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Clonmacnoise and the Cross of the
Scriptures
Clonmacnoise is the site of an ancient Christian monastery
and settlement established in 545 A.D. It is located
in central Ireland on the Shannon River in County Offaly.
St. Ciaran chose this spot for its strategic location
on a well travelled road which led from Dublin to Galway.
The original wooden churches are no longer standing
after 1500 years but many of the ruins are kept safely
inside the rebuilt churches. Of the three original stone
high crosses, the North Cross, the South Cross, and
the Cross of the Scriptures which circled Clonmacnoise,
the Cross of the Scriptures is the most famous. Replicas
of the three crosses were erected in the same spots
as the originals which are now kept inside for preservation.
The Scriptures on the Cross
The original Scriptures Cross in Clonmacnoise details
scenes from the New Testament sculpted into the stone.
The following is a summation of the scripture passage
referrals on the west face of the cross, starting at
the bottom of the Cross of Scriptures:
* Christ's tomb is guarded by Roman soldiers.
* Jesus is arrested
* Jesus is flogged
* The crucifixion of Jesus
Christ is in the center of the cross bars.
The following are the scripture references located
on the east face of the Cross of Scriptures, beginning
at the bottom:
* The founding of Clonmacnois with Dermot and Kieran
* Two men with beards in the dress of nobles
* Mission to the Apostles - Ecco
Homo
* The center of the cross bars displays the Last Judgement.
King Flann's Cross - Another Name
for the Cross of Scriptures
The Cross
of the Scriptures also goes by the name of the King
Flann's cross. The reason for this is because the ten
foot cross was created for the High King Flann. It was
placed at Clonmacnoise by Abbot Colman.
There are also two Gaelic inscription etched in the
Scriptures Cross which read:
* " Colman made this cross for King Flann."
* "A prayer for Flann, son of Maelsechlain"
Historians believe that the Cross of Scriptures is
actually a burial marker for King Flann.
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