Watercolor: St. Columba, Apostle to Scotland, 14" x 20"

Watercolor: St. Columba, Apostle to Scotland, 14" x 20"

I've been lately about how much I owe to St. Columba (521-597 AD), an Irish abbot who became the apostle to Scotland, winning the wild Picts to Christ -- my ancestors. Columba brought 12 monks with him to Scotland about 563 AD, founding a monastery at Iona, from which missions went all over northern Scotland. I've used both stained glass and iconographic techniques. The shepherd's crook he holds is an Insular crozier, a symbol of office of a bishop or monk. In the background you can see the boat that brought him to Scotland. He carries a Bible, identifying him as an evangelist. The dove on his shoulder represents Columba's Irish surname, Colmcille ("dove"). My model was Pat Crossan from our church. In collection St. Columba's Inverness: Episcopal Church and Retreat House. 230517. Watercolor and ink, 14" x 20".