Celtic
Cross of Saint Patrick Carndonagh
This lovely cross, known as the Cross of St. Patrick, is found
in Carndonagh in the north of Donegal. Originally Carndonagh was
a bishopric, said to have been established by St. Patrick himself.
Because this cross does not have the ring that we all associate
with Celtic crosses it was thought that it must have been erected
in the 7th or 8th centuries - a forerunner of the ringed cross.
Now, however, when scholars consider the quality of the carving
they believe that the cross was made in the 9th or 10th century.
Its intricate interlace patterns are similar to the decoration
found in the pages of a late 10th century psalter which came from
Ireland. The figure on the shaft of the west face is said to represent
the Crucifixion: by others to represent Christ in glory with his
arms raised in blessing. In the early Church the cross was a sign
of victory over sin and death so, following the ideas of still another
scholar, maybe we should say it represents both! Below the figure
of Christ there are three figures of ecclesiastics and at present
it is not clear who they may be.
Celtic
Cross of Saint Patrick Carndonagh replica cross in gold or silver
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