Iona, population 175, is a small island (1 mile wide, 3.5 miles
long) of the Inner Hebrides, Scotland. In 563 St. Columba of
Iona, exiled from his native Ireland, founded a monastery here,
and from here Orthodox Christianity spread to the rest of
Scotland. Numerous martyrs and other saints were produced from
Iona, including not only St. Columba but also St. Aidan of
Lindisfarne and others. Many believe that the Book of Kells was
produced on Iona at this time. The monastery survived until the
Protestant Reformation. Iona also became the burial site for the
kings of Dalriada and their successors, the early kings of
Scotland. The Modern Era In 1938 George MacLeod founded the Iona
Community, an "ecumenical" Christian community of men and women
from different walks of life and different traditions in the
Christian church that is committed to seeking new ways of living
the gospel of Jesus Christ in today's world. This community is a
leading force in the present "Celtic Christianity" revival
(which unfortunately oft