Sheer rock races up from the sea and scrapes the sky. Water dashes into foam and sprays from mossy crags. Gulls circle above before settling on a precarious perch. A puffin stands on the rocks below, blinking in the wind.
Lovely, wild, hostile, nearly uninhabitable…yet for hundreds of years it was inhabited. And we’re not talking about the imaginary warriors of the Star Wars franchise.
We’re talking about some real warriors.
Skellig Michael, Ireland
A tough band of a dozen or so monks lived on the narrow strip of level rock thrust up into the air. Their monastery on Skellig Michael was established in the 6th century. Living on the sharp rock was treacherous, but the monks thrived on the discipline and sacrifice which such a life demanded.
The monks cut steps from the sea all the way up to the little monastery, and quarried stone to build their monastery. They lived in windowless stone huts shaped like beehives to shed the rain. They copied and illuminated manuscripts. They tended a tiny garden to supplement their diet of eggs, fish, and seabirds.
These efforts at survival, however, took second place to the monks’ schedule of prayer. The chief part of every day was spent in the little church in adoration, prayer, and fasting.
The Last Monks of Skellig Michael: The Mysterious Real-Life History Behind Luke Skywalker’s Island reveals the story of these hardy men who dedicated their lives to Christ in an extreme way. You won’t be able to put this page-turner down as you follow the men who trained and fought on the spiritual front. They are the real Jedi. They are the Warrior Monks. Pick up your copy today!
