Iona, Iona Abbey, museum. View of Early Christian grave marker bearing incised Chi-Rho monogram.

Description Iona, Iona Abbey, museum. View of Early Christian grave marker bearing incised Chi-Rho monogram.

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number SC 366573

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of AG 8991

Scope and Content Detail of Early Christian grave-marker now in museum at Iona Abbey, Argyll and Bute Iona is one of the most important religious sites in Scotland. The earliest community was formed by St Columba, who came over from Ireland around 563AD. The Irish church continued until the monastery became part of the Benedictine order around 1200. The Benedictine abbey of Iona stands 250m from the west shore of the Sound of Iona, and overlies part of St Columba's monastery. Remodelled several times, it was restored in the 20th century and is now a popular place of pilgrimage. A 7th-century grave-marker was found at the abbey in 1956. Now in the abbey museum, it bears a 'Chi-rho' motif -a cross with expanded arms and a small hook (top right), the 'rho', like a bishop's crozier. Its top edge is inscribed 'the stone of Echoid'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/366573

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap