Looking for St. Donnan's Monastery

Teresa Neumann : Aug 23, 2012
Alistair Munro – The Scotsman

Donnan is credited with bringing Christianity to Scotland in the seventh century. Archaeological dig will hopefully shed light on his legendary life.

(Eigg, Scotland)—Some martyrs of the ancient world are well documented than others. St. Donnan, killed by Norsemen on Easter Sunday in 617 along with 50 other monks, and who is credited with bringing Christianity to much of the West Highlands, is one of them.

But now, after winning funds from the Heritage Lottery, the Eigg Historical Society is in the process of excavating an area on the Scottish island to locate St. Donnan's monastery, or "muinntir"—a small monastic community. Their findings will shed light on the Scottish saint and determine to what extent historical legends about him are true. (Photo: The Scotsman)

According to a report in The Scotsman, Donnan is said to have gone to Iona first to ask St. Columba to be his annum cara or "soul friend"—possibly a type of mentor—but was turned back because Columba saw a "red cloak of martyrdom" around him, foretelling Donnan's imminent death.

Emeritus Professor John Hunter is reportedly fascinated with the story of St. Donnan; a veritable folk legend in the area.

"We now know," said Hunter, "that this part of the island was a special place for worship and burial throughout time . . . monasteries of [Donnan's] time had circular or sub-circular walls which separate the world of God on the inside from the world outside."