The High Crosses at Iona Abbey

High Crosses are an important aspect of the Celtic spiritual traditions, and often are used to mark boundaries. The boundary can be a physical boundary, such as the entrance to a sacred space or place of worship. Crosses were often used to mark places in rural areas where people would gather to hear preaching. The boundary marked by high crosses might also be the boundary between this world and the nexdt, such as was the case in graveyards. The crosses at Iona were west of the abbey. Their names as shown below were not known to have been used before the nineteenth century, except in the case of St. Martin's Cross.

The original St. John's Cross, now in the Abbey museum.

The original location of St. John's Cross outside of Columba's Shrine. This cross has the largest arm span of any cross in Britain or Ireland (2.2 meters). It has been suggested that the Celtic ringed cross was invented after this cross fell and was in need of repairs. The cross has sepent and spiral ornamentation. The cross dates from the eighth century.

The replica of St. John's cross which stands in the original location just outside of St. Columba' shrine.

St. Martin's Cross, the only original cross still standing on the abbey grounds.
This cross is also decorated with serpent and spiral motifs, and has slots in the ends of the arms which might once have contained metalwork. The west face of the cross has images of the Virgin and child, Daniel in the lions' den, and Abraham's intended sacrifice of Isaac. The cross dates from the ninth or tenth centuries.

The remnants of St. Oran's cross in the Abbey museum. This cross was once in the Relig Odhrain.

These crosses might have been carved by craftsmen from Ireland or Scotland. This stone in the abbey museum depicts a ship, such as the ones in which the workers might have arrived.