Whithorn. He
first worked among the Picts there and had
no problem understanding their language.
The Pictish language he spoke has long since
been lost!
He devoted the best part of his life to the
Catti, one of the chief Pictish tribes in the
north. He is thought to have entered
Scotland in AD580 with 52 disciples.
In the footsteps of St. Ninian or St. Columba?
St. Ninian, who founded the first Scottish
church at Whithorn, came to Pictland in
AD397 and set up Celtic churches in the
south and north at Caithness, Ross and
Inverness-shire.
It appears that the Whithorn missionaries,
including Ninian and Finnan, inspired St.
Donnan to continue their work of
converting the northern Picts to Christianity.
St. Donnan headed a very large mission into
Scotland which was quite independent of
Iona. (Scott, 1906)
Site of St. Ninian’s Chapel at Niavidale
Ninian was known as the the
“Apostle to the Southern Picts”
The Celtic Church
Celtic Church, name given to the Christian Church
of the British Isles before the mission (597) of St.
Augustine of Canterbury from Rome.
It continued to spread in Scotland by St. Ninian in
the 5th century and St. Patrick in Ireland.
St. Donnan travels to Iona
Columba refuses to be his anamchara and foretells a “red
martyrdom”
It is said that Donan went to visit Columba, asking him to
be his anamchara or soul-friend and that Columba refused.
This may have been because Donan was welcomed by the
Picts while Columba may have had his difficulties with
them.
But another story records
that Columba said: “I will
not be anamchara to one
who will inherit red
martyrdom along with
your people.”
Columba dies in as a
White Martyr.
St. Donnan travels in Pictland?
The pagan Picts accepted the missionaries even
when they did not accept their religion.
Pagan and Christian symbols started to appear side
by side on the great Pictish Symbol Stones.
St. Donan’s Cell in Kildonan
The site of S. Donnan's cell has been
preserved by the Church and burial ground
which still bear his name.
gallows-hill,
The church now known as "St. Donnan's" represents the
other part. It is a small, plain building externally. Internally, it
is made interesting by a tastefully built pulpit, with pews of
the wood of the Caledonian forest. The auger holes which
were bored through the original logs in order to lash them
together when they were floated down the Spey still appear
in the ill-dressed planks and boarding worked into the
church.
It is in a beautiful nook made by the
meeting of the Alt Cill-Donnain with the
river Ulligh.
St. Donan’s Muinntir
The head-quarters of S. Donnan's "Family" were at Suisgill
in Kildonan. The name of this place is a Norse
modification of a Celtic name. The old natives speaking of
it in English call it “the College.“ The name of the ancient
Norse settlement facing it is Learable.
Three names on the present lands of Suisgill point back
distinctly to St. Donnan's muinntir.
"Cnoc-an-Eiranach" means “Hill of the Irishman.
"Ach-an-Ernin" is St. Ernin's - one of S. Donnan's
disciples.
Near the present house of Suisgill there is an outcrop of
rock called "the Crois," on a smooth face of which a
cross of distinctly primitive Celtic type was rudely cut.
The wood surrounding this rock is called "Coille CilleMarie."St. Mairie was also a member of S. Donnan's
muinntir.
St. Donnan’s Chair in Kildonan
Baddie Wood, Kildonan
The Suidhe Donnain or "Cathair Donnain“
It was originally a large detached piece of
rock with a big cavity on the upper side.
By this stone St. Donnan rested when he
passed to and fro in the strath. When the
Ulligh was in flood and the people could
not come to his cell, he went to the Suidhe
Donnain and preached to them gathered
on the opposite bank.
The stone remained nearly entire until
about the year 1839. Sometime later,
owing to the disintegrating action of many
sever winters, the rock fell into pieces, and
it has been further dilapidated by workmen
looking for building materials.
Clach-na-h-Uaighe - Stone of the Grave
A large rough standing-stone called
Clach-na-h-Uaighe - stone of the
grave stands near Kildonan Church.
In the stone, a Cross of very
primitive Irish type is rudely incised.
Extract from Sutherland Charter, 1566
Place names associated with St. Donnan
Places bearing his name
•Eilean Donnáin, Loch Alsh
•Kildonan, Isle of Arran
•Kildonnan, Eigg
•Kildonan, Sutherland
•Kildonnan, Kilpheder Parish, South Uist
•Kildonnan, Little Loch Broom, Wester Ross
•Kildonnen, Lynedate, Loch Snizort, Skye
•Seipeil Dhonnáin, Kishorn
•St. Donnan's Chapel, Little Bernera, Lewis
•Saint-Donan, Brittany, France
•East Kildonan, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
•Eilean Donan
At least eleven Scottish churches are named for Saint Donnán.
St. Donnan travels to Eigg
Eigg is one of the small isles in the Scottish Inner Hebrides
St. Donnan Monastery on Eigg
Donan eventually formed his community on
the small island of Eigg, with the monastic
buildings on the side facing Arisaig.
It had become a large community by the
date of the massacre-fifty-two is the
number of monks given in the record,
although for some unknown reason only
fifty names are listed.
It has been suggested that the monks are
fictional but Dr Scott was sure he had traced
local place-names deriving from them.
St. Donnan is the
patron saint of Eigg
St. Donan's Followers
"Donnani Egha cum sociis ejus LII; hi sunt Aedani, Tarloga, Mairie, Congaile, Lonain, MacLasre, Iohain, Ernain, Ernini, Baethini, Rotain,
Andrlog, Carillog, Rotain, Fergusain, Rectaire, Connidi, Endae, MacLoga, Guretii, Iuncti,
Corani, Baetani, Colmain, Ternlugi, Lugedo, Luctai, Gracind, Cucalini, Cobrain, Conmind,
Cummini, Baltiani, Senaig, Demmain, Cummeni, Tarlugi, Finani, Findchain, Findchon,
Cronani, Modomma, Cronain, Ciarian, Colmain, Naummi, Demmani, Ernini, Ailchon,
Domnani."
Entry concerning St. Donnan and his Companions in the Martyrology of Tallagh AD720
St. Donan’s Martyrdom
The story of St. Donan’s martyrdom is linked to a
raid by pirates or perhaps Viking raiders on his
monastery on the island of Eigg during the Easter
Vigil where Donan was the chief celebrant.
It is possible that the raid was instigated by a
woman (like Frakkok of Modden) of some
importance who was angry that the monks kept
sheep on the island and perhaps deprived her of
her pasture rights.
The Martyrology of Donegal, compiled by Michael O'Clery in the
17th century, records the manner of his death:
"Donnan, of Ega, Abbott. Ega [Eigg] is the name of an island in
which he was, after his coming from Erin [Ireland]. And there
came robbers of the sea on a certain time to the island when he
was celebrating mass. He requested of them not to kill him until
he should have the mass said, and they gave him this respite; and
he was afterwards beheaded and fifty-two of his monks along
with him. And all their names are in a certain old book of the old
books of Erin, A.D.616."[3]
e raiders seemed to know in advance when all the
community would be gathered together.
They allowed Donan to complete the liturgy
before herding him and all his fifty two monks into
the refectory and setting it on fire.
The massacre is recorded in the Martyrology of
Tallaght, the Martyrology of Donegal,
the Martyrology of Gorman and the Féilire of
Oengus.
St. Donnan’s Death
Beyond all doubt S. Donnan perished in his
Church at Eigg, on the 17th April, 617
A.D. Tradition says that the day was being
observed as Easter Sunday, which is quite
possible when we remember the Celtic
usage.
"With the festival of Peter the
Deacon,
To glorious martyrdom ascended
With his clerics of pure
lives Donnan of cold Eigg."
St. Donan's Feastday is 17 April
Kildonan Church, Eigg (16th century)
The current church is believed to have been built by John of Moidart (Eoin Muirdeartach),
who died in 1584. It occupies the site of St. Donnan’s 7th century monastery. During recent
excavation work Pictish pottery was found in the enclosure which together with the oval
form helps to date the settlement to the 7th century.
St. Donan’s Churches
Kildonan in Colmonell
Kildonan in Carrick
Kildonan in Arran
Kildonan in Kintyre
Kildonan on Loch-Garry
Parish of Kildonan, Sutherland
Kildonan, Little Loch Broom
Eilan-Donnain, Kintail
S. Donnan's, Uig
Kildonan in South Uist
Kildonan in Eigg
Also in Kildonan Parish:
St. Irene at Kilearnan
St. Peter at kilphedir
St. Rect at Kilrest
St. Martha at Kilmuir
After Nynia, St. Donnan may justly be considered
the greatest apostle to the Northern Picts. Not to
mention the churches which he planted between
Galloway and the Garry, nor the churches of his
disciples, he himself planted churches from the
Garry to the Pentland Firth, and from the North
Sea to the Atlantic.
(Scott,1906)
Kildonan Dun, Kintyre
Church or Sacred Place
Cill-Donnain.
Cill-Ernain.
Coille Cille Maire.
S. John's.
S. John's Well.
Cill-Rect.
Navidale.
Ach-an-Ernin. (S. Ernin's)
Cill-Ian.
S. Calyne's (Aloyne's).
S. Callen's.
S. Murie's.
S. Devinie's.
Cill-Maillie.
Ach-an-Ernin.
S. Curetin's (Curdan).
Kilmote.
S. Colman's.
Locality
Kildonan Church.
Kilernain, Kildonan.
Suisgill.
Helmsdale.
Helmsdale.
Navidale.
Navidale.
Suisgill.
Parish of Clyne.
Clyne Church.
Rogart Church.
Lairg Church.
Creich Church.
Ancient Church of Golspie.
Clyne.
Loth Church.
Loth.
Reay Church.
Name in Tallagh List
Donnan.
Ernain.
Mairie.
Iohain.
Iohain.
Rectaire.
Naummi (Navi).
Ernin
Iohain (Ian).
Cucalini.
Cucalini.
Mairie.
Demmain (Devain).
Macloga.
Ernin.
Guretii.
Modomma.
Colmain.
S. Ciaran's.
S. Fergus's.
S. Fergus's.
Strathmore.
Halkirk.
Wick.
Ciarian.
Fergusian.
Fergusian.
Seipeil-Donnain.
Eilean-Donnain.
Cill-Donnain.
Tobar ma Cholmag.
S. Aedan's Well.
Killearnan.
Balconie.
Killen.
Courthill Loch Carron.
Kintail.
Little Loch Broom.
Portmahomack.
Fearn.
Parish Church.
Kiltearn.
Avoch.
Donnan.
Donnan.
Donnan.
Colmain.
Aedani.
Ernain.
Connidi (Kenneth).
Lonain.
Cill-Tarlogain.
Kintarlity Church (Keltalargyn
1279)
Tarloga or Tarlugi.
Fordyce Church.
Tarloga or Tarlugi.
S. Talorgain's (Talricain).