“It is the time however for me to endorse my fellow monk, Culann, by saying he is one of the bravest and steadfast friends I have had the pleasure of meeting. I can only wish him and the lovely Sister Fea all the very best for their future together. And I speak also for all the monks on Iona.” More applause greeted this oration as Bryan took his seat.
Abbot Jowan raised both hands to quieten the crowd, before asking Fea and Culann to stand before him. There was silence.
“Brothers and Sisters, we are gathered here to-day to witness my solemn duty to join these two people in holy matrimony.” Jowan asked Fea’s and Culann to clasp each other’s hands. He then took a long piece of embroidered cloth from around his neck, which was made for this purpose, and wound it around the couple’s clasped hands.
“This symbolises the binding together in marriage of Fea and Culann. Do you both accept this symbol as a contract before God, to honour and obey your partner, forever and ever, in sickness and in health, until death do you part?”
“I do”, responded Fea quietly and Culann rather more loudly.
“Then I declare you man and wife,” stated Abbot Jowan with a large smile. The happy couple, possibly embarrassed at being the centre of attention in front of such a large audience, simply smiled at each other, and continued holding hands.
Abbot Jowan’s final decree was “I have taken this opportunity to ask our monks to prepare a meal in the refectory. You are all welcome to join.”
And that is how Fea and Culann were married.
FINIS
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Thank you for reading my book. If you enjoyed it, please take a moment to leave me a review at your favourite e-retailer.
With kind regards
Duncan MacDonald
About the Author ~ ~
Photo by Melbourne The Photographer
Duncan is an Australian currently living in Jakarta, Indonesia. He is married to Shinta Dewi Sanawiya, muse, mate, motivator and President Director of the business he founded in 1993, dMAC Group in Asia.
Duncan has had a passion for history since childhood. He travelled to Turkey in 1975 to visit ANZAC Cove, scene of Australia and New Zealand’s entry to World War I. He then worked for 5 years in London, enabling him to research the Roman Empire’s occupation of Britain and question the Arthurian legends.
Duncan has written this 7th century historical novel with the hope that particularly younger people, if they find it interesting enough to finish, as a bonus will have acquired valuable knowledge about a fascinating era.
Umrah - (mini hajj) Duncan and Shinta performed Umrah in 2013. Photos of this special event when they visited Jeddah, Mecca and Madinah are shown on Duncan’s Photo Digest >>>
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Discover other titles by Duncan MacDonald
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More information on Duncan MacDonald is available on:
www.dmacDigest.com
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Bibliography
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Historic Costume from Ancient Times to the Renaissance, Tom Tierney, Dover Publications, New York, 2003
The Monks of Melrose, Rev. W.G. Allan, James Thin, Edinburgh, 1892
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Picts, Edited by Christopher Tabraham, HMSO Publications, Edinburgh, 1989
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Rome’s Northern Frontier AD 70-235 Beyond Hadrian’s Wall, Nic Fields, Osprey Publishing, Oxford UK,2005
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Scotland A Concise History, Fitzroy MacLean, Thames & Hudson, London, 1970
The Past All Around Us, The Readers Digest Association, London, 1979
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