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

A "villa Tauriaca" was given to the Bishop of Le Mans already in 585 by some Alderic. At that time probably a chapel existed here. The portal seen today dates to the 12th. century - and it is unusual, as it does have tympana in the flanking arches. Modifications were made, when the church got fortified in the 16th century. The nave got a thoroughly renovated, but two old pillars and capitals are still "in situ". Here is one of the capitals, depicting the stoning of Saint Stephen (= Saint-Etienne) to whom the church is dedicated.

The abbey at Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire (originally known as Fleury Abbey) was founded on the banks of the Loire river mid 7th century. It is one of the oldest abbeys of the Benedictine rule in France. The story starts in 672, when some of its monks traveled to Montecassino (Italy), dug up the remains of St. Benedict of Nursia (+ 547) and his sister St. Scholastica and brought them home. After the relics had reached at Fleury Abbey it which was renamed Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire - and due to the relics became a major place of pilgrimage. A famous school and a scriptorium existed here in the late 10th century. The erection of the church started around 1071. When the church was consecrated in 1108, the long nave was not completed. The abbey thrived, but times got rougher. In 1562, the abbey was pillaged by Huguenots. The buildings were restored, but looted and destroyed again during the French Revolution. Saint-Benoît's monks left the abbey and so the history of the convent ended after more than 1100 years. The abbey church had escaped destruction and got restored in the 19th century. In 1944, the convent was refounded the abbey buildings were rebuilt by Benedictine monks after World War II. So the history of the convent was just interrupted for about 150 years. The church, that stands today, was not the first church here. When it was erected, they abbey existed already longer than 400 years. I have the impression, that some spolia from the older structure were "reused" in the left walls. The carvings differ clearly in style. Here is a large relief, depicting the death of Protomartyr Saint Stephen, the first martyr of Christianity. Acts of Apostles 7.57-60 "All the members of the council shouted out and stopped their ears with their hands; then they made a concerted rush at him, thrust him out of the city and stoned him. The witnesses put down their clothes at the feet of a young man called Saul. As they were stoning him, Stephen said in invocation, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and said aloud, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And with these words he fell asleep."

Isolated, surrounded by an old graveyard, near the village of Valcabrère (pop. ~150) stands the extraordinary Basilica Saint-Just, erected within the 11th and 12th century for the pilgrims walking the "Chemin du Piemont". The basilica is only about half an hour walk east of the Cathedral of Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, the seat of an ancient diocese. In Roman time the area was densely populated and the settlement may have had about 30.000 inhabitants, before it got looted by the Vandals within the 5th century. When the building process of the Basilica started, there were still lots of Roman ruins around. These older material got reused here. The portal of the basilica has impressive carvings. Four lifesize jamb statues flank the entrance. Three men (of which two hold a book) and one woman. All are standing on hellish creatures. Above their heads are very large and elaborate capitals. Here are the (nicely combed) heads of the two jamb statues of the left side - and the capitals above them. Seen on the capitals are to martyrdoms. On the left somebody gets decapitated, while on the right the stoning of Saint Stephen is seen.

Romans had been here during Hadrian´s time and where they had erected a temple, a small church got built mid 10th century. This structure got rebuilt and enlarged already within the 11th/12th century. Looted and damaged a century later, it got rebuilt, altered, enlarged, extended and strongly fortified. Within the structure, some parts of the 12th century structure survived the times. Despite the many alterations undertaken, many of the Romanesque capitals can still be found in the nave and the choir. An accidental combination of bad light conditions and a personal hypoglycemia lead to blurry photos. Sorry! This capital differs clearly in style and material from the others inside the church. It may be carved by the master (or the workshop) who created the four capitals outside the choir. A flock of birds is feasting in a vinyard. The owner of the grapes is not amused and tries to chase the birds away. He does not try to kill a bird, as the arrow he uses has no arrowhead.

Romans had been here during Hadrian´s time and where they had erected a temple, a small church got built mid 10th century. This structure got rebuilt and enlarged already within the 11th/12th century. Looted and damaged a century later, it got rebuilt, altered, enlarged, extended and strongly fortified. Within the structure, some parts of the 12th century structure survived the times. Despite the many alterations undertaken, many of the Romanesque capitals can still be found in the nave and the choir. An accidental combination of bad light conditions and a personal hypoglycemia lead to blurry photos. Sorry! Here is the "Presentation of Jesus at the Temple". Luke 2:22 "Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord"

Romans had been here during Hadrian´s time and where they had erected a temple, a small church got built mid 10th century. This structure got rebuilt and enlarged already within the 11th/12th century. Looted and damaged a century later, it got rebuilt, altered, enlarged, extended and strongly fortified. Within the structure, some parts of the 12th century structure survived the times. Despite the many alterations undertaken, many of the Romanesque capitals can still be found in the nave and the choir. An accidental combination of bad light conditions and a personal hypoglycemia lead to blurry photos. Sorry! Here two martyrs holding a book (the bible) and a palm leaf. Palm leaves are only given to martyrs. As he does hold a book (and no stones) this martyr cannot be Saint Stephen. The right martyr wears a crown - and between the mandorlas is the head of an angel.

Romans had been here during Hadrian´s time and where they had erected a temple, a small church got built mid 10th century. This structure got rebuilt and enlarged already within the 11th/12th century. Looted and damaged a century later, it got rebuilt, altered, enlarged, extended and strongly fortified. Within the structure, some parts of the 12th century structure survived the times. Despite the many alterations undertaken, many of the Romanesque capitals can still be found in the nave and the choir. An accidental combination of bad light conditions and a personal hypoglycemia lead to blurry photos. Sorry! Here is the "Flight into Egypt". Matthew 2:13-15 "Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."

Romans had been here during Hadrian´s time and where they had erected a temple, a small church got built mid 10th century. This structure got rebuilt and enlarged already within the 11th/12th century. Looted and damaged a century later, it got rebuilt, altered, enlarged, extended and strongly fortified. Within the structure, some parts of the 12th century structure survived the times. Despite the many alterations undertaken, many of the Romanesque capitals can still be found in the nave and the choir. An accidental combination of bad light conditions and a personal hypoglycemia lead to blurry photos. Sorry! Here are the Magi adorating the child.

Romans had been here during Hadrian´s time and where they had erected a temple, a small church got built mid 10th century. This structure got rebuilt and enlarged already within the 11th/12th century. Looted and damaged a century later, it got rebuilt, altered, enlarged, extended and strongly fortified. Within the structure, some parts of the 12th century structure survived the times. One of these is the portal with the polylobed arch, typical for the mozarabic style. Here are the details of this arch.

Romans had been here during Hadrian´s time and where they had erected a temple, a small church got built mid 10th century. This structure got rebuilt and enlarged already within the 11th/12th century. Looted and damaged a century later, it got rebuilt, altered, enlarged, extended and strongly fortified. Within the structure, some parts of the 12th century structure survived the times. One of these is the portal seen here. The polylobed arch is typical for the mozarabic style.

Romans had been here during Hadrian´s time and where they had erected a temple, a small church got built mid 10th century. This structure got rebuilt and enlarged already within the 11th/12th century. Looted and damaged a century later, it got rebuilt, altered, enlarged, extended and strongly fortified. Within the structure, some parts of the 12th century structure survived the times. One of these is the apse. There are four capitals round the apse, three of them depict scenes around protomartyr Saint Stephen (Saint-Étienne), to whom the church is dedicated. After the relics of Saint-Stephen had been discovered in 415, the relics were placed in a shrine and then carried in a procession ("translatio") to Jerusalem. Another later translatio brought relics to Rome ("San Lorenzo fuori le mura"), but meanwhile relics are as well in Bourges, Sens, Metz, Passau, Halberstadt, Chalons sur Marne and maybe Lubersac.

Romans had been here during Hadrian´s time and where they had erected a temple, a small church got built mid 10th century. This structure got rebuilt and enlarged already within the 11th/12th century. Looted and damaged a century later, it got rebuilt, altered, enlarged, extended and strongly fortified. Within the structure, some parts of the 12th century structure survived the times. One of these is the apse. There are four capitals round the apse, three of them depict scenes around protomartyr Saint Stephen (Saint-Étienne), to whom the church is dedicated. Here is the scene, that took place on August 3rd 415. Tradition claims, that on this day te relics of Saint-Stephen were miraculously discovered in Kaphargamala, near Jerusalem. The person opening the tomb must be the priest Lucian, who got the information through a nightly revelation.

Romans had been here during Hadrian´s time and where they had erected a temple, a small church got built mid 10th century. This structure got rebuilt and enlarged already within the 11th/12th century. Looted and damaged a century later, it got rebuilt, altered, enlarged, extended and strongly fortified. Within the structure, some parts of the 12th century structure survived the times. One of these is the apse, seen here, erected over the older foundations. There are four capitals, three of them depict scenes around protomartyr Saint Stephen (Saint-Étienne), to whom the church is dedicated.