Iona, the great Columban monastery off Scotland’s west coast, was struck repeatedly in the early Viking Age: a raid is recorded in 795, the monastery was burned in 802, and an attack in 806 killed 68 members of the community. Those shocks became foundational trauma in monastic memory—but they did not simply end Iona overnight. Evidence and scholarship stress continuity: Iona remained active, even after further violence in 825, while the wider Columban “family” reorganized in response to danger a

Iona is a paradise island surrounded by white sandy beaches and turquoise seas. In AD563, Iona became one of the most important gateways to Scottish Christianity, when St Columba and his followers arrived on its shores. Today, there is still a special spiritual quietness to the island, and it’s easy to see why it has been a sanctuary for pilgrims for hundreds of years. Don’t miss a trip to the top of Dùn Ì, where you can search for the mysterious Well of Eternal Youth. In spring and summer, list

20K views · 424 reactions | ISLE OF IONA At the weekend June and I...