Celtic Christianity

As Iroschottischen church is called a resultant in the 3rd to 5th century Christian church (organization), the. In Ireland, the Isle of Man and developed specific features in Scotland Between the 12th and the 13th century (as a result of the Norman conquest of Ireland ), she participated in the organization of the Roman Church.

The term can be traced back to the Irish tribe the Scots, which spread from the 3rd to the 5th century on both sides of the Irish Sea. In latin Ireland " Scotia Major" sources said. Accordingly, these communities are referred to as " iro - Scottish". They do not belong to the realm of " Celtic Church ".

Ireland, the Isle of Man and the North of Scotland in Europe an exception insofar as they were Christianized, without ever having been part of the Roman Empire. It was also, in contrast to the rest of Europe, not affected by the migration of peoples. These factors, the tradition and each central -preventing violence political situation contributed significantly to the expression of the iro -Scottish Christianity. It was hardly in communion with the Catholic-Orthodox Church. From the then heretical movements of Pelagianism and the Quartodecimanismus arrived in the region.

Traits

The iro - Scottish Christianity has many traits of vornizäanischen Christianity, it may have been related to as the Western Roman Church closer to the Eastern Churches ( today's Orthodox churches).

The descriptions of the specifics vary from source to source. Frequently listed traits are:

  • Was a church without a central authority and the hierarchy of patriarchs and metropolitans.
  • Calculated the date of Easter according to the usual prior to the first Council of Nicaea method.
  • Had the transverse tonsure, in which the front half of the head was shaved.
  • The focus in monasticism, spiritual authority lay with the abbots of the monasteries.
  • The monasteries attached importance to the study of the Bible, Ireland got the reputation of "the island of saints and scholars ". Charlemagne invited for this reason, Irish scholars to his court.
  • Bishops had no dioceses, there could be at a place several bishops and the consecration was performed by a bishop, not three as in the Orthodox and Catholic Church.
  • Priest had to pay taxes and serve in the military and secular justice were subordinated.
  • There was no tithe, the monasteries and priests was maintained by donations from the clan.
  • The baptism was probably carried out by immersion, and without anointing, but with subsequent washing of the feet.
  • The Celtic cross, in which the cross is a circle underlain is still being practiced in the Celtic but also in the Nordic countries.
  • Churches and monasteries were named after deceased not saints, but by living, secular founders.
  • The Wandermönchtum. The peregrination of the monks, leaving the home was seen as ascetic exercise.
  • There was the "Green", the "white " and "red martyrdom ". When green way a lonely place was visited in their own country, the white path left the monk as a missionary his home, the red path consciously sought a place where he would probably collide with warlike nations.

Dissemination

The result is the iro - Scottish Christianity probably in the 4th century. When the Romans withdrew from Britain, Christianity had taken root there. The Celts had connections to the north-western France. In the year 431 Pope Celestine sends Palladius the I. as a missionary to Ireland. He was followed by Britons Patricius, the name the Irish Patrick.

The iro - Scottish, independent of the papacy Christianity included not only Ireland and the British Isles, where it is in England to 664 ( Synod of Whitby ), in Wales to the 9th century and the Isle of Man and in Scotland until the 12th century existed.

Characterized by a strong sense of mission Irish monks had proselytized in the 5th century in Scotland and England, and built - iro Scottish monasteries. Missionaries brought Christianity this embossing on the mainland as far as Switzerland, Italy and Galicia, to Iceland and the Faroe Islands.

In France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria, Switzerland were Lumieges, Peronne, Laon, Auxerne, Luxeuil, Liege, Echternach, Cologne, Trier, Fulda, Amoeneburg, Würzburg, Klingenmünster (Pfalz ), Regensburg, Rheinau, Reichenau, Salzburg, Vienna, St. Gall and Bobbio in Italy, Friesolo Lucca and the main sites of the iro -Scottish mission. She started in today's German-speaking countries already 563 in St. Gallen. According to current knowledge, the first bases and thus churches and chapels in Germany were established (for example, Würzburg and Büraburg and Amoeneburg in settled by chatting Hessen) since the beginning of the 7th century iro -Scottish monks.

There was an order of Pope Gregory the Great in the year 601 to the missionaries, after which they should protect the revered among the people ancient pagan holy sites in their mission. One should these places sprinkle with holy water, altars set up there, build chapels and lay relics. Thus, the idea suggests that ancient chapels or churches are taking (on mountains, on rocks or sources ) is exactly the point where once the pagan cults had their abode.

The iro - Scottish Christianity of the continent was pushed back in the 8th century by the more efficient organization of the Roman Church, both in England and on the Continent, particularly in Germany by Boniface on behalf of the Pope. He organized the church again after a Roman model, creating new bishoprics, among other things, reorganized and he expanded the diocese of Mainz.

At the Synod of Whitby, the English church took over the Easter date of Nicaea and the Roman liturgy. In Brittany, the rule of Columbanus was replaced by the Benedictine rule only in the 9th century.

The iro - Scottish coinage was successively adjusted at the beginning of the 12th century ( Synod of Rathbreasail ) and completed after the conquest of Ireland by Henry II in 1172.

The importance of iro -Scottish church for the continental cultural history

Besides the religious significance of the iro -Scottish mission to the Continent their influence on art and philosophy must not be disregarded.

The Irish monasteries that were not destroyed by the Great Migration turmoil, preserved many ancient manuscripts. They had already in the 7th century a sophisticated book painting, from the example the Book of Lindisfarne and the Book of Kells emerged. By iroschottische mission, this art and the texts common to the monasteries on the mainland, where then enjoyed the scriptoria of the monasteries of Luxeuil and Corbie in the 8th century a high reputation. These scriptoria formed one of the bases for the Carolingian Renaissance.

Alcuin was an essential mediator of the preserved in Ireland and England Latin form the Franks. Mention may be made also the philosophical works of John Scotus Eriugena.

The cultural impact of the " Scots monasteries " which were in fact occupied by Irish monks, for example Würzburg, Regensburg and Vienna, shows up today in the work of German -Irish friendship societies. The most important in this context, art is probably the " Schottenportal " Regensburg Scots Church with its 144 figures grouped around Maria (or the apocalyptic woman? ) And the Antichrist.

Attempts at resuscitation

Today's religious communities that relate to the iro - Scottish Church as the " Celtic Orthodox Church " or the " Celtic Catholic Church ," are start-ups. They are mainly active in the British Isles, France and North America.

In English-speaking mainly trying to revive the Celtic- Christian Spritualitiät and especially the blessing of Anglican clergyman David Adam. Here, the so-called Irish blessing formulas play an important role.

Elements of the " Celtic Christianity " can be found today in many ecumenically oriented religious communities such as the Iona Community again.

Saint

Significant persons belonging to the Celtic Christianity, are, among others:

  • Adamnon
  • Aidan of Lindisfarne
  • Brendan the traveler
  • Brigid
  • Columba of Iona
  • Columbanus of Luxeuil
  • David Menevia
  • Fridolin of Säckingen
  • Gallus
  • Gildas
  • John Scotus
  • Kilian and his companions Kolonat and Totnan
  • Martin of Laon
  • Modestus of Carinthia
  • Patrick
  • Pelagius ( theologian )
  • Piran and Samson of Dol
  • Pirmin
  • Trudpert
  • Virgilius of Salzburg
  • Willibrord
Knock (County Mayo) Cambro-Norman Full communion Paganism Palladius (bishop of Ireland) Péronne, Somme Luxeuil-les-Bains Rheinau, Switzerland Bobbio Abbey Roman Catholic Diocese of Mainz Synod of Ráth Breasail Henry II of England Miniature (illuminated manuscript) Lindisfarne Gospels Francia Saint David Saint Gall Saint Colman (martyr) Saint Totnan Culdees Lorica (incantation)
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