Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Saint Augustine

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. So most of the old churches are in the mountains and some of them are hard to find. Archeologists proved, that Aregno was occupied already in Roman times and was a regional center of the surrounding hamlets in medieval times. It is known for this church. "Trinita e San Giovanni Battista", located in the center of the graveyard, is a former "pieve" (parish church) erected in the first half of the 12th century. This is a "Pisan style" single nave church 16.60 mx 6.30 m, with a semicircular apse circular and a spectacular facade with extraordenary carvings. Younger than all the carvings around is this fresco donated May, 17, 1458 (see text below). It depicts four "Doctors of the Church". Fltr Saint Augustine (miter and carmine mantle), Saint Gregory (tiara), Saint Jerome (flat hat) and St. Ambrose (miter and green coat).

A church dedicated to Saint Peter, recorded in Pavia in 604, was renovated by Liutprand, the King of the Lombards (who is buried here) between 720 and 725. The Romanesque church was consecrated by Pope Innocent II in 1132. "San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro" is the resting place for the relics of Augustine of Hippo ("Saint Augustine") known as a very important early Christian theologian and philosopher, whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He died in 430 in Northern Africa, where he was buried. When Huneric, King of the Arian Vandals, expelled the Catholic bishops, the body was removed to Cagliari (Sardinia). Liutprand´s uncle Peter, the bishop of Pavia, then transferred the remains - and deposited in this church about 720. Since 1327 the Augustinians guard the tomb, though the remains at that time were lost until workers digging in the crypt discovered a marble box containing numerous bones. It was claimed, that the name "Augustine" was written in the box with charcoal. When the Augustinians had to take refuge in Milan in 1700, they carried the relics with them. The church fell into disrepair and was used as a magazine under the Napoleonic occupation. It was finally reconstructed in the late 19th century and reconsecrated in 1896 when the relics of Augustine and the shrine were once again reinstalled. One of the capitals depicts this centaur, who seems to herd a large group of griffins. Maybe some dwarfs support the centaur, two heads can be seen at the corners.

A church dedicated to Saint Peter, recorded in Pavia in 604, was renovated by Liutprand, the King of the Lombards (who is buried here) between 720 and 725. The Romanesque church was consecrated by Pope Innocent II in 1132. "San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro" is the resting place for the relics of Augustine of Hippo ("Saint Augustine") known as a very important early Christian theologian and philosopher, whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He died in 430 in Northern Africa, where he was buried. When Huneric, King of the Arian Vandals, expelled the Catholic bishops, the body was removed to Cagliari (Sardinia). Liutprand´s uncle Peter, the bishop of Pavia, then transferred the remains - and deposited in this church about 720. Since 1327 the Augustinians guard the tomb, though the remains at that time were lost until workers digging in the crypt discovered a marble box containing numerous bones. It was claimed, that the name "Augustine" was written in the box with charcoal. When the Augustinians had to take refuge in Milan in 1700, they carried the relics with them. The church fell into disrepair and was used as a magazine under the Napoleonic occupation. It was finally reconstructed in the late 19th century and reconsecrated in 1896 when the relics of Augustine and the shrine were once again reinstalled. This crypt probably existed already in the early times. Liutprand, the King of the Lombards, was buried here in 744. Much older is the tomb of Boethius, who was not only an important philosopher. He was "magister officiorum", the head of all the government under Theodoric the Great, before Theodoric had him imprisoned and executed him in 524 on charges of conspiracy.

A church dedicated to Saint Peter, recorded in Pavia in 604, was renovated by Liutprand, the King of the Lombards (who is buried here) between 720 and 725. The Romanesque church was consecrated by Pope Innocent II in 1132. "San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro" is the resting place for the relics of Augustine of Hippo ("Saint Augustine") known as a very important early Christian theologian and philosopher, whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He died in 430 in Northern Africa, where he was buried. When Huneric, King of the Arian Vandals, expelled the Catholic bishops, the body was removed to Cagliari (Sardinia). Liutprand´s uncle Peter, the bishop of Pavia, then transferred the remains - and deposited in this church about 720. Since 1327 the Augustinians guard the tomb, though the remains at that time were lost until workers digging in the crypt discovered a marble box containing numerous bones. It was claimed, that the name "Augustine" was written in the box with charcoal. When the Augustinians had to take refuge in Milan in 1700, they carried the relics with them. The church fell into disrepair and was used as a magazine under the Napoleonic occupation. It was finally reconstructed in the late 19th century and reconsecrated in 1896 when the relics of Augustine and the shrine were once again reinstalled. In the center of the presbytery is the white "Arca di Sant'Agostino", the tomb of Saint Augustine, created in 1362. The name of the church "San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro" (= Saint Peter in the Golden Sky) refers to the large mosaic of the apse.

A church dedicated to Saint Peter, recorded in Pavia in 604, was renovated by Liutprand, the King of the Lombards (who is buried here) between 720 and 725. The Romanesque church was consecrated by Pope Innocent II in 1132. "San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro" is the resting place for the relics of Augustine of Hippo ("Saint Augustine") known as a very important early Christian theologian and philosopher, whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He died in 430 in Northern Africa, where he was buried. When Huneric, King of the Arian Vandals, expelled the Catholic bishops, the body was removed to Cagliari (Sardinia). Liutprand´s uncle Peter, the bishop of Pavia, then transferred the remains - and deposited in this church about 720. Since 1327 the Augustinians guard the tomb, though the remains at that time were lost until workers digging in the crypt discovered a marble box containing numerous bones. It was claimed, that the name "Augustine" was written in the box with charcoal. When the Augustinians had to take refuge in Milan in 1700, they carried the relics with them. The church fell into disrepair and was used as a magazine under the Napoleonic occupation. It was finally reconstructed in the late 19th century and reconsecrated in 1896 when the relics of Augustine and the shrine were once again reinstalled. The nave. The stairs to the crypt - and above the raised presbytery with the white "Arca di Sant'Agostino", the tomb of Saint Augustine.

A church dedicated to Saint Peter, recorded in Pavia in 604, was renovated by Liutprand, the King of the Lombards (who is buried here) between 720 and 725. The Romanesque church was consecrated by Pope Innocent II in 1132. "San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro" is the resting place for the relics of Augustine of Hippo ("Saint Augustine") known as a very important early Christian theologian and philosopher, whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He died in 430 in Northern Africa, where he was buried. When Huneric, King of the Arian Vandals, expelled the Catholic bishops, the body was removed to Cagliari (Sardinia). Liutprand´s uncle Peter, the bishop of Pavia, then transferred the remains - and deposited in this church about 720. Since 1327 the Augustinians guard the tomb, though the remains at that time were lost until workers digging in the crypt discovered a marble box containing numerous bones. It was claimed, that the name "Augustine" was written in the box with charcoal. When the Augustinians had to take refuge in Milan in 1700, they carried the relics with them. The church fell into disrepair and was used as a magazine under the Napoleonic occupation. It was finally reconstructed in the late 19th century and reconsecrated in 1896 when the relics of Augustine and the shrine were once again reinstalled. Columns and archivolts of the portal are very elaborately carved. Here is a mermaid swimming with mythical creatures.

A church dedicated to Saint Peter, recorded in Pavia in 604, was renovated by Liutprand, the King of the Lombards (who is buried here) between 720 and 725. The Romanesque church was consecrated by Pope Innocent II in 1132. "San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro" is the resting place for the relics of Augustine of Hippo ("Saint Augustine") known as a very important early Christian theologian and philosopher, whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He died in 430 in Northern Africa, where he was buried. When Huneric, King of the Arian Vandals, expelled the Catholic bishops, the body was removed to Cagliari (Sardinia). Liutprand´s uncle Peter, the bishop of Pavia, then transferred the remains - and deposited in this church about 720. Since 1327 the Augustinians guard the tomb, though the remains at that time were lost until workers digging in the crypt discovered a marble box containing numerous bones. It was claimed, that the name "Augustine" was written in the box with charcoal. When the Augustinians had to take refuge in Milan in 1700, they carried the relics with them. The church fell into disrepair and was used as a magazine under the Napoleonic occupation. It was finally reconstructed in the late 19th century and reconsecrated in 1896 when the relics of Augustine and the shrine were once again reinstalled. Columns and archivolts of the portal are very elaborately carved. The capitals of the left side depict a griffon, lions and another strange animmal. All around a luxuria.

A church dedicated to Saint Peter, recorded in Pavia in 604, was renovated by Liutprand, the King of the Lombards (who is buried here) between 720 and 725. The Romanesque church was consecrated by Pope Innocent II in 1132. "San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro" is the resting place for the relics of Augustine of Hippo ("Saint Augustine") known as a very important early Christian theologian and philosopher, whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He died in 430 in Northern Africa, where he was buried. When Huneric, King of the Arian Vandals, expelled the Catholic bishops, the body was removed to Cagliari (Sardinia). Liutprand´s uncle Peter, the bishop of Pavia, then transferred the remains - and deposited in this church about 720. Since 1327 the Augustinians guard the tomb, though the remains at that time were lost until workers digging in the crypt discovered a marble box containing numerous bones. It was claimed, that the name "Augustine" was written in the box with charcoal. When the Augustinians had to take refuge in Milan in 1700, they carried the relics with them. The church fell into disrepair and was used as a magazine under the Napoleonic occupation. It was finally reconstructed in the late 19th century and reconsecrated in 1896 when the relics of Augustine and the shrine were once again reinstalled. Columns and archivolts of the portal are very elaborately carved. The capitals of the right side depict this lovely mermaid and a nude male behind a forked branch.

A church dedicated to Saint Peter, recorded in Pavia in 604, was renovated by Liutprand, the King of the Lombards (who is buried here) between 720 and 725. The Romanesque church was consecrated by Pope Innocent II in 1132. "San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro" is the resting place for the relics of Augustine of Hippo ("Saint Augustine") known as a very important early Christian theologian and philosopher, whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He died in 430 in Northern Africa, where he was buried. When Huneric, King of the Arian Vandals, expelled the Catholic bishops, the body was removed to Cagliari (Sardinia). Liutprand´s uncle Peter, the bishop of Pavia, then transferred the remains - and deposited in this church about 720. Since 1327 the Augustinians guard the tomb, though the remains at that time were lost until workers digging in the crypt discovered a marble box containing numerous bones. It was claimed, that the name "Augustine" was written in the box with charcoal. When the Augustinians had to take refuge in Milan in 1700, they carried the relics with them. The church fell into disrepair and was used as a magazine under the Napoleonic occupation. It was finally reconstructed in the late 19th century and reconsecrated in 1896 when the relics of Augustine and the shrine were once again reinstalled. Columns and archivolts of the portal are very elaborately carved.

A church dedicated to Saint Peter, recorded in Pavia in 604, was renovated by Liutprand, the King of the Lombards (who is buried here) between 720 and 725. The Romanesque church, seen her, was consecrated by Pope Innocent II in 1132. "San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro" is the resting place for the relics of Augustine of Hippo ("Saint Augustine") known as a very important early Christian theologian and philosopher, whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and Western philosophy. He died in 430 in Northern Africa, where he was buried. When Huneric, King of the Arian Vandals, expelled the Catholic bishops, the body was removed to Cagliari (Sardinia). Liutprand´s uncle Peter, the bishop of Pavia, then transferred the remains - and deposited in this church about 720. Since 1327 the Augustinians guard the tomb, though the remains at that time were lost until workers digging in the crypt discovered a marble box containing numerous bones. It was claimed, that the name "Augustine" was written in the box with charcoal. When the Augustinians had to take refuge in Milan in 1700, they carried the relics with them. The church fell into disrepair and was used as a magazine under the Napoleonic occupation. It was finally reconstructed in the late 19th century and reconsecrated in 1896 when the relics of Augustine and the shrine were once again reinstalled.