| FOGS News Volume XII number 1 All Saints 2000 |
|
| Saints and Ancestors |
| WITH AUTUMN rolling into winter and little hope of a reprieve to help us through the impending dark, it is |
| not difficult to see why early-mediaeval faith had its focus in the Celtic saints whose prayers, blessings and |
| shield (lorica) could guide, protect and give light and whose relics - staff (Ir. bachuill, Lat. baculum), cloak |
| and gospel book - held a power as potent as the saint himself to heal and give strength. In a society which |
| believed more colourfully in the intercession by God and all saints with man, the faith shared by simple |
| monks who travelled the realm to convert and preach to the people of Pictland was a tangible belief for |
| people who already had respect for age and listened to wisdom. Ancestors were after all, only the wise |
| ones in another place and the recitation of one's genealogy kept that sacred connection alive. Latin |
| manuscripts which survive from early-Historic (or so-called 'Dark Age') times are redolent with terms |
| which mean little in today's usage, but which reveal the importance of ancestry to people then. Most of us |
| understand the use of Lat. filius , son and nepos, grandson (sometimes used as a general term for |
| 'descendant'), but probably only modern genealogists would get excited about any generation further back |
| than a third great. It is therefore illuminating to see in the 9thC Pictish Chronicles frequent use of terms such |
| as Lat. atavus for fifth-time ancestor, or, translated into a family history context: one's great-great-great-great- |
| great grandfather. When John of Fordun wrote his Chronicle in 1363, he gave an elaborate account of (for |
| him) a recent historical event: the coronation of Alexander III in July 1249. This was notable not only |
| because the king was a seven-year old boy, but also because of a striking occurrence at Scone. After the |
| boy was consecrated on the coronation stone and had received homage by earls and nobles, he was |
| suddenly hailed by a 'mountain-man' who saluted him in his mother tongue: 'Benach de Re Alban Alexander |
| mac Alexander mac William mac Henri mac David mac Malcolm.. ('blessing on king of Scots') repeating his |
| royal lineage back to its source.' If we have forgotten this connection or feel no need for saints or our |
| ancestral roots, is it not our own loss? |
|
| Member Feedback - Publications |
| MEMBER Jill Russell points out that, as a group with eclectic interests, we may like the 2001 Classic Crop |
| Circle Calendar designed & produced by Lucy Pringle [5 Town Lane, Sheet, Petersfield Hants GU32 2AF |
| price £10+p+p£1.50 UK or +£3.50 internatl] with glossy photographs of sacred places, historic houses, and |
| formations of the title. e-mail LucyPringle@cs.com |
| Webpage - http://home.clara.net/lucypringle |
|
| ON CELTIC SPIRITUALITY: Celtic Rituals - an authentic guide to ancient Celtic Spirituality by Alexei |
| Kondratiev pub. New Celtic Publishing ISBN 0-95374-800-6 - recommended by two members. |
|
| Organisations, Projects, Events |
| GROAM HOUSE Museum on Rosemarkie High Street has been given the George Bain Collection of |
| Celtic art by the Bain family and the Museum shows a changing display. In addition to being a focus for |
| Rosemarkie's famous Pictish stones, Groam House hosts an annual lecture by distinguished scholars. For |
| details telephone 01381 620961 or see their scran page at http://www.scran.ac.uk |
|
| NORTH-EAST Studies at University of Aberdeen currently include a course 'Learning to read Scottish |
| Manuscripts' running through January 27; 2nd half-session courses include a 'Fieldwork Portfolio' available |
| until June. For details contact CCE tel.01224 273599 or e-mail f.findlater@abdn.ac.uk |
|
| CSA FAIR in ABERDEEN: The Council for Scottish Archaeology is to hold a Fair at the Music Hall, Union |
| Street, Aberdeen on Saturday May 12, 2001. If you are inspired to participate or to represent FOGS, please |
| contact us by telephone or Email for a form. |
|
| HISTORIC SCOTLAND is conducting a survey on the state of carved stones in Scotland, hoping to find |
| solutions to prevent further decay. Volunteers may telephone 0131 668 8668 for free methodology |
| handbook or e-mail cbrown.hs.scb@gtnet.gov.uk |
|
| SCOTLAND'S CHURCHES Scheme has completed its survey of some 600 historical kirks and chapels, |
| resulting in 'Churches to Visit in Scotland' available in bookshops at £10 hardback, £5.50 softback. |
|
| N.E. heritage projects. . . |
| Elizabeth Allan & Donald Dewar |
| IT IS WITH sadness that we note a joint achievement by a member and our first First Minister, who both |
| died this year, no doubt wishing their deeds to be unsung. However because of their interest, progress was |
| made: Mrs Allan pointed out the awesome beauty of the abandoned quartz stone circle of Auchmaliddie in |
| New Deer. [See newsletters Vol.X no.4 & Vol.XI number 1, Jan. 2000]. Following our request to the First |
| Minister to have it scheduled, the Rt.Hon. Donald Dewar initiated the process which resulted in its becoming |
| a priority for scheduling on Historic Scotland's list. We mourn their passing but thank them both for making a |
| difference. |
|
| A YOUNG post-graduate student in Dundee is of the opinion - as is FOGS - that all monuments of such age, |
| character and significance to our heritage should be protected by scheduling or that the system be changed to |
| provide protection from damage for all national historical monuments. Paul Gelderd would like to move the |
| concept further. |
|
| Taking account of present lack of concern, he would like to see a new system in place, similar to the 'listing' |
| of buildings, providing automatic protection, backed by legal enforcement, for all ancient sites, whether |
| ruined or not. [Historically, sacred sites vandalized or 'investigated' in former centuries, are least likely to get |
| attention by HS and are low on any list for potential scheduling]. We applaud Mr Gelderd's energy and |
| initiative and have faith that the new generation may accomplish a radical but much-needed change in our |
| attitude to our heritage. |
|
| Donaldson interprets Dunnydeer |
| COMMITTEE member and long-time stone circle devotee flight captain-turned-dowser Peter Donaldson |
| has again discovered an unknown stone circle in Perthshire and reported it to the Royal Commission on the |
| Ancient & Historical Monuments of Scotland [RCAHMS]. Meantime he has completed his systematic |
| survey of the Hill of Dunnydeer above the Shevock at Insch, Aberdeenshire and has published a private |
| report which, as before he will make available to members at cost. If you wish to receive a copy, e-mail him |
| at donaldson.meikle@virgin.net or telephone (01467) 671451. |
