Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Jesuits

The Lemavi tribe populated the area around Monforte de Lemos, before the Romans, the Suevi and the Visigoths left their own footprints. Tt is believed the town was destroyed in the 8th century by the Muslim invaders. In the 12th century, the settlemet was granted to Fruela Díaz, of the House of Lemos, who had the town rebuilt over the ruins. Monforte flourished as an agricultural market. During the Middle Ages, a Benedictine community established on the Monastery of San Vicente del Pino. Both the capital tower and the fortified city's walls were demolished during the Irmandiño revolt in the second half of 15th century. The rebels repressed by the Count of Lemos, the lord of the land, who made them work to rebuild the castle. Work on the Colegio de Nuestra Señora de la Antigua began in 1593 under the patronage of Rodrigo de Castro, Archbishop of Seville, benefactor of Monforte and patron of the arts. The building was built in the Herreriano style, the school is often known as El Escorial of Galicia, being one of the few manifestations of this style in Galicia. Until 1773, the school was the royal seminary and the nucleus of the university with up to seven professorships at a time when these were barely established in the province. It was initially run by the Jesuits, but in 1767, the Jesuits were expelled from Spain. In the middle of the 18th century, the patronage of the foundation, which was held by the Counts of Lemos, was incorporated into the Duchy of Alba. In 1873, the Piarist Fathers were entrusted with the management of this educational centre.

A settlement existed at the confluence of two large rivers, for many centuries, before Kaunas was first mentioned in written sources in 1361. At that time a brick castle was constructed. Only a year later the castle was captured after a siege and destroyed by the Teutonic Order. It was one of the most important victories of the Teutonic Knights in the 14th in Lithuania. The castle was rebuilt at the beginning of the 15th century. In 1408 Kaunas was granted city rights by Vytautas the Great. Kaunas began to gain prominence since it was at an intersection of trade routes and a river port. In 1441 Kaunas joined the Hanseatic League. By the 16th century, Kaunas had a public school and a hospital and was one of the best-formed towns in Lithuania. In 1665, the Russian army attacked the city, and in 1701 the city was occupied by the Swedish Army. Fires destroyed parts of the city in 1731 and 1732. After the final partition of the Polish–Lithuanian state in 1795, the city was taken over by the Russian Empire. During the French invasion of Russia in 1812, Napoleon´s armee passed through twice, devastating the city both times. When In 1862, a railway connecting the Russian Empire and Imperial Germany was built, Kaunas was a significant railway hub. As WWII began, about 30,000 Jews were living in Kaunas, comprising about 25% of the city's population. Only very few survived the war. - The church of St. Francis Xavier was built by Jesuits on the town hall square. The Jesuits opened their first residence in Kaunas in 1642 and founded the first four-grade school here in 1649. Construction of the church began in 1666 and it was consecrated in 1722. The tsarist Russian government transferred the church to the Orthodox Church in 1824. In 1924 the church was again transferred to the Jesuits. After the occupation of Lithuania by the Soviet Union, the church was converted into a technical school, and the interior of the church was used as a gymnasium. The church was returned to the Jesuits in 1989, and a renovation of the church took place in 1992.

Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of about 600.000. Before WWII, Vilnius was one of the largest Jewish centers in Europe which led to the nickname "the Jerusalem of the North". The city was first mentioned in written sources as Vilna in 1323 as the capital city of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, built a wooden castle on a hill in the city. The city became more widely known after he wrote a circular letter of invitation to Germans and Jews to the principal Hansa towns in 1325, offering free access into his domains to men of every order and profession. At this time Vilnius was facing raids of the Teutonic Order, although they never captured the castle, large portions of the town were burned down between 1365 and 1383. English king Henry IV spent the full year of 1390 supporting the unsuccessful siege of Vilnius by Teutonic Knights with his 300 fellow knights. Between 1503 and 1522, the city was surrounded by a city wall to protect it from Crimean Tatar attacks. The city reached the peak of its development during the reign of Sigismund II. Augustus, Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, settled here in 1544. After the foundation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569, the city experienced a further boom, as Stephen Báthory, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, founded the Jesuit College of Vilnius (= Vilnius University) in 1579. The university soon developed into one of the most important scientific and cultural centers in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Church of St. Casimir was built 1604 - 1618 by the Jesuits. It was dedicated to Saint Casimir who was a son of King Casimir IV Jagiellon, and so a prince of the Kingdom of Poland and of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This church is one of the earliest Baroque buildings in the city. Its facade was designed along the line of the Il Gesù church in Rome. In the middle of the 18th century, the church was reconstructed and a stepped lantern cupola with a crown was erected. Under Russia's occupation, the church was converted into a Russian Orthodox church. In 1915 Vilnius was occupied by the Germans the church was converted into the Evangelical Lutheran temple and In 1919 the church was returned to the Catholics. It was damaged during WWII, closed down, and in 1963 converted into a Museum of Atheism. The church was returned to the Jesuits and reconsecrated in 1991.

Vilnius is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of about 600.000. Before WWII, Vilnius was one of the largest Jewish centers in Europe which led to the nickname "the Jerusalem of the North". The city was first mentioned in written sources as Vilna in 1323 as the capital city of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Gediminas, Grand Duke of Lithuania, built a wooden castle on a hill in the city. The city became more widely known after he wrote a circular letter of invitation to Germans and Jews to the principal Hansa towns in 1325, offering free access into his domains to men of every order and profession. At this time Vilnius was facing raids of the Teutonic Order, although they never captured the castle, large portions of the town were burned down between 1365 and 1383. English king Henry IV spent the full year of 1390 supporting the unsuccessful siege of Vilnius by Teutonic Knights with his 300 fellow knights. Between 1503 and 1522, the city was surrounded by a city wall to protect it from Crimean Tatar attacks. The city reached the peak of its development during the reign of Sigismund II. Augustus, Grand Duke of Lithuania and King of Poland, settled here in 1544. After the foundation of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in 1569, the city experienced a further boom, as Stephen Báthory, King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, founded the Jesuit College of Vilnius (= Vilnius University) in 1579. The university soon developed into one of the most important scientific and cultural centers in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. The Church of St. Casimir was built 1604 - 1618 by the Jesuits. It was dedicated to Saint Casimir who was a son of King Casimir IV Jagiellon, and so a prince of the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. This church is one of the earliest Baroque buildings in the city. Its facade was designed along the line of the Il Gesù church in Rome. In the middle of the 18th century, the church was reconstructed and a stepped lantern cupola with a crown was erected. Under Russia's occupation, the church was converted into a Russian Orthodox church. In 1915 Vilnius was occupied by the Germans the church was converted into the Evangelical Lutheran temple and In 1919 the church was returned to the Catholics. It was damaged during WWII, closed down, and in 1963 converted into a Museum of Atheism. The church was returned to the Jesuits and reconsecrated in 1991.

Aachen, the westernmost city in Germany, developed from a Roman settlement and spa, subsequently becoming the preferred medieval Imperial residence of Emperor Charlemagne of the Frankish Empire. From 936 to 1531 Aachen was the place where 31 Holy Roman Emperors were crowned Kings of the Germans. Pepin the Short had a castle residence built in the town, due to the proximity of the hot springs and also for strategic reasons between the Rhineland and northern France. Charlemagne´s coronation as king of the Franks took place here in 768. He spent most winters in Aachen between 792 and his death in 814. Aachen became the focus of his court and the political centre of his empire. During the reign of Otto II, the nobles revolted and the West Franks under Lothair raided Aachen in 978. The palace and town of Aachen had fortifying walls built by order of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa between 1172 and 1176. Later Aachen remained a city of regional importance, due to its proximity to Flanders and achieved a modest position in the trade in woollen cloths, favoured by imperial privilege. In 1579 the first Jesuits came to Aachen. In 1600 the council of the town took the decision to settle Jesuits in Aachen. The Jesuits´church was built between 1617 and 1628, but the facade was unfinished until 1861. With the dissolution of the Jesuit Order in 1773, the church was closed and converted into a granary during the French period, later it was used as a parish church. In 1987 the Greek Orthodox community of St. Dimitrios purchased the building to held Orthodox services. Here St. Michael is seen in the facade of the St. Leonard School opposite the church. As the Jesuits once were responsible for the educational system the neighbourhood is not accidentally.

A legend tells, that a city called Sybar existed at the time of the Trojan War. It was conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century BC, receiving the new name of Lupiae. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Lecce was sacked by the Ostrogoth troops of king Totila. In 549 it was taken by Byzantium and remained part of the Eastern Roman Empire for five centuries, interrupted by brief invasions by the Saracens, Longobards, Hungarians and Slavs. After the Norman conquest in the 11th century, Lecce regained commercial and political importance, flourishing in the subsequent Hohenstaufen and Angevine rule. From the 15th century, Lecce was one of the most important cities of southern Italy, and, starting in 1630, it developed into a centre of Baroque architecture. This was made possible by the soft tuff stone found in the area, perfect for that architecture. - The Chiesa del Gesù (aka "Madonna del Buon Consiglio") was built for the Jesuit order, who settled in Lecce in 1574. A year later the construction started following a design of the Jesuit Giovanni De Rosis, who came from Como. The entire building is inspired by the Chiesa del Gesù in Rome, considered the Mother of the churches of the Jesuit order. Somehow the interior of Baroque churches always seems a bit dusted.

A legend tells, that a city called Sybar existed at the time of the Trojan War. It was conquered by the Romans in the 3rd century BC, receiving the new name of Lupiae. After the fall of the Western Roman Empire, Lecce was sacked by the Ostrogoth troops of king Totila. In 549 it was taken by Byzantium and remained part of the Eastern Roman Empire for five centuries, interrupted by brief invasions by the Saracens, Longobards, Hungarians and Slavs. After the Norman conquest in the 11th century, Lecce regained commercial and political importance, flourishing in the subsequent Hohenstaufen and Angevine rule. From the 15th century, Lecce was one of the most important cities of southern Italy, and, starting in 1630, it developed into a centre of Baroque architecture. This was made possible by the soft tuff stone found in the area, perfect for that architecture. - The Chiesa del Gesù (aka "Madonna del Buon Consiglio") was built for the Jesuit order, who settled in Lecce in 1574. A year later the construction started following a design of the Jesuit Giovanni De Rosis, who came from Como. The entire building is inspired by the Chiesa del Gesù in Rome, considered the Mother of the churches of the Jesuit order. Seen above the portal is the emblem of the Society of Jesus adored by two angels. On top of the gable is the sculpture of the Pelican who is breaking his chest to feed his offsprings.

Stift Millstatt ("Millstatt Abbey") was founded by the Aribo II and Boto, members of Aribonids, a noble, Bavarian family, around 1070. Run by Benedictine monks, who surely had contacts to Hirsau (-> Cluny) and protected by Papal deeds, Stift Millstatt prospered in the early years and a nunnery wa added. Within the 13th century, the decay began. As the abbey had secular Church Vogts, it suffered strongly under the political powergames of that timne and finaly ended 1456 under the House of Habsburg. At that time only 10 monks still lived here. Emperor Frederick III reached a papal bull in 1469, so that the military order of the Knights of Saint George took over Stift Millstatt in order to fight the invading troops of the Ottoman Empire. The order now had to cope with the debts left by the Benedictines and the redevelopment of the neglected premises. While the knights were engaged with the fortification of the monastery, they failed to protect the region. Millstatt was heavily devastated by the Turks in 1478, followed by Hungarian troops in 1487. As the power of the knightly order declined, unrests and revolts arose among the surrounding peasants. As the new Protestant belief spread in the area the monastery vested the Society of Jesus ("Jesuits") in 1598 to support the Counter-Reformation. The monks were disliked by the population for their stern measures. In 1737 the displeasure culminated in open revolt, when peasants ganged up and stormed the monastery. The rule of the Jesuits ended, when the order was suppressed by Pope Clement XIV in 1773. The monks had to leave Millstatt. Today the former abbey-church serves the parish, while the other buildings, that had passed to the public administration of the Habsburg Monarchy, when the Jesuits left, belong to the Austrian state and host the "Österreichische Bundesforste" (Austrian State Forestry Commission).

Bertrand de Griffeuille was a wandering hermit, who over decades of wandering around, founded a number of convents between the Auvergne and the Quercy. In 1145, he founded this convent. 10 years later it had developed into a priory dependent on the Augustinian Abbey in La Couronne (Charente). At that time pilgrims following the Via Podiensis stopped here, but after the body of legendary Saint Amadour had been found by monks (1166), most pilgrims walked via Rocamadour. The priory got fortified - but did suffer during the Hundred Years´ War, when it got sacked. During the Wars of Religion Calvinist troops conquered the place. In 1661 Jesuits settled here, but in 1762 this order got banned and had to move. After the French Revolution the buildings were sold - and since then are private property. Tours are offered over the summer, but I did not have the time to wait..