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102581 Pictures << Previous Picture | Next Picture >> St Fillan's Holy Pool[750 x 561 JPG]
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Unless otherwise stated, this image is the copyright of the submitter. Contact them for permission to reproduce it. |  | | Description | St Fillan's Holy Pool is a natural, deep pool at a sharp bend in the River Fillan. There is now no evidence of stonework but the pool was once divided by a stone dyke into male and female sides. The tradition for healing varies with the teller but seemed to involve persons whose mental stability was in question. They first had to go to the bottom of the pool and surface with stones. They then had to circle stone cairns, now gone, and place a stone on each cairn. They where then stripped naked and taken to the church at the nearby priory where they were tied to the altar, or a straw covered plinth, or St Fillan's tomb, with his bell either on their chest or suspended over their head for the night. If they had broken free by the morning they were heading for a cure, otherwise the process was started again. The tradition of bathing insane persons in the pool is still known locally but the pool is said to have lost its power when a wild bull was thrown into it in the (?)19th century.
The priory fell into disuse after St Fillan’s death and the stones were taken to build farm buildings and walks. Flagstones from the chapel floor now cover graves.
To visit the Priory ruins either follow the West Highland Way (on foot) or return to the A82 and turn left. Take the next turn left and follow signs.
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