This Easter was definitely one to remember. The celebrations began at 7am with a sunrise service at what is now colloquially known as “Mary on the Rock” located on Kirkheugh (church hill) overlooking the North Sea. “Mary on the Rock” is more formally known as “Church of St Mary on the Rock” and beginning as late as 1200 CE was a college of priests that served one of the altars in the adjacent St Andrews Cathedral. Archaeological reports list potential burial sites on the church hill as early as 800 CE! No matter the date, this was one long-standing site of celebrating the resurrection of Christ. Below is a picture of what I’ve termed the worlds oldest park bench, but it also happens to be what remains of the Church of St Mary.
Easter is a holiday worthy of celebration! As my supervisor writes in one of his books, it’s a holiday for which we should crack the champagne bottles open and throw a party! He also mentions that if you take away Christmas from the New Testament, you only lose two chapters. If you take away Easter, you lose the entire New Testament. The resurrection of Christ is no mere holiday, but is the cause of our present joy and future hope as Christians. Don’t let what you heard in church yesterday fade too quickly from your heart or mind. The fact that it happened determines your reality for each and every day. That’s cause for celebration!
Another cause for celebration this Easter morning was….
dolphins!!!
During the service I didn’t hear a word was slightly distracted by the sight of 4-5 dolphins swimming just off the coast. Only a few of us worshippers were positioned so that we could see them nearly the entire service, but most everyone was able to catch a glimpse at the end. What a sight to behold! This was the first time I have ever seen wild dolphins, and of all days and times! I think they were joining in the Easter celebrations!
And here are a few more Easter morning pictures of St Andrews for you. Below you can see how green the grass and fields are already, the stone cottages that make up this town, and the low tide waters of this Easter morning.
The Church of St Mary on the Rock was located just at the top of the asphalt path leading up toward the cathedral wall in the picture below.
And below, part of the remains of the St Andrews Cathedral, served in part by the priests who made up the college of priests at the Church of St Mary on the Rock.
The building to the right and slightly in the distance is the building in which I study each day. “The Roundel” it is called, though only round on one corner, as you can see!
Following the morning church activities, I joined my colleagues in the nearby village of Leuchars for a fabulous Easter meal, after which we each decorated egg cartons (yes, cartons) and had an egg carton hunt in the backyard! Memorable, to say the least!
Another first holiday here in Scotland. It is good to be back.
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