Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: True Cross

The ford across the River Forth near the town brought prosperity and influence, as did the port that was later built. In the 12th century, King David and his successors elevated the town, then called "Strivelyn", to a "burgh". The ford, which was later expanded into a bridge, was the site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 during the constant conflicts between the Scots and the English. In 1314, the two armies met again near the bridge at the Battle of Bannockburn. Even centuries later the port on the River Forth brought prosperity to the city - particularly through the tea trade with India and the timber trade with the Baltic states. However, with the invention and spread of the railway, the decline of river trade began. After a railway bridge was finally built over the river, which made it possible to load goods onto ships further downstream, the port finally disappeared completely in the middle of the 20th century. The Church of the Holy Rude is the medieval parish church. It is named after the Holy Rood, a relic of the True Cross on which Jesus was crucified. The church was founded in 1129, but nothing of this early structure now remains due to a fire in 1405. Rebuilding was completed in 1414. The fall of the House of Douglas caused devastation in Stirling, possibly also damaging the church. King James II ordered a new church to be built on the same site in 1456. Construction was initially completed in the 1470s. The second construction phase began in 1507 with plans to build a transept, a choir and a crossing tower, which would result in a cruciform basilica. The work progressed slowly. With the Reformation, they were finally abandoned unfinished in 1546. After a dispute in the course of the 17th century, the parish split and the Church of the Holy Rude became home to two congregations. Around 1818, the building was extensively remodelled and partly extended, which greatly diminished its original character.

Louis the Pious founded the bishopric of Hildesheim in 815. The settlement developed into a town and was granted market rights by King Otto III in 983. Craftsmen and merchants were attracted and the city developed into an important community. By 1167, Hildesheim was an almost completely walled market settlement. At the beginning of the 13th century, Hildesheim had about 5,000 inhabitants, and when Hildesheim received its city charter in 1249, it was one of the largest cities in northern Germany. The clergy ruled Hildesheim for four centuries before a town hall was built and the citizens gained influence and independence. In 1367, Hildesheim became a member of the Hanseatic League. But what is now called Hildesheim was various small "suburbs". After centuries of (sometimes armed) disputes, it was not until the end of the 16th century that a union was created and subsequently at least the inner wall was taken down Old and New Town. During the Thirty Years' War, Hildesheim was besieged and occupied several times. In 1813, after the Napoleonic Wars, the town became part of the Kingdom of Hanover, which was annexed by the Kingdom of Prussia as a province after the Austro-Prussian War in 1866. The air raids on Hildesheim in 1944/45 destroyed large parts of the city. Of the 1500 half-timbered houses, only 200 remained. 90 percent of the historic old town was destroyed in the firestorm. - Bishop Gunthar, who was in office in Hildesheim from 815 to 834 had a small basilica built. This served as the original cathedral. The next cathedral was built by Bishop Altfried in 872 as a cruciform three-aisled basilica with a two-story westwork. The building suffered severe fire damage in 1046. Bishop Hezilo built then incorporated the surviving walls into the new building using the foundation of the former basilica. Until the 14th century, further profound changes took place, but without deviating from the ground plan of the basilica. The side chapels date from the Gothic period. From 1840 to 1850, the original west building, which had fallen into disrepair, was replaced by a neo-Romanesque double tower front, which remained in place until 1945. During the air raids on Hildesheim in WWII, the cathedral was completely destroyed except for the west building, the southern nave arcades, and the outer walls. Only the crypt and the Laurentius Chapel from the 11th century were preserved. The cathedral was rebuilt in a simplified form between 1950 and 1960. The baroque elements were abandoned in favor of a form that took its cue from the early Romanesque style. - The "Dommuseum" is the "Schatzkammer" (treasury) of the cathedral. It is located in historic rooms off the southern transept of the Cathedral, the church of St Antonius and part of the cathedral cloisters . The so-called "Heinrichskreuz" (aka "Kreuz Heinrich des Löwen" / "Henry the Lion Cross"). It is a gift of Henry the Lion from 1172. It was probably originally intended as a processional cross: It is 49 cm high and made of wood covered with gold plates. The cross contains a part of the "True Cross", which Henry the Lion brought back from the Crusade in Palestine.

In 1239 Thibaut IV de Champagne (= "Theobald I of Navarre"), Count of Champagne, had led the "Barons' Crusade" to the Holy Land. When he returned home, he carried a piece of the "True Cross" with him. This piece was kept in this church, that got built on swampy grounds. Destroyed by fire in the 14th century, the church got rebuilt again. During teh French Revolution, the nave was used as a gunpowder factury, while the choir wa converted into a "Temple of Reason". The church was built with wooden foundations. Due to the unstable ground many backfillings were necessery. After the draining of the marsh the old foundations started to disintegrate and the church sank again, so it is under constant monitoring and restoration. The piece of the Holy Cross was not the only souvenir Thibaut IV de Champagne brought home. It is said, that he introduced the "Damask rose" to Provins. Cultivation of roses is still important, and rose honey and rose candies are offered in the shops.

The "Chapel of the Holy Cross" was the place, where the valuable "True Cross" relic was shown. Only about 300m east of the Abbey, the chapel was as well a center of a graveyard. Still today many carved graves are to be seen. It is built on the layout of a cross with four apses and a narthex. A pretty complex and unusual design - and still the chapel seems very much intact. Unfortunately the gate at the entrance to the ground was locked. So that I could not even could come near to the chapel, not talking about having a look inside the building..

The "Abbaye de Montmajour" was a really important abbey in medieval times. Founded around 1000 on an island like hill surrounded by swamps and marshes just outside of Arles. Already since 1030 pilgrims walked to Montmajour to see a part of the "True Cross" and so obtaining the "Pardon de Montmajour". The abbey was secularized already in 1786 (by Louis XVI), after the revolution it was sold to different owners. Today it is a massive ruin, used as a quarry over decades in the 19th century. Many stones were used to build the channels in Arles. Over long periods the abbey was an empty complex of crumbling buildings. So traces of vandalism are widely spread. Here a carved capital from a corner of the cloister, showing two dromedaries. The arabian camels have both lost a leg and the heads over the centuries.

The "Abbaye de Montmajour" was a really important abbey during medieval times. Founded around 1000 on an island like hill surrounded by swamps and marshes just outside of Arles. Already since 1030 pilgrims walked to Montmajour to see a part of the "True Cross" and so obtaining the "Pardon de Montmajour". The abbey was secularized already in 1786 (by Louis XVI), after the revolution it was sold to different owners. Today it is a massive ruin, used as a quarry over decades in the 19th century. Many stones were used to build the channels in Arles. Over long periods the abbey was an empty complex of crumbling buildings. So traces of vandalism are widely spread. Here a carved capital from the cloister. A man running very fast (see the legs!) through a jungle-like forest. For me he looks like an athletic runner in a relay-race. In the hand left to the head there is the baton. Yes, that is an "overinterpretation".

The "Abbaye de Montmajour" was a really important abbey in medieval times. Founded around 1000 on an island like hill surrounded by swamps and marshes just outside of Arles. Already since 1030 pilgrims walked to Montmajour to see a part of the "True Cross" and so obtaining the "Pardon de Montmajour". The abbey was secularized already in 1786 (by Louis XVI), after the revolution it was sold to different owners. Today it is a massive ruin, used as a quarry over decades in the 19th century. Many stones were used to build the channels in Arles. Below the church of the abbey lies the very large and high crypt.

The "Abbaye de Montmajour" was a really important abbey in medieval times. Founded around 1000 on an island like hill surrounded by swamps and marshes just outside of Arles. Already since 1030 pilgrims walked to Montmajour to see a part of the "True Cross" and so obtaining the "Pardon de Montmajour". The abbey was secularized already in 1786 (by Louis XVI), after the revolution it was sold to different owners. Today it is a massive ruin, used as a quarry over decades in the 19th century. Many stones were used to build the channels in Arles. Below the church of the abbey lies the very large and high crypt.

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution. This small mermaid lives under Saint Nicholas´ roof.

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution. Not all the carvings here are that sophisticated as that one on the previous upload. Neither from the style, not for the theme. Here is a rough carving depicting a pub brawl. As both drunkards hold knives, this fight may end in tragedy.

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution. Some really experienced masters carved the capitals near the crossing. Here a gentleman pulls his beard, contemplating about a complex problem. Or is he a dreaming star gazer.

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution. There are some renovation works under way in the vaultings of the nave. A large net protects the parishioners from falling debris.

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution. A grotesque, medieval smiley greets the pilgrim from above.

Benedictine monks, escaping the Norman raids in the Normandie, settled here in 924 and founded the monastery. The large church was erected within the 12th and 13th century. As the monks had brought the valuable relics of Saint Laumer, Saint Lubin, Saint Mary of Egypt and a fragment of the True Cross this was a place of medieval pilgrimage. The church was dedicated to Saint Laumer, the convent existed up to the French Revolution. Since then it serves the parish, dedicated now to Saint Nicholas, remembering a nearby church, that got demolished after the Revolution.

Finally approaching Blois. In the distant to the left is Saint-Nicholas, erected as an abbey church in the 12th/13th century and at that time dedicated to Saint Laumer by the Benedictian monks. It was a center of pilgrimage, as beside some other valuable relics a part of the "True Cross" was kept here. To the right is Blois Cathedral ("Cathédrale Saint-Louis de Blois").

Parthenay is a very well fortified town, sited on a rocky spur, surrounded by the River Thouet. It has a (now ruined) castle inside and is known since the 11th century. Many pilgrims, following a branch of the Via Turonensis passed through here. The main gate of Parthenay, where the pilgrims entered the town, still bears the name of Saint Jaques. The church Sainte-Croix dates back to the 12th century, founded by Ebbon, Seigneur of Parthenay, when he returned from the cruisade. Since then a particle of the legendary True Cross, once discovered in the Holy Land by Empress Helena, was one of the treasures kept here. That is why the many pilgrims walked the detour via Parthenay. The church got rebuilt, renovated and remodeled many times. It was a Collegiate Church for a while. This small portal, decorated with a griffon-archivolt, is about the last remaining part of the old structure, I found outside.

Early morning in Parthenay, a very well fortified town, sited on a rocky spur, surrounded by the River Thouet. It has a (now ruined) castle inside and is known since the 11th century. Many pilgrims, following a branch of the Via Turonensis passed through here. The main gate of Parthenay still has the name of Saint Jaques. The church Sainte-Croix dates back to the 12th century, founded by Ebbon, Seigneur of Parthenay, when he returned from the cruisade. Since then a particle of the legendary True Cross, once discovered in the Holy Land by Empress Helena, was one of the treasures kept here. That is why the many pilgrims walked the detour via Parthenay. The church got rebuilt, renovated and remodeled many times. It was a Collegiate Church for a while. The tower seen here was built in 1457.