Abp. Athanasius Visits Orthodox Monasteries on Iona and Mull
Abp. Athanasius’ visit celebrated the growth and international character of Orthodox monastic life on Iona and Mull.
IONA, SCOTLAND — Between January 28 and 30, Abp. Athanasius visited the Orthodox monasteries on the islands of Iona and Mull, two centers of Orthodox monastic life and missionary presence in Scotland and the English-speaking world. The communities host monks and nuns from Scotland, England, the U.S., Canada, the Netherlands, and Romania, reflecting Orthodoxy’s universality and capacity to unite diverse cultures around Christ.
During a Divine Liturgy on Mull, Abp. Athanasius ordained monk Donnán of Iona as hierodeacon and elevated Fr. Abbot Serafim Aldea to archimandrite in recognition of his missionary and pastoral service. The Kilninian church on Mull, dating from 1755, continues a centuries-old monastic tradition near St. Ninian’s Well, a site historically associated with miraculous healings.
The Iona monastery was permanently established in 2022 with the purchase of the historic Iona Cottage and canonically recognized in 2023. Together, the two monasteries sustain vibrant Orthodox monastic life, fostering prayer, mission, and spiritual formation for an international community.
Previously, the UOJ reported that a Greek Primate stated that without Christ, Europe loses peace and stability.
