The Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints

The Orthodox Monastery of All Celtic Saints, founded in 2010 when Father Seraphim took over Kilninian, the Church of St. Ninian and St. Cuthbert on the Isle of Mull, marks the establishment of the first Orthodox Monastery in the Scottish Isles in over a millennium. This revival continues a monastic history at Kilninian that stretches back to the late sixth century. Early monastics were drawn to the site by St. Ninian’s Holy Well, a spring believed to possess miraculous healing powers, fostering a flourishing Celtic Monastery of St. Ninian until Viking incursions ended monastic life in the region.

After centuries of abandonment, Kilninian became a Protestant parish. A new church was built in 1755 over the foundations of the earlier monastic structure, which remains in use for services today. The monastery has faced modern challenges, notably a severe storm in November 2013 that significantly damaged the church’s roof and bell tower. The extensive repairs, costing over two hundred thousand pounds, took more than two years to complete, demonstrating the community’s dedication to preserving this sacred site.

Today, the Orthodox monastic community is comprised of two monasteries: the Nuns’ House at Kilninian on Mull, and a brothers’ monastery on Iona. This multi-national community, drawing members from Canada, the United Kingdom, Romania, and the United States, operates under the jurisdiction of His Eminence Joseph, Metropolitan of Southern and Western Europe, of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Romania. The monastery at Kilninian continues to be a vibrant center for Orthodox faith, fostering a unique blend of ancient Celtic spirituality and contemporary monastic life.