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History of the Celtic Cross
Click onto the cross to view the
beautiful details of our hand made cross.
"Comments
on the 'Gift Cross'"
 In
November 2005, then in March 2006, Rev. Ernest Smart was able to borrow an
authentic Iona Celtic Cross solid brass from a Presbyterian Church in
Newark, Delaware. In researching its history the current curator at the
Abbey in Iona, Scotland has indicated that no more than twenty brass Iona
crosses, set in Ionic marble were made for resale. Under the
leadership of Malcolm Dutterer it was decided to pursue the idea to have a
duplicate made of the cross for St. Andrew's Christian Community. With the
gracious financial support from Mrs. Mary Louise Beehler in memory of her
husband Albert Beehler, Jr., the project became a reality. Mr. Dutterer
then contracted "Danko-Arlington Manufacturing Co. of Baltimore. The
material used to recreate the cross was manganese bronze and the pouring
was done on June 15, 2006. Present were Malcolm Dutterer, Mrs. Mary Louise
Beehler & photographer Dave Zimmerman. The presentation and dedication
of our new Celtic Cross was made during our Sunday Service on Nov. 19,
2006. Mrs. Beehler and her family were present.
"Comments
on the History of Iona"
Iona
is a small island off the west coast of Scotland, and is the source of
inspiration for the Ionic cross. Columba, an Irish prince, arrived
on Iona in 563. During the next 34 years he founded a monastery and
turned Iona into the island cradle of Christianity and learning, and a
place of religious pilgrimage which became renowned throughout Europe and
in "the new world". He died on the island in 597. No
less than 12 buildings have been erected on what is the current site of
the Abbey. The greater part of the present Abbey was built on the original
foundation in the early 1500's. The Abbey was eventually left to
decay in the latter 19th century. It was fully restored by the
Church of Scotland between 1902 and 1910. The island, as a whole,
was purchased in 1979 by Sir Hugh Fraser and given to the National Trust
for Scotland. The Abbey and adjoining buildings are now the
responsibility of the "Iona Cathedral Trust". Adjacent to
the Abbey is a 16-foot high, concrete replica of the 9th century "St.
John's Cross", in its original location. The cross on the
communion table is an exact reproduction of it.
"
Comments on the Ionic Cross"
As
St. Columba achieved his goal of Christian conversion of the Picts and the
Druids on Iona, he incorporated much of their pagan symbolism into the
Ionic cross. The pagan "circle of life" was added to the
cross, reflecting the Christian belief that eternal life was made possible
through the death of Christ on the cross. The pagan worship of elephants
(from earlier Roman occupation) was added, with three elephants appearing
on the top of the cross, reflecting the interpretation that the three Wise
Men traveled on elephants--not camels--to bring gifts to the Christ Child.
A series of panels, with interlocking lines, on both sides of the cross,
incorporating the pagan worship of the links between man and nature, were
reinterpreted as the intertwining of God's life with ours. The Ionic
cross is distinctive and easily recognized for it's history and symbolic
uniqueness.
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