Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: crozier

Edinburgh has been the capital of Scotland since the 15th century. With a population of around 525,000, it is the second largest city in Scotland after Glasgow. The city is a cultural centre, and is the home of institutions including the National Museum of Scotland, the National Library of Scotland and the Scottish National Gallery. Edinburgh's Old Town and New Town together are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The National Museum of Scotland was formed in 2006 with the merger of the new Museum of Scotland, with collections relating to Scottish antiquities, culture and history, and the adjacent Royal Scottish Museum. Both parts of the museum are located right next to each other on Chambers Street. The Royal Museum is a museum of natural sciences, technology and art. It is housed in a building dating from 1888. The Museum of Scotland deals with Scottish history and culture. It is located in a new building completed in 1998 right next to the 1888 building. Wooden crozier head, Rosemarkie Cathedral, 14th century

There are no exact construction dates or documents, but it can be assumed that it was built in the second half of the 12th century. The unusually richly decorated façade makes an initial use as a parish church rather unlikely. The building apparently survived the turmoil of the Hundred Years' War and the Huguenot Wars unscathed. The richly designed yet clearly structured gable-free display wall of the west façade stands out. Its elevation is almost square and divided into two levels: The lower zone is divided into three parts - in the centre is an archivolt portal that occupies the entire height. The interior of the church is kept very sober, but has some capitals. A seated abbot or bishop

The church was built of stone in the 12th century. Its tower was added in the 13th century. The church was extended in the 17th century. It was restored in in the late 19th century. The Norman/Romanesque font is the treasure of this church. It could actually be as well Anglo-Saxon, as some scholars say. As even if it would have been created later than 1066 the Anglo-Saxon carvers continued to work. A bishop (crozier) // St. Nicolas?

There are two theories around the founding of this church. One connects it to the Lords of Montauroux, who owned the area, the other connects it to the influence of Norman or Breton monks, claiming the 12th/13th century church was built by monks from Brittany. This would explain, why the near chapel (see prev. uploads) was dedicated to (Breton) Saint Méen. In 1923, when restoration work carried out in the south side chapel, fresco paintings were found. Under the roof are some nice corbels. Here hand holding a crozier, it may come from 1305, as since then it was depending on the episcopate of Mende.

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. The nave does not look spectacular on first sight. The second window has a carved embelleshment as well. This one is mystic. A hand and a crozier, symbol of a bishop or abbot.

Mosteiro de Vilar de Frades (aka Mosteiro de São Salvador) is located east of Barcelos. A convent may have existed here already in the second half of the 6th century. After the Reconquista the monastery was refounded and rebuilt here and in 1059 Benedictine monks lived here. During the reign of Sancho I of Portugal (1185-1211) a Romanesque church was erected of which some parts still exist. Around 1400 the monastery was given up, but revitalized from 1425 by Mestre João Vicente. The monastery got enlarged and existed upto 1834. Today the buildings house a home for disabled people and sheltered workshops. The portal of the Romanesque church is now "integrated" into the church´s facade. The portal was taken down and rebuilt in the early 19th century. So this may not the original state. There are three archivolts with some interesting (and enigmatic) carvings. Above a bishop or abbot (crozier, mitra) is a knight on horseback with sword and shield. Horses were much smaller at that time, than they are today. But for sure - not that short.

This church, dedicated to St. Christopher, is the last remaining building of a monastery founded in the 11th century, and belonging to the Canons Regular of St. Augustine. The earliest reference to the monastery dates from 1103. The monastery existed upto 1443, when it was dissolved The present church is the result of a rebuilding carried out in 1151, as indicated by an inscription on the apse. The western facade and this fantastic portal was probably created late 12th century. A well dressed bishop/abbot with a crozier and a mitra is in the center. He is depicted in a blessing gesture. He is flanked by two smaller persons holding books (probably the bible) - and in the corners a bird under a sun symbol - and a small mermaid holding a moon symbol. The style is pretty rough, but impressing.

Milan is the city capital of the Lombardy and the second most populous city in Italy after Rome. Known during Roman times as "Mediolanum" it was the place, where in 313 Constantine I and Licinius met and "signed" the "Edict of Milan", giving Christianity a legal status within the Roman empire. At the end of the Roman empire Milan was besieged by the Visigoths in 402, looted by the Huns in 452, and taken by the Ostrogoths in 539. Only 30 years later is belonged to the Kingdom of the Lombards, until in 774 Charlemagne defeated the Langobards and added Milan to the Carolingian empire. During Barbarossa´s (Frederik I) "Italian Campaigns" Milan was taken and destroyed to a great extent. The "Basilica of Sant'Ambrogio" is much older and was not destroyed by Barbarossa´s troops. It is one of the most ancient churches in Milan, built by St. Ambrose in 379–386, outside the city of Milan on the site of a cemetery, where the martyrs of the Roman persecutions had been buried. The first name of the church was "Basilica Martyrum". Ambrose, born into a noble family about 340 in (present-day) Trier (Germany), was governor of Liguria and Emilia for two years before he became the Bishop of Milan in 374 by popular acclamation. He was a staunch opponent of Arianism. Only very few traces of the first church can still be found, as in the centuries after its construction, the basilica underwent numerous restorations and reconstructions. The current Romanesque church, mostly built in brickwork, was begun around 1080. In 789, a Benedictine monastery was established here. The canons of the basilica, however, retained their own community. So two separate communities shared the basilica. In the 11th century, the canons adopted orders and became Canons Regular. From then on two separate monastic orders following different rules lived in the basilica. The canons were in the northern building, the cloister of the canons, while the monks were in the two southern buildings. The two towers symbolize the division in the basilica. The 9th century Torre dei Monaci ("Tower of the Monks") tower was used by the monks. However, the canons did not have a bell tower and were not allowed to ring bells until they finished the Canons' bell tower in the 12th Century. This tower got two additional levels in 1889. In 1943 the basilica got severely damaged by bombings. It took a decade to rebuilt and reconstruct the church. In front of the basilica is the atrium, where originally the catechumens gathered during the mass. As they were not yet baptized, they were not allowed to enter the basilica. When they were waiting here, they could contemplate about the evil monsters and strange animals, that populate the capitals and lintels all around. And of course they could pray to Sant'Ambrogio, seen here. The Bishop (mitre, crozier) still is the patron saint of Milan. The scourge is one of his attributes standing for fight against Arianism.

Saint-Georges is located in the center of the village Saint-Jeanvrin (pop. ~200), what means probably since the early times "la fête" is celebtrated right here. We arrived, when the preparation were still ongoing. The church was erected in the first half of the 12th century and then was dedicated to Saint Janvier (= Januarius) hence the name of the village. Like many other churches/priories in the area, it was depended on the Notre-Dame de Déols (about 60kms northwest). Pope Pascal II confirmed this ownership in 1115. The single nave church was erected on the blueprint of a "Latin Cross" and embellished with some nice carvings and even frescoes. The capital near the crossing depicts a bearded person holding a crozier (?) and a vine stock. An abbot? To the right - and only partly visible from this pov are fighting dragons.

The abbey was founded within the 8th century. It is dedicated to Saint Papoul, a disciple of Saint Saturnin, missionary and first bishop of Toulouse. It was believed that Saint Papoul was martyred near the place, where the abbey is now. Later a monk named Berenger (or Berengar) lived a pious life here. After he got canonized his relics attracted the first pilgrims to this place. In the aftermath of the crusade against the Cathars the papal organisation created new (smaller) dioceses to enable a stricter control. So since 1317 the abbey church of Saint Papoul was promoted to a cathedral, holding a bishopric (upto 1801). Saint Papoul is a quiet little village, that is one of my favourite places since a long time. Yes, there are the works of the "Maître de Cabestany", who is known under this name since the 1930s when a tympanum and other carvings were found in Cabestany (near Perpignan), but there is so much more. The range of different artistic styles and icons in Saint-Papoul is enormous. The Romanesque capitals of the former abbey church / cathedral have not only a very specific, rough and "simple" style. To the left a "good" bird fights an "evil" snake. To the right stands a bishop or abbot. he does not wear a mitra, but holds a crosier and has a very long maniple.

Saint-Mandé-sur-Brédoire is about 4 kms west of Aulnay, a distance an able man walked probably in less than an hour. It is absolutely clear, that the master-workshops working in Aulnay, did work here as well. Saint-Brice, a small single nave structure, has many parallels to Saint-Pierre in Aulnay. Some icons were tried here, before they were carved in another scale and another quality for Saint-Pierre. So this church may have served as a "sample book". Most surprising is Saint-Brice´s side portal. I will add details. Here are seven bishops (with croziers), a devil and a dragon. Mitres had a different shape in the 12th century.

The small single-nave parish church of Le Heaulme (pop. 200) was erected within the 12th century, but got modified later. It got enlarged by the square apse, seen to the left. Here are details of that bricked up Romanesque side portal (previous upload). Depicted in the center of the tympanum is Saint George on horseback on his way, to kill the dragon. To the right are a Lamb of God and a bird further to the left in the sky a person holding a cross. These group is interpreted as the "Trinity". On the left side are two persons. One of them, standing on an object (?) holds a crozier.

"Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul" is not mentioned in any written document before the 13th century. Most historians agree, that the church was built not earlier than in the first half of the 12th century. About a century later, the Romanesque transept and choir got demolished - and replaced by the large Gothic structure, seen here. The tower was erected within the 13th century. The church was added to the list of "monuments historique" already in 1862, but the restoration process started end of the 19th century. The church was added to the list of "monuments historique" already in 1862, but the restoration process started end of the 19th century. Of course a church like this needs perpetual care. The walls of the nave are well conserved. They are decorated between the corbels with very unusual reliefs. These carvings were well protected under the roof and are not weathered. Some of them are fantastic and very mysterious. A walking abbot/bishop with a crozier (but no mitra). He seems to bless the onlooker, while he is killing a small, evil creature (the devil!) with his crozier.

Sos del Rey Católico is a quaint, historic town with a population of just over 600. Founded as "Sos" by Sancho I of Pamplona during the Reconquista in the early 10th century, the town changed its name to Sos del Rey Católico, after Ferdinand II of Aragon (aka "el Católico") was born here in 1452. The town is built on a mountaintop. You enter it by foot through the medieval gates, as the old walls, that surround the town still exist. The building of the "Iglesia de San Esteban" (= Saint Steven) started already mid of the 11th century, financed by Estefania de Foix, young widow of Garcia Sanchez III of Pamplona. The church got enlarged and altered over the next centuries many times. A narthex with gothic vaults was added within the 16th century to protect this Romanesque portal from the 12th century against the weather. Just like in nearby Sangüesa (13kms northwest) statues flank the doors. There are three large ones on either side, and various small ones inbetween. This is the left side of the portal. The statues clearly lack the elegance of that ones in Sangüesa. These may be older. The style is similar. Unfortunately most of the small sculptured inbetween are severely damaged. The large figure to the left holds a kind of shrine or a gridiron. In case the object is a gridiron, this can only be Saint Lawrence, whose birthplace may be in Huesca. In the center is a bishop (crozier) - and the right one holds an illuminated book or manuscript. I will upload a close up.

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 portal of Saint Martin is extraordinary in the specific iconography, that in parts may reflect the relations to the Islamic neighbours (Reconquista). Some of the corbels under the roof are remarkable as well. Here on the right a little weathered bishop, wearing a mitra and holding a crozier. He is obviously blessing the pilgrims below. The corbel to the left is strange. A head with three faces can be found on one of the artful capitals of the portal, but this one is different. Actually I have the impression it is not Romanesque, but modern. It is totally unweathered and it is carved from a different stone in a very modern style. I may be wrong...

Gensac-la-Pallue is a small town, about 10kms southeast of Cognac, with a population of 1500. Saint Martin is the large parish church of the town. It is not known, who financed this church, when it was erected within the 12th century (the choir and tower were added a century later) and there are no obvious connections to one of the important abbeys of the area, but for a parish church, built on swampy grounds, this is a pretty prestigious structure. Saint-Martin has an extraordenary western facade, that is basically typical for the Saintonge with the two blind arches, flanking the central portal. But not many churches in the Poitou have three (!) horizontal registers/levels with a kind of rythm: 3 arches, topped by 5 arches, topped by 6 arches. There are no carved archivolts, but a long frieze-like band extending over the facade. Two large mandorla-carvings are symmetrically placed. On the left side the Virgin, on the right St. Martin Of Tours, seen as the bishop holding a crozier. Both are surrounded by angels.