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Papa Stronsay (; ) is a small island in Orkney, Scotland, lying north east of Stronsay. It is in size, and above sea level at its highest point. After being largely abandoned, the island was bought at the end of the 20th century by traditionalist Catholic monks of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, who operate a monastery and farm there.
A thin tongue of land curls west from the main part of the island, and then south to form the Point of the Graand (a local word meaning a "sandbar"). The island, in general, is low-lying, reaching a mere at its highest point.
There is an light beacon in the north east.
The island is one of the "Papeys" or "islands of the papar". Joseph Anderson noted that in the Orkneyinga saga "The two Papeys, the great and the little (anciently Papey Meiri and Papey Minni), now Papa Westray and Papa Stronsay, are both mentioned in the Saga. Fordun in his enumeration of the islands, has a 'Papeay tertia' third, which is not now known."Anderson (1893) Footnote to Chapter XVIII, p.38
The “two stones” at the head and foot would have been the dividers of the stalls in the original structure rather than Headstone as such.
The unknown writer of the Orkneyinga saga wrote that "Everyone agrees that of all the Earls of Orkney he Rögnvald was the most popular and gifted, and his death was mourned by many. Orkneyinga saga (1978) Chapter XIX "Earl Rögnvald's Burial".
A replica of the Papa Stronsay cross is positioned at the entrance of Golgotha Monastery. The original, which is believed to date from the medieval period,De Villiers, Henri Adam (04 August 2011) “Papa Stronsay, the New Northern Thebaid”. New Liturgical Movement. Retrieved 01 February 2024. was found on the island in a graveyard close to St Nicholas’ Chapel around 1850. It was taken to Melsetter House on Hoy and an image of the stone was drawn for the 1856 first volume of Sculptured Stones of Scotland by John Stuart. By 1888 the stone had been lost. "Measured drawing of cross-slab from Papa Stronsay". Canmore. Retrieved 04 February 2024. Described as a "Greek cross with scroll terminals and rectangular base" the cross is featured on the coat of arms of the monastery.
In 2001 the island had a recorded population of 10 although by 2011 there were no "usual residents" living there as recorded by the census. a dozen monks lived there and in 2022 the census recorded a resident population of nine.
According to folklore, some of the Papa Stronsay natives were descended from a female selkie. This was because they had horny skin on their feet and hands, and permanently smelled of fish.
History
The island has the remains of two chapels and has been described as the site of the most northerly early Christianity monastery ever found. St Nicholas' chapel dates from the eleventh century, and an eighth-century Picts monastery may lie under it. The site was in a good state of repair circa 1783, but the structure was completely demolished sometime before 1795 "to provide material for a barn". "Papa Stronsay, St Nicholas' Chapel". Canmore. Retrieved 4 February 2024. St Bride's Chapel, located near to what is now the monastery, was of a similar size to St Nicholas's. It was in ruins in 1900 and all surface trace of it had vanished by 1928. "Papa Stronsay, St Brides Chapel". Canmore. Retrieved 4 February 2024. Other remains include , a burnt mound, and a number of abandoned crofts.
Earl's Knoll
Earl's Knoll, or Earl's Know is the remains of a chambered cairn constructed in the Neolithic period, likely of the Orkney-Cromarty type, located at the south east overlooking the Golgotha Monastery and the island's Bountifur pier. "Earl’s Knoll, Papa Stronsay". UHI Archaeology Institute. Retrieved 4 February 2024. An excavation of the site took place in 1795 which was described as follows.
Death of Earl Rögnvald
The Orkneyinga saga also records that Earl of Orkney Rögnvald Brusason was killed on Papa StronsayAnderson (1893) Chapter XVIII "Earl Rögnvald Slain". circa 1046:
Modern era
A fertile island, it became an important centre for the curing of herring in the eighteenth century, but was abandoned in the 1970s.
Present day
In 1999, the island was purchased from farmer Charles Ronald Smith by the monastic community of the Sons of the Most Holy Redeemer, a traditionalist Catholic religious congregation formerly affiliated with the Society of St. Pius X. In 2008 the congregation, along with most of its members, was received into full communion with the Holy See. Monks at the Golgotha Monastery, which has a working farm, hail from as far afield as Australia, Samoa, South Africa and Poland. The ancient monastic ruins dating back to the 7th and 8th centuries mark Papa Stronsay as a holy island and the intention is to rebuild them.
Folklore
Earl's Know is traditionally thought to be the final resting place of Sir Patrick Spens. His burial there is related by William Edmonstoune Aytoun (1813–1865), who after his retirement as Sheriff and Lord Admiral of Orkney and Shetland edited a collection of Scottish poetry. In his forward to the ballad about Spens, Aytoun wrote:
See also
External links
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