www.byzcath.org Forums Faith & Christian Life The Christian East & West Easter on Iona - 24 April 729

On this day, 24 April 729, Easter was celebrated at Iona for the first time according to the reckoning established by the Council of Nicea in 325 AD.

Iona and the various monasteries of the paruchia of Saint Columba had resisted the Nicean ruling for 400 years, such was the stubborn Irish adherence to their older tradition which they believed had come to them from Saint John the Beloved!

A map of monastic Ireland in 650 AD showing the Columban monasteries
http://www.wesleyjohnston.com/users/ireland/maps/historical/map650.gif

A brief life of Saint Egbert of Iona who laboured to bring Iona into line with the Christian world and died on the very day, 24 April 729, when Iona celebrated Easter for the first time with the rest of the Church.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints/message/4177

Hi Father,

Why did the Irish resist the Council of Nicea? I really know little about the history of Irish Christianity.

By the way, are you familiar with the Celtic Christian band, Iona. They are wonderful.

Dear Danman,

For a relevant Irish view of the matter, please see the brief life of Saint Cummian the Fada at

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/celt-saints/message/4009

thank you, Father. I will take a look.

reading that still left me a little confused. so the date of Easter seemed to be part of it, and the remote location from Rome and the Roman Church seemed to be another although that wasn't very clear to me.