Dublin and More-Part 2

      After zone conference ended, Elder and I drove back into Dublin to visit Dublin's most famous cathedral, Christ's Church. We had listen to CDs and read a lot about the cathedral, but all were understatements. It was also indescribable. I now see why it is another one of Ireland's great treasures! 

     The Vikings first founded this site in 1030 and a Viking "church" was built there. By 1152, the church officially became an Irish church with Archbishop Laurence O'Toole at the head. O'Toole made wonderful changes, not only to its structure, but also started to evolve the Irish church into what it is today. Over its history of many, many years, countless famous people, including kings and queens have walked its tiles. In 1562, the roof collapsed, causing an immediate process of repairing the building which lasted until 1870! Repairs currently continue to be on-going and probably always will be. In 1742, choirs from both St. Patrick's cathedral and Christ's Church sang at the world premier of Handel's Messiah!! Christ's Church is also famous for the oldest and still working belfry bells, which Elder and I heard as we stood beneath them. They were music to my ears!

     Here are many photographs of both the outside, the inside (both main floor and it's crypt) and the antique treasures it holds. The last picture is a favorite of mine. I can't wait until you get down to the end of this section. Again, so sorry for the large numbers of pictures. It was another photographer's dream come true to capture them.

Christ's Christ beneath a beautiful heaven

A close-up of belfry

One of the century old exterior doors

Another exterior door. It makes me wonder how old these doors are and who passed through them

The chapel!

The chapel's ceiling!!

An interior door

One of the most beautiful baptistrys that I have ever seen

Look at the detail in this piece. Absolutely beautiful!

Look at that ceiling, let alone the stain glass windows!

This my friends is real medieval tile. The coolest thing ever!

Another picture of the tile. I could not believe that I, at that vey moment, was blessed to be walking on such an historic piece of Ireland

The main altar in chapel

The new organ that was installed in 1984

The back altar behind the main altar

So many stained glass windows, each of them so beautful and artistic

The right sided aisle of the main chapel 

Tomb of one of Ireland's famous sons, Strongbow

     

     Strongbow was a great leader for Ireland during the Anglo-Norman invasion in the late 12th century. Strongbow helped the Irish hold back the English armies until peace could be made with the king. Still, today, Strongbow is honored as a courageous son of Ireland. Now for a funny story.

     I was standing on the right side of the chapel's aisle near the tomb of Strongbow. Directly across from me was the front admissions desk for the cathedral. A middle-age Irish woman was manning the desk. I went over to her to express my awe of the chapel, the basement crypt and it church's many treasures, including the tomb of Strongbow. She thanked me for my kind words. As we were talking, I told her that I was serving in Ireland as a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After I said that, she just stared at me like she didn't understand. I then told her that most Irish people know us as Mormons. She immediately caught on. She, then, wanted to tell me a funny story that literally happened to her years ago. I told her that I would be happy to listen.

     She said that one day, she was giving a tour of the church to a small group of visitors. When they all got to Strongbow's tomb, she stopped the group to tell them about Strongbow. She told them all that Strongbow was a Norman. After her lecture finished at that spot, she asked if there were any questions. An older woman in the back asked her in a confused question form, "What year did Strongbow become a Mormon?" She said everybody was laughing so hard. I thought that she was going to fall over laughing while she was telling me that punchline right then. She kept repeating to me, "I said he was Norman, not Mormon!"

 

     Elder and I also went down into the church's basement crypt, which centuries ago, it truly was a crypt! Today it is a museum of many of the treasure's of Christ's Church. Come on, let's go!

I was absolutely amazed at this ancient scene in front of me. The crypt turned and twisted in so many directions, always with something ancient to see!

Is this old crest just the coolest thing ever??? Wow!!

They even had a wardrobe that you could put on! Talk about feeling like royalty!

There were magnificent platters (one from King William 111 from 1691) and gold chalices in many separate displays

The platter on the bottom left is the one given by William 111

This is Christ's Church most treasured document. This is the original Irish Magna Carta written in 1216! Elder and I stood there for like 20 minutes just staring at it. Unbelievable!!!

When we were ready to leave, the cathedral was also closing for the day. Remember that Irish woman behind the admission desk? Well she was trying to tell new comers that the cathedral was closing and would reopen the next morning. She had one of these keys in her hand as she stood guard at the door. I asked her if I could hold that key and she said, "I can do better than that!" After a minute she returned and handed me all 4 of the known keys of the cathedral!

Wow!!! Look at me! I don't have very many photographs of me, but this one is definitely a keeper! Wow, so amazing! So memorable!

     I told some family members that I would take several pictures of downtown Dublin.

Downtown old Dublin with many offices

More stores and living quarters in old Dublin

What the housing for people looks like in Dublin

     Early the next morning, we left our rented room and headed back into Dublin for our last day there.  Early this day, I would cross off one of my highest numbered bucket list items. I have done calligraphy for many years of my life since I was a teenager. At times, I felt that it would be appropriate to illuminate the first letter of the quote or scripture that I was drawing. I loved to illuminate! There was always something very special about it anytime I added it to a piece of artwork Early today, I would see for myself the ultimate and one of the oldest calligraphed books in the world, namely the Book of Kells. The book is housed in the Old Library inside Trinity College, one of the oldest and most elite universities in Europe (1592). Just stepping onto the campus was a thrill. 

     The Book of Kells, produced about 800 AD by monks off the coast of Scotland, is the four gospels of the New Testament, calligraphed and illuminated to perfection! I have looked many times on the internet and read several articles about it over the years. I find the Book of Kells, as most people do, an old Latin script drawn as no other, using colors that are still vibrant today, over a thousands years later. I can't tell you how excited I was that morning!

     When we first entered the Book of Kells visitor center, we were greeted with large, enhanced copies of some of the book's pages. The display was very informative and even had, under glass, many of the materials that made the colored inks or goat skins and feathered quills that was used on the book's pages so long ago. The display wrapped around the large room in succession, building upon knowledge just received from the previous display. I was in heaven!

Trinity College logo

The main building of Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

Another campus building that dates hundreds of years past

The old bell tower that was also built hundreds of years ago

One of the Book of Kells illuminated, calligraphed pages. There are 680 pages just like this in the book

Another page from the book. Three different scribes and four artist worked on all the pages! Just look at the amazing detail!

The display of the different, vibrant materials that made the inks for the book

     After finishing the display room, we were escorted into the darkened, temperature controlled room where right in the middle stood a large glass case and inside, the book! No photography was allowed. The pages of the book are changed everyday before the museum opens, to protect the book and to allow frequent visitors to never see the same page twice. I asked the guard if the page had been changed that morning and he confirmed that it was. 

This is what the book today looks like, protected by its secured glass case. One of the most amazing sites that I have ever seen.

      I planted myself smack dab in front of the book. Other people surrounded me. For like 2-3 minutes, I was able to hold back my tears, but then they started rolling down my cheeks. I was not only amazed and thrilled, but I was so very happy to finally be there. Knowing that I may not ever get the chance to see it again, I stood still. Not being able to read the Latin words, I wondered what section of the four gospels was selected that morning. As I looked a little bit closer, I found a label that gave me the answer.

     The label said Mark 6:3-15. Again, as I stood there, I wondered in my heart what scripture was written on that page in the KJV of the Bible that very day. Because I could not pull out my phone to see what that scripture block said, I stood a few more minutes and then went into a staircase and looked it up. Remember, I was only there that day. Having a spiritual experience just days ago, I did not expect to have another one, but I did that very minute! That sacred experience that day was such a tender mercy given to me straight from God. 

     The scripture block that was listed on the label tells of Jesus calling his 12 apostles and sending them off two by two to preach the gospel! Now, you can't tell me that on the only day that, I, a full-time missionary of Jesus Christ, would be there in front of THAT newly turned page, would be seeing a coincidence? IT WAS NOT!!! I can't tell you of the immediate outpouring of love and especially assurance that tender mercy put into my heart at that very moment. And, yes. I cried even harder. 

     As I walked out of that room seconds before, the guard told me that something just as awesome would next be in my view site. Boy was he right on! I climbed up the stairs and........boom!

I had seen this picture many times, but never realized that it stood above the Book of Kells. When I turned the corner and saw this, my jaw dropped....to the floor. This photo will never be able to show the true majestic effect of what is called "the long hall." 

     This long hall, built in 1732, has over 200,000 antique books. It is one of the most renown libraries in the world. Every book is taken down off its shelf, cleaned and dusted and then placed back where it belongs. They said that it takes four years to clean and dust every book before the rotation begins again. Here are some more pictures.

A winding staircase up into the second floor of book shelves

One section of books on shelves. You will notice that some of the books have a small, white band around the books, like on the top row of  shelves in this picture. That is to tell the librarian that that book is very fragile 

The books are arranged with the larger, heavier books on the bottom shelves and the smaller, lighter books on the top shelves. That ladder was 22 feet tall!

I am hoping that most of you know that Ireland's state seal is the Irish harp. I have heard one played a couple of times and it's sound is very unique and beautiful

One of the treasures only found in the long hall is the harp that belong to Brian Boru from the fourteenth or fifteenth century. This is the harp that portrays Ireland's great seal. What a great way to end out time at Trinity College

     As I end today, I thought I would summarize the good that we did this past week. We met with our YSA family Monday night for family home evening where each picked a general conference talk, summarized it and told why they liked that talk. It was a very special evening. We always enjoy being with these amazing young adults. On Tuesday we attended both our district missionary training session, where Elder had to give a 5 minute talk, and also attended our weekly branch presidency correlation meeting to report and accept new assignments. Wednesday, we gathered with the largest class to date in the branch's English Connect course, where we help many Brazilians learn how to speak English. 

     On Thursday, we meet at Sunil and Nelima's house for an authentic Indian dinner with chicken and rice smothered in a delicious spicy, curry sauce (yum, yum). We also helped give that family a spiritual thought and a prayer before we left. Then Friday, I found a homeless man sheltering in a corner outside and was able to share my blessings by buying him a meal. You know, it is really true, that when you give as the Savior did, your heart just lights up with great joy. Later that afternoon, we got our next COVID boosters and then went to the branch's Book of Mormon class for an awesome discussion. I decided that Saturday would be an official date night, so we went to a local pub for dinner with traditional Irish music and dancing. Another blessed week here in Limerick!

They played wonderful traditional Irish music

So fun to watch the Irish jig done right in front of your eyes!

     With so many personal spiritual experiences these past two weeks, along with general conference, I testify again that Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, lives and loves each of us. Their only desire is to show us the covenant path back home to live with Them and our families together forever! Part 3 will be posted next week. See you then! Love you all!