St Patrick'S Ireland: An Introduction To Celtic Christianity

Early Christian Ireland, 400 to 650 AD

What you'll learn

An overview of Celtic Christianity from 400 to 650 AD

An introduction to Early Irish Saints and Hagiographical Writing

An appreciation of the contribution of Early Irish Christianity

The historical development of the Early Irish Church

Requirements

None

Description

Ireland has a rich Christian history and culture dating back to the fifth century when St Patrick and other missionaries evangelised the island of Ireland. Ireland was never part of the Roman Empire and the culture of Christianity that developed in this rural and agrarian society without towns was distinct from other parts of Europe. This course introduces students to this fascinating and unique early Christian culture and heritage through learning about the key figures in Early Christian Ireland from the fifth to the seventh centuries, the Golden Age of the Irish Church. Led by an Irish medieval historian and author, students will have the opportunity to read original source material written in Early Christian Ireland as well as availing of additional resources and videos to deepen their knowledge and learning. The course is based on courses taught by the instructor at Trinity College Dublin and Boston College on Early Christian Ireland and Early Medieval Ireland. In this course you will explore: The real St Patrick and his remarkable original writings Whether St Brigid was a Celtic Goddess or a historical personTraditions associated with St Brigid and the earliest accounts of her life The influence of St Columba/ Colum Cille in Ireland and Scotland The voyaging Irish monks who travelled as far as the Faroe Islands and Iceland The travels of St Columbanus in Europe and his original writingsThe course is suitable for all those interested in Ireland and Irish Christian culture and heritage.

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction & Welcome to the Course

Lecture 2 What do we mean by Celtic Christianity?

Lecture 3 For Teachers

Section 2: St Patrick

Lecture 4 St Patrick

Lecture 5 The Ireland of St Patrick

Lecture 6 The Life of St Patrick: Part 1

Lecture 7 The Life of St Patrick: Part 2

Lecture 8 The Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus

Lecture 9 The Confessio

Lecture 10 The Hagiography of St Patrick

Lecture 11 The Legacy of St Patrick

Lecture 12 Did St Patrick kick out the Snakes?

Lecture 13 The Virtues of St Patrick and Further Reading

Section 3: St Brigid of Kildare

Lecture 14 St Brigid of Kildare

Lecture 15 Celtic Goddess or Christian Saint?

Lecture 16 The Sources for the Life of St Brigid

Lecture 17 The Legacy of St Brigid

Lecture 18 Make Your Own St Brigid's Cross!

Lecture 19 Prayer to St Brigid and Further Reading

Section 4: St Columba of Iona

Lecture 20 St Columba of Iona

Lecture 21 Map of St Columba's World

Lecture 22 Life of St Columba

Lecture 23 St Columba the author

Lecture 24 Columba the Scribe: The Cathach Manuscript

Lecture 25 The Amra Coluimb Chille

Lecture 26 The Hagiography of St Columba

Lecture 27 The Desert in the Ocean

Lecture 28 The Navigatio Brendani/ The Brendan Voyage

Lecture 29 The Bantry Stone

Lecture 30 The Legacy of St Columba

Lecture 31 Further Resources and Reading

Section 5: St Columbanus of Bobbio

Lecture 32 St Columbanus of Bobbio

Lecture 33 Map of Columbanus' Travels

Lecture 34 Columbanus in Ireland

Lecture 35 Columbanus in Europe

Lecture 36 Columbanus in Merovingian Gaul

Lecture 37 Columbanus in Alemannia

Lecture 38 Columbanus in Lombard Italy

Lecture 39 The Writings of St Columbanus

Lecture 40 The Hagiography of St Columbanus

Lecture 41 The Legacy of Columbanus

Lecture 42 Further Resources and Recommended Reading

Section 6: Conclusion

Lecture 43 Conclusion

All those interested in learning more about Celtic Christianity and Early Christian Ireland