St Ethernan/Adrian’s Chapel, Isle of May

St Ethernan/Adrian’s Chapel, Isle of May

The Isle of May was an important early Christian site which included a chapel and shrine from at least the ninth century, and probably earlier. The chapel, as well as a monastic site at Kilrenny and the Caiplie Caves are connected to two saints, Ethernan and Adrian. The name Adrian is a Latinised version of the Gaelic name Ethernan and veneration of Adrian was recorded in the same locations as Ethernan. Adrian is therefore almost certainly an offshoot or adaptation of the cult of St Ethernan. The island was home to a priory of Cluniac/Benedictine Monks from c.1140 to c.1318. After the monks relocated to Pittenweem, the relics on the island continued to attract pilgrims, including a number of Scottish kings and queens, until the Reformation brought the practice to an end.

sacredlandscapesoffife

tt27@st-andrews.ac.uk

Site

98

16/06/2021

(1) Heather F. James & Peter Yeoman, Excavations at St Ethernan’s Monastery, Isle of May, Fife 1992-1997 (Perth, Tayside and Fife Archaeological Committee, 2008), (2) Peter Yeoman, Pilgrimage in Medieval Scotland (London, 1999), (3) Simon Taylor & Gilbert Markus, The Place-Names of Fife. Volume Three. St Andrews and the East Neuk (Donington, 2009), pp. 323-325

cm x cm x cm

current,56.18672801071832,-2.558197974285577;

St Ethernan/Adrian’s Chapel, Isle of May

TEXT

Building

202

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Catholic