Inhabited island: an Irish monastery away from the hustle and bustle of the world

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

Among the proverbs collected by V. Dahl, there is one that reflects the full depth of religious feeling: "God is not in logs, but in ribs." A vivid example of a real ascetic existence - monastery located on Skellig Michael Island 15 km off the coast of Ireland. There are no "logs" and the usual church luxury - only stone cells in which Christian monks lived far from the bustle of the world.

The monastery has a rich history: it was built at the end of the 6th century. n. NS. and for six centuries remained the center of the religious life of Irish Christian monks. During its existence, the monastery withstood a number of Viking raids, but this did not break the spirit of the local residents.

The community of the monastery has never been large, on average 12 monks and 1 abbot lived here. The cells were built high above the sheer cliff and resembled "hives" in their shape. Around the 12th century, the settlers were forced to leave Skellig Michael Island, as climatic conditions deteriorated sharply, severe storms made life in the monastery almost impossible.

Despite the fact that the permanent residents left the monastery, it remained a cult place for pilgrims. In addition, young people came here wishing to hold a wedding ceremony during Lent. It was forbidden on the mainland, but there was no such ban on the island. In the 19th century, two lighthouses were built near the island, and “temporary” residents - teams of caretakers - reappeared on Skellig Michael. One of the lighthouses, automated in the 1980s, is still in operation today!

In 1986, work was carried out on the island to reconstruct the monastery, and tourist excursions were organized here. Due to the fact that the island is removed from the "civilization", the monastery is perfectly preserved. Given the exceptional cultural significance of Skellig Michael Island, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

The monastery on Skellig Michael Island amazes with its isolation from the outside world, isolation, its complete opposites - the Yarchen monastery in the Chinese province of Sichuan, where 10,000 monks live, and the temple of ten thousand Buddhas in Hong Kong.