A new book by Dilshat Harman, co-author of the famous "Suffering Middle Ages", is dedicated to one of the most mysterious traditions of Ireland. This is the story of how St. Patrick discovered a lake with islands in what is now County Donegal, Ulster province. And on one of the islands - a cave leading straight to hell …
Shakespeare, Calderon and ancient myths
As you know, in the Catholic tradition there is the idea of Purgatory. This is such an afterlife place where the souls of people who are not bad enough for hell, but still too sinful to ascend to heaven, endure hellish torments. But not forever, but some time to finally be cleansed. Remember how Shakespeare's Hamlet talks to the ghost of his father? He not only tells how and by whom he was killed, but also laments that death overtook him suddenly, without repentance and communion. This means that now he must languish in hellish fire until he expiates his earthly sins …
Many legends are associated with the name of St. Patrick. One of the most famous says something like this: he was greatly saddened that the Irish did not listen too carefully to his sermons and did not want to accept Christianity. Patrick prayed fervently, asked for help - and Christ appeared to him. At the command of the Lord, the holy staff outlined a large circle in a certain place. And so the earth opened up inside that circle, a deep well was formed … Everyone who wants to go down into it should not bear another repentance and will not go to another purgatory for their sins. However, most people will not return from there.
The story of St. Patrick's Purgatory turned out to be surprisingly consonant with the pre-Christian myths of different countries about heroes who descended into the underworld. In Ireland and other Celtic lands, there are even legends about earthly kings who temporarily changed places with the kings of the underworld.
The great Spanish playwright Calderon, who is often put on a par with Shakespeare, even wrote his famous drama "The Purgatory of St. Patrick" about the discovery of a passage into the terrible bowels. The creator of the oldest of the currently existing globes, Martin Beheim, marked on it the very entrance to Purgatory - along with the capitals of large states. That is, "a certain place" from the legend very quickly became completely real and concrete - an island on Loch Derg Lake, which is described in Dilshat Harman's book "St. Patrick's Purgatory - and Other Legends of Medieval Ireland".
Promotional video:
What was said about Purgatory?
What could those who were there during their lifetime see in Purgatory? The author of the book cites a number of fascinating stories, including The Vision of Tnugdal, first recorded in Latin and then translated into 15 languages. Perhaps it was this that influenced Dante when he wrote his "Divine Comedy".
The hero of this story, being very sinful, once fell as if he were dead and was almost buried, but nevertheless was considered still alive. And at this time, together with his guardian angel, he wandered through Purgatory. Here he sees an icy swamp, where a terrible iron bird sits, devouring souls and vomiting them back. All men and women, having been in the belly of a bird, conceive a terrible fruit.
Tugdalu himself suffered many torments. And even reaching those areas where almost worthy souls dwell, he sees one of the glorious kings of Ireland, who for adultery and unrighteous judgment is doomed to stand on fire three hours a day. But the rest of the time he spends in rest and well-being.
But the knight Owain descended exactly to the Purgatory of St. Patrick, where he was first met by angels in the guise of monks, and then a roaring flock of demons flew in. He also saw the suffering souls - the dragons devoured sinners, bitten by snakes and toads, they were nailed to the ground … The demons pushed Owain himself into the hellish abyss, but calling to Christ, he got out of there. Then he had to cross a thin bridge over a burning sulfur river. But Owain was not so sinful, so in the end the bridge became wide and reliable.
Barefoot on cold stones
The tradition of pilgrimage to Saint Patrick's Purgatory originated in ancient times and has survived to this day. Pilgrims walked to Loch Derg Lake through forests, swamps, rocks - certainly barefoot. Having crossed to the island, they descended into a crevice surrounded by a fence among the rocks. And they stayed there for many hours, praying continuously. Legend has it that anyone who dozed off in the darkness and interrupted a prayer was immediately dragged away by demons.
The complexity of the path and the pilgrimage itself correlated with the theme of the above-mentioned test bridge. In some legends, it was not only narrow, but also covered with sharp iron spikes. Only humility could help overcome it. And in the old novel "The Knight of the Cart", Lancelot generally had to overcome the sword bridge, walk or crawl right along the blade.
Now pilgrims can use transport to get to the lake. But then you still have to take off your shoes and go around the island barefoot. And then all night to do prayer in the open air. And so for three days. At the same time, there is a strict fast, you cannot eat on the island at all on the first day. On the second day, they give a cup of tea and a slice of bread. Tourists are not particularly fond of here - there is not even a souvenir shop on the island. But for the Irish, whether they live in their homeland or in any other country, the pilgrimage to Loch Derg is the most important custom. Only climbing Mount St. Patrick can be compared with him, also barefoot and in the night - towards the dawn.
Did it exist or not?
Moreover, now on the island that very entrance to Purgatory is not. According to various evidences, it was walled up for a long time. There is not even exact information where this cave was. The medieval novel "Fortunatus and His Sons" tells that the noble traveler Fortunatus, once on the island, found out that there was a way to Purgatory and wanted to go down. The entrance was already provided with a door and was located behind the altar of the church of the local monastery. The abbot gave the guest the key, Fortunatus and the servant went to the cave. And they were gone! Confusion reigned in the monastery, until an old man dared to follow him down, taking a ball of thread to find a way out. He found Fortunatus and the servant almost unconscious, was able to bring them into the light. After that, the abbot ordered to brick up the entrance.
Another version says that a certain skeptic made his way into Purgatory and then wrote a pamphlet - they say, there is nothing there, the cave is like a cave, it does not differ from others like that. After that, the entrance was walled up by order of the Pope himself. Where he was is now not known for sure. Perhaps not only was, but remains - under one of the buildings on the island.