Celtic Spirituality Pilgrimage: Day 1, Dublin

St. David's Episcopal Church

Celtic Spirituality Pilgrimage

led by

Ken and Darlene Swanson

Day 1, April 4th: Dublin

All twenty-three pilgrims rendezvoused at the Dublin Airport on Monday morning, April 4th early in the morning.  Most of us had just come off an all night flight from Atlanta.  We began with a day of touring the city of Dublin, although we were suffering from jet-lag.  

Our first stop was St. Patrick's Anglican Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in Dublin built on a site where St. Patrick baptized many Celtic Irish in the 5th century.  

The Pilgrims Outside St. Patrick's Cathedral 

St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The Cathedral displays a stone Celtic Cross from the 5th century.

It also hosted the very first performance of Handel's Messiah in 1742, 

and has an original score on display.

Jonathan Swift was the Dean of the Cathedral during the time he wrote "Gulliver's Travels".

Our next stop after touring the city was Trinity College, which houses the Book of Kells.  The Book of Kells, begun on Iona was taken to Kells Abbey in Ireland in the 9th century to save it from Viking raids.  It is a beautiful rendition of the four Gospels and the most splendid of all Celtic illuminated manuscripts.  The Book of Kells is one of humanity's greatest artistic achievements and Ireland's national treasure. 

The Four Evangelists

The Chi Rho page is considered to be the greatest achievement in medieval art. 

St. John the Evangelist.

Dinner tonight will be followed by prayers and reflection. We'll be off tomorrow to the West Country of Ireland with stops at Newgrange, Kells Abbey, spending the night in Westport.  Thanks for being a reader, and please pray for us as we are praying for you.  Stay tuned for more details tomorrow!