christianity and identity in ireland 1: early christian ireland

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Christianity and Identity in Ireland: how faith has made us who we are … a prayerful journey through this island’s story

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Page 1: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Christianity and Identity in Ireland:

how faith has made us who we are

… a prayerful journey through this island’s story

Page 2: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

HISTORY?• It’s just one thing after another!!

1. History is telling stories about the past• A science: what really happened?• More than one story (narrative plurality)• No “authorative” story • As we tell “our” story we have to be sensitive to the fact there

are many other stories going on (narrative hospitality)

2. What story should we tell?• We are the Church• What is our responsibility to this island? What sort of future

would we like to have?

3. Thinking historically is like travelling to a foreign country

• No context = pretext (remember Ben Franklin!)• There is always a bigger story

Page 3: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Week 1: Early Christian Ireland

A.D. 431-795“To the Irish believing in Christ,

Palladius having been ordained by Pope Celestine, is sent as first Bishop.”

(Ad Scottos in Christum credentes a papa Caelestino Palladius primus episcopus mittitur.)

- Chronicle of Prosper of Aquitaine

Page 4: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Four questions:

•Who were the “Scotti” (Irish)?•How had some of them come to believe in Christ?

•Why was Palladius sent to them?

•How does St. Patrick fit into the story?

Page 5: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

1. Who were the “Scotti”?

Geography: • forest, bog and

rock.• Wolves and wild

boar• “Ultima Thule”First

Inhabitants?

Map of Ireland based upon Ptolomy’s Coordiantes. Ptolomy lived in Egypt c. 90-150

Page 6: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

1. Who were the “Scotti”?

“The first that landed upon this island were three Spanish fishermen drove upon the coast by a storm.”

“Note: this landing of the fishermen is deemed fabulous.”

The Book of Invasions (Lebor Gabála Érenn) c. 11th century

Page 7: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

1. Who were the “Scotti”?

Geography: • forest, bog and rock.• Wolves and wild boar• “Ultima Thule”First Inhabitants:

Map of Ireland based upon Ptolomy’s Coordiantes. Ptolomy lived in Egypt c. 90-150

•We know nothing about the culture, hopes desires, society of the “pre Celts”•They have left mysterious structures

Page 8: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Dating back to c. 3200 BC Newgrange mound and passage tomb in Co. Meath is the oldest astronomical structured in the World.

Page 9: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

The Celtic Invasions c. 800-100 B.C.

“The Dying Gaul” Roman copy of Greek Statue, c. 230-220 BC

Page 10: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

British Isles, mid 5th century

Pictish

Gaedollic

Brythonic(also Brittany and Iberia)

Page 11: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Celtic Society• “Tribal, Hierarchical,

Familiar” (D. A. Binchy)• Semi-nomadic• Illiterate• Complex literary and legal

culture• Ring forts, crannògs, raths• No towns (civitae)• Cattle important as staple

food and currency • Pagan Religion

Page 12: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

The Structure of Celtic Society• Not Feudal!

• 180 Túatha (petty kingdoms)• 4 generation derbfine – identity was bound up

with membership of the kin group• Hierarchy: King (Ri), Poets (Filid), Lawyers

(Brehons)• Clienstship• Tannistry (rule didn’t pass from father to son)• Fosterage• Cultural unity – political disunity• Not a nation! A Celtic World

Page 13: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

2. How had they come to be “believing in Christ”?

• Edict of Milan, A.D. 313• Yet: Roman forces never

stepped foot in Ireland• Outside the scope of the

Pax Romana (Hadrian’s Wall)

• Trading? especially in south-east (silver hoardes, Emperors Valens [365-78] and Honorius [395-423])

• Ogham Stones?• Big Picture: Collapse of

the Empire; Celtic Pirates (Civitas Dei)

“I was taken into captivity in Ireland with many thousands of people” (Patrick, Confessio)

Page 14: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

3. Why was Palladius sent to them?

• We know very little about what he did beyond being “consecrated as first bishop”

• To the “many thousands”?

• A specialist in dealing with heresy

• Patrick’s mission started in A.D. 432, confusion of identities

• 8th century, “cult of Patrick” (smear campaign)

Page 15: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Where does St. Patrick fit into all this?

The Patrick of legend…• What “facts” do you know about

Patrick?• Myths, but important myths!!

(the Vitae (lives) of Tierchan and Mierchu)

The Patrick of history…• Two surviving documents –

Confessio and Letter to Coroticus• Born c. 395• Roman citizen from Bannavem

Taburniae (Carlisle?)• Father and grandfather served

church• Taken by Irish pirates at age 16

Page 16: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

• 6 years tending flock as a slave; Spiritual awakening

• Escapes to Gaul (France) on a boat

• Welcomed home with much rejoicing

• Couldn’t settle for the privileged villa lifestyle

• In a dream hears the “vox hiberniae” (voice of the Irish)

• Returns to France for education

Page 17: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

• Consecrated as bishop in 432

• Greatest success in Ulster• Perhaps first goal, like

Palladius was to reach Christian Britons who had been abducted into slavery like him

• Many thousand “Scoti” come to faith through his ministry

• Opposes the slaughter of Irish by Romans

• Stands up for woman• Speaks against slavery• Dies 461• A passionate evangelistic

spirit• A thorough-bread Roman,

entirely “orthodox” Page from Patrick’s Confessio

Page 18: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

The Churches of St. Patrick

• Episcopal; territorial, oversight by bishops

• Any possible problems with this?

• Separatist (the early canons)

• Not “culturally” Celtic, Roman/Latin in character!

• Coenobitic monasticism (hermits) – why there are “deserts” in Ireland!

The traditional site of Patrick’s burial, Downpatrick

Page 19: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

The Emergence of Irish Monasticism• Church in a little over 100 years would

look totally different• Chaos in Europe, lines of

communication broke, Christianity nearly dies out in Britain

• Political turbulence in Ireland – rise of the Uí Néills, colonisation of Ayrshire by Dál riAta (“Scot”land), colonisation of Wales

• Reasonable to presume decline of Patrician churches

• Yet: new evangelistic movement sweeps through the Celtic world: monasticism

• Between 5th-12thC. Over 600 monastic settlements built!

• “The Irish church was almost exclusively monastic.” (Gougaud)

• Spiritually vibrant and culturally relevant

Skellig Michael, Co. Kerry

Page 20: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Early Irish MonasteriesStarted by

charismatic leaders:

• Columcille – Derry• Comgall – Bangor• Finnian – Clonard• Bridget – Kildare• Kevin – Glendalough

Page 21: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Life in an Irish Monastery

• Early Monastic sites based on the local tradition of ring forts.

• Inside fort was a small church, cells the monks lived in, guest house, refectory, high cross.

• Buildings were made of timber or wattle and daub though stone buildings in the West (e.g. Skellig Michael)

• Life of Prayer (contemplation) and Confession• studyied the Bible and various literature (e.g.

philosophy)• Taught illiterate people• Copied sacred manuscripts • Bookmaking, Irish manuscripts highly prized on

continent

Page 22: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

The difference between Irish Monasticism and the Churches of St.

Patrick • Abbot has authority, not bishop• Not restricted by territorial boundaries• Expansionist, mother house/satellite houses• Appearance of monks (Irish tonsure)• Private confession, penance• Dating of Easter: not innovation, archaism! (Synod of Whitby, 664)• Reading the Bible – “historio-critical” not “allegorical”

Spirituality of Irish Monasticism: • naturalism? (John Ryan) • Charismatic (Brendan Bradhsaw) -remember the Patrick of Tierchan and

Mierchu! – reminiscent of the Book of Acts• thought themselves totally orthodox, loyal to Rome!!

• Not “a dark age hippy colony inhabited by gentle gurus doing their own Christian thing far removed from the stultifying influence of sub-Roman bishops and their dioceses” (A. P. Smyth)

Page 23: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

White Martyrdom• Most famous: Kevin of

Glendalough, died c. 618• Choosing exile from the

protection of the Kin group was a renouncement of identity and a form of martyrdom

• Strict discipline (nettle bath, naked in ocean)

• highly valued the Bible, especially the Gospels

• Coenobitic monasticism didn’t prevail; communal lifestyles emerged

Page 24: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Green Martyrdom, the “Peregrinito”Columcille c. 521-597

• From a prominent branch of the Ui Neill’s• Trained at Clonard• In 563 left Derry for Scotland with 12

companions• Granted land at Iona• Launches evangelising mission to the

Picts• Part of Ui Neill expansion? Columbanus c. 540-615 • Schooled in Fermanagh, a promising

scholar• Spends many years with Comgall in

Bangor• Set out as a missionary-pilgrim to the

Continent, formed many monasteries, most fmaously Luxeil (France) and Bobbio (Italy)

Page 25: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland
Page 26: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Why was this type of monasticism successful in the

Celtic world?Culturally relevant:• Semi-nomadic: a people

who “had been, within all tribal memory, on the move.” (Kathleen Hughes)

• No towns• Clientship, political

expansion• Fosterage• Filid = scribes• Functioned as cultural-

political centres

Nendrum, Co. Down

Page 27: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Land of saints and Scholars?

• From illiterate to the most sought after Latin scholars in Europe

• Compose immesnse amount of manuscripts in both Latin and vernacular

• Develop Irish alphabet

• Technological achievements (Nendrum mill)

John Scotus Eriugena c. 815-77, considered the most capable philosopher/theologian of the early Medieval period The Cathach of

Columcille,c. 560-600, the earliest surviving folio in Irish script

Page 28: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Treasures of the Golden Age

Page 29: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Secularisation• Political expediency ultimately trumps spiritual

vibrancy• Position of Abbot becomes hereditary post • In the background with Columcille; until death of

Adamnàn in 704 all the abbots of Iona were kin of Columcille’s. Kildare, Clonmacnois and Clonard were all connected to powerful kin groups.

• After split in Celtic Christianity with Synod of Whitby in 664, no further contact with Rome, Irish church increasingly insular

• “Nasty” aspects of Celtic society persist • The “golden age” ends with the first Viking foray

into Ireland on Rathlin in 795

Page 30: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

St. Patrick, Identity and Power Games

Shield of the Ui Neill,St. Patrick’s cathedral Armagh

John De Courcey, Carrickfergus Castle, St. Patrick coin

Protestant Archbishop of Armagh, James Ussher’s book on the similarities of ancient Irish religion and Protestantism

Page 31: Christianity and Identity in Ireland 1: Early Christian Ireland

Recommended ReadingT. M. Charles Edwards, Early Christian Ireland. Cambridge: University Press, 2000

Kathleen Hughes, Early Christian Ireland: Introduction to the Sources, London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1972

Máire & Liam DePaor, Early Christian Ireland. London: Thames & Hudson, 1958

Louis Gougaud, Christianity in Celtic Lands. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1932

Liam de Paor, St. Patricks World. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1992

Brendan Bradshaw, “The Wild and Woolly West: Early Irish Christianity and Latin Orthodoxy” in The Churches, Ireland and the Irish, Studies in Church History no. 25. London: Ecclesiastical History Society, 1989

Thomas Cahill, How the Irish Saved Civilisation, New York, NY: Doubleday, 1995

James F. Kenney, The Sources for the Early History of Ireland: Ecclesiastical. Dublin: Irish University Press, 1929

Dáibhí Ó Cróinin, (ed.). A New History of Ireland, I: Prehistoric and Early Ireland. Oxford: University Press, 2005

St. Patricks Confessio: http://www.confessio.ie/#