A History of Irish Monks in Medieval Europe

This unique history book substantiates that the island of Ireland played an essential part in early European history – forever dispelling the myth that is was some backwater land mass on the periphery of the then-known world; when in fact Ireland and its people were key players in shaping the culture of Western Europe.

THE IRISH MATRYOSHKA

Accompany the intrepid Irish monk-scholars fearlessly striding across the European continent re-igniting a renaissance of Christian ethos. These Exiles for Christ brought the Light of Christ – Lumen Christi to the semi-pagan homicidal Germanic tribes languishing in the doldrums of ignorance known as the Dark Ages. Unafraid of prelates and princes they built their monasteries on the ruins of a destroyed Roman civilization; they became the tutors and confidants of Kings and Emperors. Their monastic schools taught the sacral languages of Greek, Hebrew, and Latin; as well as astronomy, genealogy, ancient Irish orals sagas, classical philosophies of Plato, Aristotle, Homer, Cato, and Augustine. As monks of the Order of Saint Benedict these Irish scholars were the social architects of the Germanic intelligentsia of Europe; and their illustrious monasteries evolved as the proto-towns of Europe ’s great cities.

Book Reviews

"In a series of chronologically ordered studies, 'The Irish Matryoshka' paints with broad strokes the conversion of Ireland to Christianity and the subsequent spread of the early medieval Irish monks to England and the Continent, bringing their faith and scholarship with them. This book is especially commendable for its dispassionate and reflective discussion of the good and bad points of this Irish mission, and for its use of modern German and French historical work, too often neglected by English-speaking writers."
Dr. Mary Katharine Simms, Senior Lecturer Medieval Studies, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland

...........it gives me great pleasure, on behalf of your National Board officers, to inform you that we consider it an honor and a privilege to give our wholehearted support and endorsement for your fine work.
Sean Og O'Miadhachainn (Jack Meehan), National President, Ancient Order of Hibernians of America

" ......a most lucid account of a fascinating subject that is always of great interest to us Irish.  Please accept my compliments on your considerable research".  
Colonel Donal O'Carroll, President, The Military History Society of Ireland

“Your book is a gem and your scholarship was very impressive. Thank you for taking me on a delightful journey with the saints and the Irish monks. I visited Bobbio in Italy many times, while doing studies in Rome . It would be a wonderful work book for our brotherhood at their meetings. It will enrich our faith and how the Good Lord used the Irish monks to bring the light of CHRIST into the dark ages. Thank you again for the opportunity to be inspired by that missionary tradition.”
 Reverend Michael J. Healy, San Mateo , California , Deputy National Chaplin, Ancient Order of Hibernians in America

Paperback
US Orders in Dollars
Cost: $ 19.95
ISBN: 978-0615-14801-4

Paperback
International Orders in Euros
Cost: € 15.75
ISBN: 978-0615-14801-4

Click here for your E-Book version in Adobe PDF format

Cost: $ 7.95
ISBN: 978-0615-14801-4

I am pleased to announce that the US Library of Congress has notified me of an exception to their policy (not cataloguing privately published books) and granted Library of Congress catalog control number 2008364029 to the Irish Matryoshka

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About the Author:  Séamus ÓhEarcáin (James J. Harkins IV), noted Irish historian, author, and lecturer, a world traveler, he divides his time between Florida , Germany , and Ireland . He holds both American and Irish citizenship. His many titles include: Elected Life Member of the Donegal Historical Society; Florida State Historian of the Ancient Order of Hibernians; Founder, and president of The Florida Catholic Heritage Trail; Trustee of the Tampa Bay History Center; Florida Senate appointee to the Department of Elderly Affairs Advisory Council; and Founder of the South Shore Roundtable for Hillsborough County.


*The Russian word Matryoshka was chosen as a metaphor alluding that each monograph is a highly detailed history for a particular period; for independent reading or as a reference source. The reader has the flexibility to begin with any monograph, but not forgetting that collectively these monographs tell of early Euro-Irish monasticism in the context of those events that shaped western ideals in the Middle Ages.

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