Iona Hermitage

The Monastery established an Orthodox presence on Iona in the summer of 2022, when we purchased Iona Cottage. The Hermitage is dedicated to the Dormition of the Mother of God and all the Saints of Iona.

We always knew that we would one day have a hermitage on Iona. Spiritually, it is the ultimate fruit of our Monastery on Mull and the fulfilment of St Columba’s prophecy about the return of the monks to Iona. Symbolically, the Orthodox Hermitage on Iona is the final act in reclaiming the Isles for Orthodox monasticism and provides the Monastery with immense opportunity for missionary work.

Iona Cottage is a beautiful house from the early 1800s, located in the the historic conservation area of Iona. The Hermitage will accommodate part of our community, as well as providing our pilgrims with a unique opportunity to spend quiet, contemplative time on St Columba’s Holy Island. The Abbey, St Oran’s Chapel and Martyr’s Bay are all just a few minutes walking distance from the Hermitage.