Catacomban Mhàiri Mhagdalene/ Catacombs of Mary Magdalene

(in English below)

Air Eilean Lesbos sa Ghrèig tha catacomban ann a chaidh a chladhach le muinntir an àite às dèidh do Mhàiri Mhagdalene nochdadh dhaibh. Air an eadar-lìon chan fhaighear mòran fiosrachaidh mun dèidhinn ann am Beurla. Dar a ràinig mi baile Skopelos cha robh aon soidhne ri fhaicinn. Dh’fhaighnich mi do ghrunnan dhaoine, ach cha robh iad ga mo thuigsinn. Mu dheireadh thall lorg mi eaglais agus chaidh mi a-steach ann. Bha an eaglais ortadocs sin làn stuthan cràbhaidh mar is dual dhaibh.

Bha cailleach ann an aodach dhubh na suidhe an sin agus dh’fhaighnich mi dhithse a-rithist: “Maria Magdalena?” Rinn i soidhne dhomh nach b’ e seo an eaglais cheart idir, ach gun robh agam ri falbh suas an rathad. Chan fhada mus an do ràinig mi eaglais eile, ach bha an geata timcheall oirre dùinte. Abair briseadh dùil. B’ e seo an aon chothrom a bha gu bhith agam gus tadhail oirre. Bha e 7.45 sa mhadainn ge-tà. Chaidh mi timcheall is thog mi dealbhan bhon taobh a-muigh. Dìreach mus robh mi am beachd falbh nochd cailleach eile ann an aodach dhubh le gàire air a h-aodann: “Kali mera!” – madainn mhath, ars mise. “Kali mera – katakombe?” dh’fhaighnich ise. Mu dheireadh thall bha fios aig cuideigin mu dhèidhinn Màiri Magdalene.

Le iuchar mhòr dh’fhosgail i an toiseach an geata agus an uair sin an eaglais. Sheall i dhomh an icon a tha an-diugh na sheasadh na broinn, ach a-rèir choltais lorgar e gu h-ìosal san talamh. B’ abhaist taighean-còmhnaidh a bhith air an làraich seo. Bha Anton agus Eilidh Tsantarlioti a’ fuireach an seo timcheall air a’ bhliadhna 1900. A-rèir aon làrach-lìn co-dhiù nochd Màiri Magdalene dha Eilidh is i ag ràdh rithe gun robh i a’ fuireach sa ghàradh aice agus gum miannaicheadh i gun losgar coinneal dhi fad na h-ùine. Rinn iad sin ri taobh a’ chruinn-ola.

Aig an àm sin bha Eilean Lesbos fo smachd na h-Ìmpire Otomanach agus b’ fheudar dhaibh seo a chumail dìomhair. Ach chan fhada mus d’ fhuair daoine sa bhaile a-mach mu dhèidhinn agus thòisich mìorbhailean tachairt. Bhiodh daoine a’ cur gainmheach ann an gloinne agus ga thoirt dhan a’ chraobh-ola. An uair sin chuireadh iad dhan uisge e agus rachadh tinneasan a shlànachadh. Dh’àrdaich tobar faisg air làimhe chun na h-ìre nach fhacas riamh agus chunnacas icon na bhroinn ged nach b’ urrainn do dhuine greim fhaotainn air.

Thogar seada beag mar eaglais. An uair sin nochd Màiri Magdalene do dh’fhear, Haralambos Rallis, agus dh’iarr i air cladhach anns an t-seada. Còmhla ri daoine eile rinn e sin agus as dèidh greis fhada lorgar icon. Thuirt Màiri Magdalene ris gum bu chòir dhan icon a thaisbeanadh san eaglais, ach gum bu chòir dhaibh cumail orra a’ cladhach. Là brèagha a choireigin dh’iarr i orra stad. Thuirt i: “Tha mi a-nis òirleach air falbh bho aodann a’ chruinne-cè agus cha leig mi leas ach dà chladhach gus an tèid mo thaisbeanadh. Ach cha tèid an-dràsta.” Gheall i gun gum biodh mòran mhìorbhailean ann dar a thachras sin.

Catacombs of Mary Magdalene

On the Greek island of Lesbos there are catacombs which were dug after Mary Magdalene allegedly appeared to local people. The information about them on the internet in English is rather scarce. In the village of Skopelos I couldn’t see any signs and nobody seemed to understand English.

At last I found a church, but not the right one. An elderly lady in black pointed up the hill. When I arrived, the gates were locked and so I took a walk around the church. It was 7.45am and this was the only chance I had to see the catacombs. When I was just about to leave another elderly lady in black appeared with a big smile on her face: “Katakombe?” she asked while opening the gates.

In the church there is an icon and my understanding was that it had been found in the catacombs. Anthony and Helen Tsantarlioti had been living on this site in 1900. According to one blog, Mary Magdalene appeared to them and marvels started to happen. A nearby well rose to unprecedented levels and displayed an icon that nobody could reach. People’s illnesses were cured.

A small shed was built as a chapel. Mary Magdalene appeared to local resident, Haralambos Rallis, asking him to dig inside the shed. He did so together with other villagers and after a long and strenuous time they found an icon. Mary Magdalene told him to display it in the church and to continue digging. One day she told them to stop. She said: “I am now an inch from the face of the earth and do not need more than two digs to be revealed. But not now”. She promised there would be many wonders when the day came.