The monastery of St. Michael (Skellig Michael) is located in the Irish Sea, 12 kilometers off the coast of Ireland. Irish hermit monks are believed to have lived here since the 7th century AD. Over the next 700 years, they built a real monastery on a lonely rock in the middle of the sea.
The monastery existed exactly until the relatively warm season ended in Europe - the so-called “small climatic optimum”. Since the 13th century, even monks accustomed to Spartan conditions could not get along on a lonely, windswept rock in the middle of the sea. The island was abandoned, although for several centuries in a row the pilgrims then visited the monastery a couple of times a year, and the monks for four centuries in a row visited the former monastery and maintained perfect order in it. Beginning in the 16th century, pilgrims from all over the world flocked to the monastery, nestled on the top of a giant rock. In 1826, Dublin's port service took over the island, and soon two lighthouses were erected here, one of which still illuminates the way for ships in the waters of the Atlantic.
The island rises 213 m above the stormy waters of the Atlantic Ocean. These are two huge rocks - Skellig Michael and Little Skellig - about 1.6 km from each other. The steep sides of the cliffs and their reefs are washed by the waters of the North Atlantic Current, which is a continuation of the Gulf Stream. This current brings warm waters from the middle of the Atlantic along with large species such as dolphins swimming in them. This current is the secret of the abundance of this area.
To get to the monastery, you need to sail from the shores of the Irish County of Kerry to the open ocean to the west, where after 12 kilometers you will find a pier at the foot of a rocky island. It seems as if the steep cliff was generated by a gigantic ocean wave, which soared upward, and petrified, leaving people with a memory of themselves in the form of Skellig Michael Island, which means Michael's Rock in Irish. The cliff got its name from the name of the Archangel Michael, who became famous for his victory over the devil in the guise of a dragon.
The rock soaring out of the water looks impregnable and lifeless even at the foot - its slopes are so steep, the paths are so winding. And the closer to the top, the steeper the rocks, the more dangerous the climbing route. The idea that such unenviable "apartments" could once have been inhabited by people seems to be complete insanity, and meanwhile, Skellig Michael has been inhabited, no less than 600 years.
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At the end of the 6th century, a monastery was erected at the very top of the cliff (which is 230 meters in height). Monastic cells, laid out of different-sized stone fragments, looked like bee hives, miraculously huddled on the steep walls of the rock. What prompted the monks to choose such Spartan conditions, one can only guess - probably, the asceticism of the ancient Irish Christians was not just a part of ideology, but a way of life. Although, judging by the nature of your life, there is a version that the very first monks who settled here were Copts who fled from Roman and Byzantine persecution.
So the hermits lived - in harsh conditions, cut off from the outside world, only briefly leaving the island that had become their home in order to replenish food and water supplies. The number of inhabitants of the monastery-fortress was small and rarely exceeded a dozen people. The monks did not grumble and would have been completely satisfied with their lot if it had not been for the exhausting raids of the Vikings.
These militant pagans in search of profit in the 9th century stormed the island with enviable persistence, but due to the inaccessibility of the chosen place, the monastery withstood systematic attacks and even after the most serious raid in 823, it withstood. Decades later, the monastery expanded - a new chapel was built on the rock island. So measured life continued until the onset of the XII century, when a series of fierce hurricanes forced the hermits to leave their habitable places.
In 1826 a lighthouse was built on the island. In 1896, restoration work was carried out here, and then a travel agency was organized to deal directly with tours to the island.
In general, the legendary history of Skellig dates back to pagan times. According to Irish myths, it was here that the battles of the Tuat De Danann took place - that is, the Tribes of the goddess Danu, who at that distant time came to the island.
But the first historical links tell about the King of Munster, who was hiding on the island from the King of Cashel.
In 1986, the former monastery underwent restoration work, after which Skellig Michael began to function in a new capacity - this time as a tourist pilgrimage center. The number of tourists is not thinning - thousands of travelers go to the south-west of Ireland just to see this mysterious and sacred place with their own eyes.
In addition, the islands of Big Skellig and Small Skellig are important nature reserves. A large population of seabirds nest here, including cormorants, fulmars, auk, guillemots, kittiwakes, as well as Atlantic, Manx and European petrels.
Today Skellig Michael is very popular with tourists from all over the world who come here to explore the ancient monastery, as well as admire the incredible, breathtaking landscapes.
In 1996, the legendary monastery became one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites and has been under vigilant protection ever since. This unique structure is worthy of reminding people of the events hidden in the darkness of time for many centuries to come.
And by the way, the last Star Wars films were filmed here.
But this is not all the secrets of the monastery.
Seven monasteries from Ireland to Israel are united by a mysterious imaginary line. According to legend, this is the sacred line of the Archangel Michael, which symbolizes the sword with which the saint slain the devil, driving him into hell.
At the same time, three shrines: Mont Saint Michel in France, the Monastery of the Archangel Michael in Val di Susa and the Sanctuary of Michael the Archangel in Monte Garano in Italy - are at the same distance from each other. As if that weren't enough, the sacred line also perfectly matches the sunset line during the northern hemisphere summer solstice.
The line begins in the aforementioned monastery, where the Archangel Michael appeared to Saint Patrick to help free the country from the devil.
The line then goes south to England and crosses the monastery of St. Michaels Mount on a Cornish islet that connects to the mainland at low tide. It is believed that here Saint Michael spoke with fishermen.
Further the line stretches to France, to another famous island where Saint Michael appeared - Mont Saint Michel. This beautiful monastery is located in a picturesque bay on the Normandy coast, which is why it has become one of the main tourist attractions in France and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1979. This place has been considered mystical since the time of the Gauls. In 709, the archangel appeared to Saint Hubert and ordered to build a church on a rock. Work began immediately, but the Benedictine abbey was not completed until 900.
About 1000 km from there, in the Val de Susa valley, there is the fourth monastery - Sacra DI San Michele. A straight line unites this shrine with the rest of the monasteries dedicated to St. Michael. Construction of the abbey began around the year 1000, and new buildings were added to the main building for centuries. The Benedictines also built an inn here, because the monastery lay on the path of pilgrims along the Route of the Franks.
About 1000 km from there, in the Val de Susa valley, there is the fourth monastery - Sacra DI San Michele. A straight line unites this shrine with the rest of the monasteries dedicated to St. Michael. Construction of the abbey began around the year 1000, and new buildings were added to the main building for centuries. The Benedictines also built an inn here, because the monastery lay on the path of pilgrims along the Route of the Franks.
From Italy, the traces of the archangel lead us to the sixth shrine. This is the Panormitis Monastery on the Greek island of Symi. It features a three-meter image of the Archangel Michael - one of the largest in the world.
The sacred line ends in Israel at the Stella Maris Monastery near Haifa. It was built in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, which has been revered since ancient times.
