Iona Abbey -Title Page Photograph

Those who have spent time at Iona Abbey on the Isle of Iona in the Inner Hebrides will recognize this picture of the Abbey.  I use it here because time with the Iona community is significant in my own and in many of our spiritual journeys.  In the foreground is the engraved base of the St. Martin’s Cross.  The St. Martin’s Cross is the sole intact survivor of the High Crosses that marked the pilgrim’s route from the landing place of St. Columba on the other side of the island to St. Columba’s Shrine.  These crosses still today serve as places to pray along the pilgrims path.  The St. Martin’s Cross, the St John’s Cross to the left and behind, and the other High crosses on the island date from the eighth and ninth centuries.    The St. John’s Cross has been renovated.  The remaining pieces of the original can be seen in the Abbey  Museum on the back side of the abbey.  The small doorway just behind the St. John’s Cross is the entrance to St. Columba’s Shrine.  The large doorway behind St. Martin’s Cross is the entrance to the Abbey Church.  And the doorway to the left of the Shrine is the doorway to the Cloister and the entrance to the Residence area of the Abbey.