On Tuesday, Sept. 16th, students gathered in Romita Auditorium to find out why 536  AD was the worst year to live through. Professor Daniel Thiery delivered an hour-long  presentation on climatological records and the stories they tell. “Life isn’t always as bad as  it seems.” said Thomas Pavletich, a student in Theiry’s Humanities Inquiry course, “life at  that time was much worse than it is today”. Theory introduces 536 as a year of dread. In  fact, 536 shares many of the natural disturbances of the early 20’s, only in reverse order. As it turns out, 536 had a major influence on Iona as it is today.

In early 2020, Covid-19 ravaged the United States, and in 2023, Canadian wildfires sent  plumes of smoke into the atmosphere resulting in clouds of haze throughout the U.S..

In  536, two colossal volcanic eruptions in Iceland scattered volcanic ash across the world amidst the ongoing struggle against the bubonic plague. These volcanoes are now  entombed in layers of glacial ice. However, unlike what humanity has experienced within the last five years, Theory emphasizes that the disasters of 536 were much more severe and casually intertwined.

According to research using written accounts of crop failures as  well as dendrochronology, the study and dating of tree rings, scholars believe that the two  volcanic eruptions of 536 caused global malnutrition. In turn, this malnutrition exacerbated the spread of the bubonic plague. Among the victims of these disasters was none other than St. Columba himself.

“Columba was 15 when the ash hit the sky,” said Theiry, “and then when the plague hits, he’s 23.”

Theiry explained that this part of  Columba’s life “doesn’t show up in the sources because these sources are written later in  these saints’ lives, in the same way you don’t get stories about Jesus as a kid.” Although  this time is remembered as the Golden Age of Ireland—especially in a religious context— Columba and many others suffered through a multitude of terrifying and tumultuous  events. When asked about the presentation overall, Pavletich said that it was “a great lecture”. Students will continue to study the Medieval Era and beyond with Prof. Theiry,  learning more about the formative years of St. Columba.

Editor’s Note: We would like to apologize to Dr. Theiry as we had misspelled his name in the print version of this article.