Why would I choose to write on such a topic? Well, I hope somewhere in the reading of this that you may begin to understand. What we will try to honestly answer are these questions: 1. Where does the name Culdee come from?, 2. Who were they and what were their beliefs?, 3. What happened to them in the course of time?, 4. What lessons do they hold for us as pagans now?
The name culdee is certainly odd enough. It appears to come from the word 'Culdich' which means 'certain strangers'. This doesn't really make any more sense unless you understand the reason for it's use. In the year 37 AD, there appeared on the shores of the british isles a very strange people indeed. They spoke a different language and they looked decidedly different. They were followers of Jesus and had come to Britain in an attempt to escape the persecution that followed after the death of their leader. They landed
in the West Britons and were met by the king of the region, Arvaragus. They must have seemed to be pleasant enough for he housed them in the local druid college. After a short period of time Arvaragus granted them a plot of land equal to twelve hides on which to build the first christian church in Britain. It is believed that this is the church at Glastonbury. In fact there is some evidence to back this claim. In the Domesday survey of AD 1088 we find a passage that reads thus: "The Domus Dei in the great monastery at
Glastingbury. This Glastingbury church posesses in it's own villa XII hides of land for which have never paid tax." It also seems to be true that after building the church several of the druids in the region that had known these 'culdich' converted to christianity. Since they were of the priest class already they were made ministers in the church and began to convert others to their cause. It makes one wonder just why it was so simple for these druids to drop everything that they believed and then seek to bring others onto the
same path. If we look at the druids from a historical point of view then we may have the answer to our question.
First of all, the druids had been adopting and absorbing religions ever since they began the long move from the Balkans. They would come into a new area, and recognize similarities in their own beliefs and those of the inhabitants of the new region. Some of the Druids might choose to stay behind and help these people while others would continue on the journey, taking these new insights with them to the next place. So when these 'culdich' came along who is not to say that this is precisely what happened. There is also the fact
that these 'cludich' were people who had known Jesus and gotten the message from his own lips. Their beliefs were undoubtedly different than those that we know today. They hadn't had the influence of the romans or greeks added to it yet. Both of these races were conquering people and when they learned that they could let religion do it for them that is what they decided to use. The message of christianity suffered as it was put to use in a way it was never intended to be used. For the controlling of the people. What was
related to the druids had to be something entirely different from what we know of christianity today. After all these were not men who were low in intelligence. In order to become a druid they were required to memorize all of the bardic works, as well as the rest of the knowledge that they used, because it was not allowed to write any of that knowledge down. And we cannot believe that they simply did this as an act of betrayal. Why would they consider such a thing? As druids they were in the highest part of celtic society, they were advisors to the leaders and it was anathema to kill a druid in battle. It is much more likely that the message was one that the druids could comprehend and accept as the next logical step in the evolving of their beliefs.
When the druids converted to christianity they didn't simply leave all the old ways behind, they incorporated their knowldege into their new duties. It can be seen in the sybolism of the Culdee church and in the fact that until the Council of Whitby in 664 AD they figured the holiday of easter to be a different time than that of their Roman Catholic counterparts. It is even said that they did not bother to change their dress, instead retaining the white robes of the druids. If you read the Carmina Gadelica which is a
collection of celtic-christian prayers you cannot help but see the strong ties to nature within these prayers. In fact saints in the Culdee church were said to have talked to the animals, which is usually only attributed with Francis of Assisi. So there can be no doubt of the druidic influence in the Culdee church.
The church was allowed to grow unmolested up until the beginning of the seventh century. It was in 597 that Pope Gregory sent missionaries to convert the anglo-saxon people who had moved into the british ilses. When the Culdee church heard the message that they had to give they were astounded that it could possibly differ so much from their own beliefs. In fact it prompted a monk by the name of Columbanus to write a message to the pope: "Your chair O pope is filled with heresy. Deadly errors have crept into it; it harbours horrors and impieties." However the romans had learned to conquer with religion instead of force and the situation rapidly declined. Despite the best efforts of the Culdees the catholics began to make headway. In fact, Gregory was so happy with his progress that he sent out more missions equipped with all the vestments of the vatican. In time the Culdee church died out except for a few monasteries on the remote islands of Ireland and Scotland. They left many legacies behind, but none greater than their artwork, which can be seen in The Book of Kells, and other works.
Interesting you might say, but what is the point of this for me. First let me say that it is vitally important for us to know our heritage. If we canunderstand the past it prepares us better for the future. Secondly, it helps us to see that the christians of today have probably been duped and that the original teachings of Jesus were undoubtedly much closer to our own beliefs.And lastly to show that at least in the British ilses the first christians were probably very much pagan, and that on some of those remote ilses they
still exist today. The message of christianity was not always one of hate.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
1. Elder, Isabel Hill, Celt, Druid, and Culdee,Covenant Publishing Co.,
London, 1973
2. Hope, Murray, Practical Celtic Magic,Aquarian Press, London, 1987
3. Druid FAQ, http://www.uogelph.ca/~bmyers/dfaq4.html#24
4. Catholic Encyclopedia: Abbey of Whitby,
(by Taliesn)
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