Celtic Christianity

Celtic Christianity refers to the early medieval Christian practice of the British
in Wales, the Irish, the Scottish and of the mainland Europeans, particularly the
Gauls. According to most scholars, Christianity entered Britain in the fourth
century after the Roman Emperor Constantine legalized the flourishing religious
sect, though there is a tradition that the very first Church community was
founded under the leadership of Joseph of Arimathea. When Roman influence over
Britain waned as a result of the political decline of the Roman Empire the
development of Celtic Christianity as a distinct sub group of the early medieval
Roman Catholic Church began to rise, and Celtic Christianity developed its own
distinct practices and traditions.

Celtic Christian Beliefs

The early Celtic Christians who lived during the first centuries following the
death of Jesus Christ, developed a unique form of spirituality. At the center of this
spirituality were the themes of love and respect for Gods creation, as well as the
significance of human relationships.
The Celtic Christians of this period believed that the universe was filled with
Gods presence and as such every element of creation was created to God,
including the smallest particles (or atoms) that made up matter.
In addition, the early Celtic Church taught that Jesus represented the ultimate
example of human life. To be united with Jesus in spiritual prayer was to
understand what it meant to be fully human. Jesus also represented a harmonious
balance between the energies of the body and of the mind, as well as an ideal
example of the Celtic Christian principles of wisdom and of love.
Community also held a central role in the early Celtic Christian Church.
Emphasis was placed on sharing food, work and financial assistance to ones
neighbors, a principle that fostered an environment of altruism.
Some Celtic Christians chose to live as eremetics (herdmits) and in monastic
communities so as to follow the example of Jesus, who lived in remote areas as
an outsider in order to preach the word of God.

Celtic Christian Symbols

There are a variety of symbols associated with early Celtic Christianity. Some
such symbols include:

The Sun Wheel: this symbol derives from the Druids, who were the priestly
class of ancient Celtic societies. The sun wheel was representative of the wheel
of Taranis, who was a Celtic sun god. The sun wheel is symbolic of the solar
calendar, the solar cross, as well as the Celtic cross which was derived from the
sun wheel symbol.
Brighids Cross: this ancient Celtic Christian symbol is more commonly known
as the Brides cross. It honors St. Brigid of Ireland (who is also referred to as
Brighid, Bride and Bridget), however some experts believe that St. Brigid did not
actually exist and was instead a cover for a Celtic goddess. The cross likely
represents a form of solar cross, and both the symbol and its woven appearance
are believed to predate Christianity in Ireland.
The Celtic Cross: the emblem of the Celtic Christian Church, the cross is,
according to Irish legend, to have been introduced to Ireland by St. Columba.

The Celtic cross was an early symbol of the sun god Taranis and is a variation of
the sun cross. While its origins are unknown, variations of the cross date as far
back as 5000 BCE.
The Salmon of Wisdom: representative of wisdom and prophecy, this symbol
was featured in the legends of King Arthur. As the fish symbol is associated
with Jesus, this symbol became increasingly popular during the spread of
Christianity to the Celtic islands, during which time it became associated with
Jesus.
The Tree of Life: the tree (an Druidhe de Beatha) represented life for the
Celtics because it provided them with basic sustenance, as well as material to
make weapons; also, in Celtic creation stories, trees were the ancestors of
humankind. Wood from trees considered to be sacred was believed to have
healing properties. The oak tree had particularly significant spiritual meaning for
the early Celtic Christians, as it was symbolic of the center of the universe. Also,
the Celtic word for oak is daur, which is the origin for the English word door. As
such, the root of the oak tree was believed to be the doorway to the otherworld.