563 CE
Columba Founds Iona Abbey
About this moment
Iona Abbey is an abbey located on the island of Iona, off the larger Isle of Mull on the west coast of Scotland. It is one of the oldest Christian religious centres in Western Europe, and was a focal point for the spread of Christianity throughout Scotland. It was founded, along with its monastic community, by Saint Columba and his twelve companions in 563, when Iona was part of the Kingdom of Dál Riata.