Category

Holy Islands

Faith carried to the edge of the sea.

Holy islands are the wind-blown edges of Christian Europe, where Celtic monks kept the faith alive. Lindisfarne in Northumberland and Iona in the Hebrides lead this guide to island monasteries and Celtic Christian pilgrimage sites — tide times, ferry crossings, the illuminated gospels made there and the best seasons to cross.

3 destinations

5/5 Significance

Chora, Greece

Patmos

The Greek island where John was sent away as a prisoner and wrote the book of Revelation. His cave is still there.

5/5 · Scripturally central

3/5 Significance

Holy Island, United Kingdom

Lindisfarne

A small island you can only reach at low tide. Irish monks brought Christianity to northern England from here.

3/5 · Well attested

3/5 Significance

Isle of Iona, United Kingdom

Iona Abbey

A tiny Scottish island where the monk Columba landed in 563. Christianity spread across Scotland from here.

3/5 · Well attested