Walking In The Footsteps Of Greatness: Saint Patrick's Cathedral

St. Patrick's Cathedral

     Ireland is truly a land of both natural and man made beauty.  Be it those enigmatic glens that seem to be splashed with every shade of green that imagination could ever conjure up, to those formidable churches that suduley exude the charm and grace of the centuries that they have endured through.  This island has a raw beauty that will completely captivate your mind and overwhelm the senses.  One of these truly memorable houses of worship has to be St. Patrick's Cathedral. 

     This elegant and imposing structure is a corner stone of Dublin and is simply a must see for travelers.  This Gothic style church was constructed in the 13th century and has since been one of the major religious focal points for Dubliners.  So why is this magnificent church named after Ireland's legendary saint?  Well, in 431 A.D. St. Patrick returned to Ireland after years of religious study.  He came back to spread Christianity to the masses as well as to root out the evil that was running rampant throughout the land.  The church was built over the site where St. Patrick baptised hundred of pagans.  In fact, you can still see the hand carved stone that covered the well from which he performed these baptisms in.  This large stone is adorned with the iconic Celtic cross and is truly a thing to behold.  During The Reformation, this church became a house of worship for The Anglican Church and is still practiced here today.  In the 1600's, Oliver Cromwell and his troops used this beautiful house of worship as a horse stable.  He was Calvinistic and had very little regard for the Anglicans.  As you enter the building, look to the right side of the nave and you can see Jonathan Swift's grave.  In the 1800's, he was the Dean of the cathedral, but most people know him from his famous novel Gulliver's Travels. Since Swift's time, the place has been one of the most popular churches in Dublin and is the place to be on Sunday mornings.

The Stone That Covered St. Patrick's Well

     This elegant cathedral has seen it's fair share of history and the major players that have shaped this extraordinary land.  So if you want to see a place that was at the forefront of Irish history, or you just want to see a truly remarkable church, than come to Saint Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin.

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To my dedicated fan's,
     Did you notice that this article was published early?  It is meant to be a supplement for the one that should be published on Saturday the 16th.  I am truly sorry if this has created any confusion or problems, but I will be in Kenya for the better part of next week and Internet access can be very sparse in this part of the world.  I will be there gathering more fun and interesting tales for the blog.  I should be able to resume our usual publishing cycle on Saturday the 23rd. Well, may your travels be memorable and always full of joy!
Christopher Morrison
Writer and Editor of
The Thrifty Adventurer