PILGRIMAGES TO
WALES, IRELAND, SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND
Led by Jean and Larry Matthews
In 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008 Jean and Larry Matthews led pilgrimages that retraced the story of the ancient Celtic Christians. The fifth pilgrimage took place June 20 - July 5, 2008. That itinerary is below.
Phone or email us if you have questions about future pilgrimage groups (703) 560-8314 or mailto:LeadInMin@cox.net Every group is limited to 26 persons.
A PDF version of the 2008 Celtic Pilgrimage Brochure can be downloaded by selecting the following web pages:
2008 Celtic Christian Pilgrimage Brochure, P. 2
"Here is a Christian understanding which is basic and universal, the primal vision which takes us into the heart of earliest Christendom, and which speaks to that primal vision within all of us."
Tourists can pass through places without the places' necessarily passing through them. They return to the point of departure pretty much the same people they were to begin with. The whole purpose of a pilgrimage is to reach another destination altogether - - to become a different person.
(Use the 'back' and 'forward arrows on your browser toolbar or the arrows at the bottom of the display - "slide 1 of 85", etc. - to advance slides. PC's will usually display individual slide numbers as well.)
2008 CELTIC PILGRIMAGE ITINERARY
Our flight from Washington Dulles Airport will depart on Thursday evening, July 19. Since many pilgrimage members will be flying from other cities, the group will gather for the first time as we board our coach at the Manchester Airport on Friday morning, June 20.
DAY 1: Friday, June 20 - Our first stop is Chester, an ancient English walled city. The well-preserved Roman ruins remind us that it was most probably Roman soldiers who first introduced Christianity to the island. We cross the border into Wales and make our way to Maen Achwynfan, one of the tallest remaining high crosses in all of Britain. Gathered around this symbol of the first Celtic Christians, we share in our welcoming service, the first of our daily times of worship. Our drive along the mountains of Snowdonia ends at Llandudno, our home for two nights. B, D
DAY 2: Saturday, June 21 - Today we cross to the island of Anglesey. After visiting the ruins of Penmon Priory, a coastal monastery founded by Seiriol in the 6th century and our first holy well in Wales, we have lunch in Beaumaris with its views of the mainland mountains and then return to Llandudno to enjoy another free evening in this popular seaside resort. B
DAY 3: Sunday, June 22 - Our early morning fast ferry from Holyhead soon arrives in Dun Loaghaire, the seaport of Dublin, Ireland. Our Irish coach takes us into the city where we visit Trinity College to view the magnificent exhibition of the famous illuminated Book of Kells. There is time to have lunch and explore a part of the city that is filled with museums and other points of interest. Later this afternoon we are driven into the Wicklow mountains south of Dublin to Glendalough in the valley of the two lakes, site of the sixth century monastic settlement of St. Kevin. We check into the Glendalough Hotel, adjacent to the monastic site and our home for the next three nights. B, D
DAY 4: Monday, June 23 - This morning we enjoy a program at the Glendalough Visitor Centre that introduces us to this 6th century monastic site. The remainder of the morning and afternoon is free to walk the trails and visit the round tower, lakes, stone churches and numerous high crosses of this inspiring reminder of the Celtic monastic tradition. B, D
DAY 5: Tuesday, June 24 - Today we drive to Kildare, home of St. Brigid, where local guides lead our visit to the cathedral and Brigid's well. We return to Glendalough this afternoon and the evening is free to continue our personal enjoyment of the area. B, D
DAY 6: Wednesday, June 25 - As we begin our journey north, our first stop is the ancient passage tomb complex at Bru' na Boinne in County Meath. This afternoon we visit the high crosses of Monasterboice Abbey and the ruins of Mellifont Abbey, one of the first Cistercian foundations that slowly replaced the native Celtic abbeys. We drive to our hotel in Belfast. B, D
DAY 7: Thursday, June 26 - This morning another of the world's largest fast ferries takes us to Troon, Scotland. Met by our UK coach, we enjoy the breathtaking beauty of mountains and lunch at the idyllic village of Luss on the shore of Loch Lomond on our way to the coastal town of Oban. The evening is free to enjoy the wonderful seafood of this "Gateway to the Isles." B
DAY 8: Friday, June 27 - Today we travel by ferry to the Island of Mull. We drive across Mull to catch the passenger ferry to the crown jewel of our pilgrimage, the Isle of Iona. We check into the lovely St. Columba Hotel, our home for the next four nights. Following an orientation session and dinner at the hotel, worship is in the Abbey church. B, D
DAYS 9-11: Saturday - Monday, June 28-30 - The next three days are free for 'personal time' on this island which has been a place of pilgrimage for over a thousand years. There is time to explore on your own and there are boat trips to the nearby islands. Worship is in the Abbey church every evening, often followed by traditional community gathering for story telling, singing and dancing. B, D
DAY 12: Tuesday, July 1 - This morning we leave Iona, travel again across Mull and drive through the beautiful Highlands of Scotland, across the Borders between Scotland and England and on to Lindisfarne (Holy Island). Our guide is a member of the Durham University faculty who will introduce us to the rich Christian heritage of this historic corner of England. In 634 a monastic community, established here by a group of monks from Iona led by Aidan, evangelized the whole of Northumbria (northeastern England). The illuminated Lindisfarne Gospels were created here. After a tour of the abbey ruins and time for exploration of the island, we drive to our hotel in Bamburgh, whose castle overlooks Lindisfarne. B, D
DAY 13: Wednesday, July 2 - After visiting the newly opened Bede's World exhibit and the monastic ruins at Jarrow, we arrive at the historic cathedral city of Durham. Our home for the next two nights will be majestic Durham Castle, founded in 1072 and the Palace of the Prince Bishops of Durham until 1832 when it became the foundation college of the University. The Great Hall, where we will eat our meals, dates from 1284. Durham Cathedral, just across the green, was begun in 1093 and this "finest example of Norman architecture in England" was completed in 1133. The tombs of both Cuthbert and Bede are located here. Afternoon tours will end in time for attendance at Evensong in the cathedral. B
DAY 14: Thursday, July 3 - Today we visit Hadrian's Roman Wall, stopping to view some of its restored fortifications and ongoing archeological digs. Our touring this afternoon will end early enough for free time to further explore Durham and attendance at Evensong in the cathedral. After dinner in the Great hall, we have a last free evening to enjoy Durham. B, D
DAY 15: Friday, July 4 - Today we travel to Whitby, site of the famous 664 synod which marked the beginning of the end of a distinctive native Celtic Christianity in the British Isles. Then it is on to York, historic ecclesiastical capital of northern England and site of York Minster where in 685 Cuthbert of Lindisfarne was consecrated bishop and given the task of uniting the English Church. We are free to walk the city wall, visit the cathedral and explore the medieval streets until our coach departs for the hotel at Manchester Airport. B
DAY 16: Saturday, July 5 - This morning we board our return flight to the USA, arrriving this afternoon.
**Download and print a 2008 Celtic Pilgrimage brochure as described above or phone or email us if you have questions about future pilgrimage groups (703) 560-8314 or mailto:LeadInMin@cox.net Every group is limited to 26 persons.
An Introductory Reading List - Celtic Christianity and Spirituality
Web sites of interest:
Wales: http://www.visitwales.com
Glendalough: http://www.wicklow.com/glendalough/
Island of Iona: http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/iona.htm
St. Columba Hotel: http://www.stcolumba-hotel.co.uk
The Iona Community: http://www.iona.org.uk
Holy Island (Lindisfarne): http://www.lindisfarne.org.uk
Celtic Christianity Site: http://www.canadac.com/celtic/celticv.html
Religious History of Lindisfarne: http://www.lindisfarne.org.uk/general/1relhist.htm
Bede's World: http://www.bedesworld.co.uk/bedesworld-monastic.php
Vindolanda Roman Fort: http://www.vindolanda.com
Celtic Spirituality: http://www.rejesus.co.uk/spirituality/celtic_spirituality/index.html