Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: censer

The former parish church St. Andreas in Bad Goegging has a very winding and interesting history. This is the second church here. The predecessing one was built once over the basin of a Roman thermal bath, used by the Roman troops for recreation. There is a speculation, that Christians lived here already during the late Roman times. It is proven that this place was a Christian center during the time of the early missionaries. Only about 12kms north is Weltenburg Abbey, the oldest Bavarian monastery founded by iro-scottish monks in 617 - and there may have been connections to Goegging. The northern portal of St. Andreas is so elaborate, that this church must have been important during the 12th century. The entrance is flanked by two small lions, guarding the door. The portal so outstanding, it has been connected to the "Magistri Comacini" from Northern Italy, but the style seen here is rather rough. The Lombardic master masons mostly carved in a more elegant, softer style (eg Koenigslutter). There are many "interpretations" of all the different icons found here. There are 14 framed reliefs in Bad Goegging. Peter Leuschner ("Romanische Kirchen in Bayern") refers to late Dr. J. Reichart, an archeologist from nearby Ingolstadt, who divided them in to three groups. Following Dr. Reichart, seven carvings illustrate the seven deadly sins, three depicts scene from the Old and four scenes of the New Testament. I am not completely sure about these interpretations. On the left side of the semicircle of the tympanum - and so parallel to the resurraction-frame (just seen) is this lady holding a censer. As only angels (or altar boys) swing censers, this person is probably an angel. The angel wears a very large brooch.

Vicofertile, located at the old Via Francigena, is meanwhile is a small suburb of the City of Parma. A church probably existed in Vicofertile already within the 9th century, but the church mentioned in a document from 1039 was smaller than the church seen here. Excavations found the foundations about 50cms under the floor of San Geminiano. Today´s church was erected around 1200. The roof burned down in 1325, but got rebuilt soon after. The church got modified a couple of times, but a a restoration undertaken in the early 20th century got rid of all interior Baroque additions. This baptismal font is a real surprise here. While the capitals are rather clumsy, this polished font is really smooth and elegant. It is 68cms high and has a diameter of 98cms, so it was probably used for immersion. Five figures "walk around" the font in a procession. Seen here are four of them.

Vicofertile, located at the old Via Francigena, is meanwhile is a small suburb of the City of Parma. A church probably existed in Vicofertile already within the 9th century, but the church mentioned in a document from 1039 was smaller than the church seen here. Excavations found the foundations about 50cms under the floor of San Geminiano. Today´s church was erected around 1200. The roof burned down in 1325, but got rebuilt soon after. The church got modified a couple of times, but a a restoration undertaken in the early 20th century got rid of all interior Baroque additions. This baptismal font is a real surprise here. While the capitals are rather clumsy, this polished font is really smooth and elegant. It is 68cms high and has a diameter of 98cms, so it was probably used for immersion. Five figures "walk around" the font in a procession. Two clerics, holding a candle, a priest - and the altarboy with the censer and the processional cross.

The parish church of the small village Rots was a dependency of the abbey Abbaye Saint-Ouen de Rouen, founded by the merovingian nobility in the 7th century, in medieval times. The nave dates back to the 12th century, while the Gothic transept and the choir are younger. The structure of church, situated in the center of the graveyard, suffered severely by a "reconstruction" of the late 19th century, when large parts were just rebuilt, and the devastation during the Battle of Normandy (1944), when the church was hit by shells. There is a strange beast over the door. It has the body of a lion and the head of a duck. It is biting in its own tail - and swings a censer.

Saint-Marcel dominates the center of Lagrauliere like a castle. Built in the 12th century on older foundations the church underwent a couple of alterations, fortifications and renovations over the centuries. Once monks from the Cistercian Obazine Abbey (30kms south) lived in the top floors of the tower. Saint-Marcel dominates the center of Lagrauliere like a castle. Built in the 12th century on older foundations the church underwent a couple of alterations, fortifications and renovations over the centuries. Once monks from the Cistercian Obazine Abbey (30kms south) lived in the top floors of the tower. The Cistercians may not have been the first here, as despite Bernard of Clairvaux´s damnation of sculptural works, the Romanesque portal of Saint-Marcel is remarkable. This may be a proof of an earlier influence from some unknown Cluniac place. The left side of the portal. The structure shows parallels to Beaulieu-sur-Dordogne with the pillar in front of the carving. Here are two halfs, of which the left one is in a much better state, than the right one, where some parts are missing. Over the arch of the left side is a miniature scene of Romanesque architecture. This may stand for a monastery. When this was placed here, the villagers knew exactly, which one. Below is a large angel, swinging a censer. He stands at the end of a bed, in which a person is taking the dying breath. The right side is pretty damaged or weathered. A mourning person sits next to the bed, while the soul is just leaves the body - and either an angel or a devil grabs the soul. Note that a lamp is hanging from the pillar and "lightens" the scene, this creates a "reality" of background and foreground for the onlooker. He is looking "into" a room through a transparent wall. -- This was my first impression - Meanwhile I doubt, that the angel swings a censer.... The angel holds a scale (the balance beam is broken off). What I saw as a censer and what I saw as a lamp - both are pans. There is even a small head looking from the left pan! This is a psichostasia, the the "Weighing of the Soul". The bedpost seen on the left is carved, What a luxury! This is probably the death of a rich person.

This church, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, was a real surprise to me. The single nave structure was probably erected within the 12th century. It was built in a "walking distance" off the pilgrim routes (like "San Pedro de Echano"), as the hamlet Artaiz is just about 10kms north of the "Camino Aragonés". San Martin will have been for sure a stopover for pilgrims, who had visited the tomb of Saint Martin of Tours, following the "Via Turonensis". The masterly composed and carved portal of Saint Martin is extraordinary in the specific iconography, that in parts may reflect the relations to the Islamic neighbours (Reconquista). Here is a script by German arthistorian Hedda Finke about this subject. art.unt.edu/medieval-symposium/presenter.php?year=2009&am... Between the seven corbels under the portal´s roof are six reliefs. This one depicts a situation, that still is part of the liturgy of the Mass. This is probably the consecration, the priest has raised his arms, while the chalice is placed in the center of the altar. The scene is flanked by two altar-boys. One holds the bible, while his smaller collegue swings the censer. The Buddha-like priest faces the parish, what was actually introduced officialy by the Second Vatican Council (1962-1965). The corbels have the dancer again (left) and a musician playing a (partly lost) flute.

A settlement may have existed here during Roman times, later the Visigoths "refounded" the place. In 1147 Olite was given a "Fuero de los francos de Estella". Obviously the Franks, that had settled in Estella (40kms northwest) to kick-start the pilgrim-business, had the jurisdication right here. The church of San Pedro is the oldest in town. Here is the very delicately carved tympanum. As the church was dedicated to St. Peter since the early times, I think that the center figure is St. Peter, the hand holding the keys got lost. To the left may be a evangelist (head got lost), as there is a kind of scroll in his hand. Does the right one hold a book? Then he should be an evangelist as well. The trio is flanked by two censer swinging (very damaged) angels. One of the censers is still visible. The lintel is very interesting. On the left Jesus hands over the keys to St. Peter, who is accompanied by a group of apostles (incl. St. John the Baptist, wearing a roughly woven coat). In the center St. Peter, sailing the Sea of Galilee, while Jesus smoothens the waves. The martyrdom of St. Peter to the right. He is sentenced to death by a crowned King (Nero? with a fleur-de-lis??) and then crucified head downwards.