Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: evangelist

When the first barbarian people, the Alemanni invaded northern Italy, "Piacentia" was one of the first major Roman cities to be besieged. The Battle of Piacentia then broke out in front of the city walls in 271, during which the Alemanni inflicted a bitter defeat on the Romans. The fall of the city triggered panic in the capital. In 546, Totila subjugated Piacenza. After its conquest by the Franks in the ninth century, the city began to recover, aided by its location along the Via Francigena. Between 997 and 1035 the city was ruled by its bishops, installed by Otto III. In the 12th and 13th centuries, Piacenza was an important member of the Lombard League. As a rule, the city remained Guelph, but at times it called upon powerful Ghibellines to aid them against their native tyrants. In 1447 Piacenza was conquered and plundered by Francesco I Sforza. After being occupied by papal troops in 1512, it was united with Parma in 1545 to form a hereditary duchy under Pier Luigi II Farnese, a son of Pope Paul III. After the preceding "Domus Justinae" in Piacenza had collapsed in 1117 after an earthquake, the "Duomo di Piacenza" (aka "Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta e Santa Giustina") was erected between 1122 and 1233. The cathedral has a total length of 85 m. making it the largest Romanesque church in Emilia-Romagna. The crypt, known for more than 100 Romanesque pillars. If the animal's head in the center is an ox or calf, it may stand for Luke, Then the lion stands for Mark, and the angel for Matthew.

The construction of the "Église Saints-Pierre-et-Paul" started around 1150. The church is known for the carvings. Though some of these got damaged during the French Revolution, most of them are still in place. Size and the quality of some of them is really breathtaking. Looking to the central window of the main apse. The large carvings seem to be glued on to the wall. The symbols of the evangelists. On the left the eagle (John), the ox (Luke), on the right the angel (Matthew)and the lion (Marc). The perfectly carved lion has wings and a nimbus. Being the symbol of Marc, the evangelist, he holds a book in his paws.

There are two products, this small town, near Riom is pretty famous for. There are the black stones from Volvic, used all over the Auvergne. The gothic cathedral in Clermont-Ferrand is built from the black stones, coming from Volvic. The younger product is the "Volvic" mineral water. Zillions of plastic bottles, filled with Volvic-water leave this place every week or month. Long time before Danone (Evian, Badoit, La Salvetat....) entered the stage in Volvic, this place was owned by St. Priest (aka Priest de Clermont, aka Saint Praejectus), bishop of Clermont. St. Priest was stabbed to death here in 676 and immediately was venerated as a martyr. His sucessor Avitor founded an abbey here, that later was depending from Mozac (1169). The capitals in St. Priest do not have the wonderful, sleek elegance of the carvings seen in the former abbey church in Mozac (5kms east) or Notre-Dame-Du-Port in Clermont-Ferrand (15kms south), but they use the same "icons", that are so typical all over the Auvergne: sirens, griffons, eagles.. Four angels around a capital, holding banners with the names of the four evangelists. Here to be seen "MATEUS".

The small church was the chapel of the medieval castle, that today is completely lost. It was devoted to St. Laurentius over the the first centuries, but the devotion changed to St. Leonhard in the early 16th century. Since then it has served the hamlet as a parish church. A chain spans all around the nave. The chain is a symbol of St. Leonhard. As he is not only the patron saint for prisoners, but as well for horses, it may well be that the first chain was made from horseshoes, votive offerings left here after the horses were given a special St.Leonhard-blessing. The church was consecrated in 1190 by the Bishop of Regensburg, representing his collegue from Eichstaett, who was not available, being on the cruisade at that time. A frieze of 13 heads runs around the apse, a very elaborate work for a small, rural church. The peasants around wondered about these carvings over the centuries and a legend was told, that a giant had built this church. The tympanum of St. Leonhard. A blessing Jesus flanked by two men. As Jesus and both men hold books, the two may stand for two evangelists. The carving style is kind of "soft" and elegant for 1150/1170. In the archivolt above the tympanum are heads - and lions.

The small church was the chapel of the medieval castle, that today is completely lost. It was devoted to St. Laurentius over the the first centuries, but the devotion changed to St. Leonhard in the early 16th century. Since then it has served the hamlet as a parish church. A chain spans all around the nave. The chain is a symbol of St. Leonhard. As he is not only the patron saint for prisoners, but as well for horses, it may well be that the first chain was made from horseshoes, votive offerings left here after the horses were given a special St.Leonhard-blessing. The church was consecrated in 1190 by the Bishop of Regensburg, representing his collegue from Eichstaett, who was not available, being on the cruisade at that time. A frieze of 13 heads runs around the apse, a very elaborate work for a small, rural church. The peasants around wondered about these carvings over the centuries and a legend was told, that a giant had built this church. The portal of St. Leonhard. In the tympanum a blessing Jesus flanked by two men. As Jesus and both men hold books, the two may stand for two evangelists. The carving style is kind of "soft" and elegant for 1150/1170. In the archivolt above the tympanum are heads - and lions. The church is padlocked - and, as you can see from the blue/white symbol, under the "Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict" from 1956.

Carennac is a very picturesque village perching above the banks of the Dordogne river. The village is one of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de Franc". Not much seems to have changed within the last centuries. In 1047 a priory had been founded here, depending from the Benedictine abbey Saint-Pierre in Moissac and so woven into the "cluniac system". Saint-Pierre, now the parish church of Carennac, was erected within the 11th/12th century. An impressive tympanum was created in the second half of the 12th century. The tympanum depicts Christ in Majesty in the centre of a large mandorla. On either side are the Apostles, grouped pairs. (See previous uploads) Here are four of these apostles. The seem to communicate and are gesticulating. The apostles are very elaborately carved and are seated on individual thrones.

Carennac is a very picturesque village perching above the banks of the Dordogne river. The village is one of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de Franc". Not much seems to have changed within the last centuries. In 1047 a priory had been founded here, depending from the Benedictine abbey Saint-Pierre in Moissac and so woven into the "cluniac system". Saint-Pierre, now the parish church of Carennac, was erected within the 11th/12th century. An impressive tympanum was created in the second half of the 12th century. Here is the centre of that tympanum. Under the sun (?), Christ in Majesty sits enthroned in the centre of a large mandorla, one hand on the bible, the other in a blessing gestus. The Evangelists´ symbols flank the mandorla. The mandorla has many drilled holes, that may have been once bases for glass-stones, but that is unproven.

Carennac is a very picturesque village perching above the banks of the Dordogne river. The village is one of "Les Plus Beaux Villages de Franc". Not much seems to have changed within the last centuries. In 1047 a priory had been founded here, depending from the Benedictine abbey Saint-Pierre in Moissac and so woven into the "cluniac system". Saint-Pierre, now the parish church of Carennac, was erected within the 11th/12th century. The impressive tympanum, seen here, was created in the second half of the 12th century. Christ in Majesty sits enthroned in the centre of a large mandorla, one hand on the bible, the other in a blessing gestus. The Evangelists´ symbols flank the mandorla. On either side are the Apostles, grouped pairs and obviously the Apostles are communicating. One statue is lost. On the bottom corners are two small monks (?), holding books. The mandorla has a row of drilled holes, that may have been once bases for glass-stones, but that is unproven. Note the nice lintel. There are animals, carved in a very different style.

A small, Romanesque church, erected in the 12th century, got too small during the time of the Renaissance. It had a wonderful carved facade - and got saved! A second nave was built beside it - and the new facade was constructed "around" the old one, so both styles now are under joined one gable. The church got renovated in the 1990s. Following the "style saintonge", there is no tympanum, but lavishly carved archivolts over the doors, seen here. The large outer archivolt depicts six armed knights (archangels) spearing devils. In the middle archivolt are two humans on either side, bitten by creatures, further on are lions and eagles fighting, all entwined by vines. The inner archivolt has an "Agnus Dei" in the center flanked by two angels and two evangelists, holding the bible. Of course there are smaller "floral" archivolts here as well.

In 1080, when Morlaàs was in its heydays, the building of this church started by Centulle V, Viscount of Béarn, who had to make an atonement. Morlaàs developed to an important "étape" on the Via Tolosana at that time. As the church was dedicated to St. Foy there was a kind of "link" to Conques. Later the pilgrimage business declined, the viscounts had moved away, wars arose.... The church burnt down in 1520, got severely damaged in 1569. During the French Revolution the church turned to a "Temple of Reason". The restorations of the 19th century saved the structure. Viollet-le-Duc, the influential "Inspecteur général des Edifices Diocésains" led the restoration of the portal. At all places, where he worked (eg "Carcasonne", "Vézelay"), he "recreated" and creatively "completed", what is a method, that is disputed meanwhile. The perfect condition of the portal is a result of this restoration. In the center of the tympanum Christ in Majesty flanked by the symbols of two of the four evangelists: Matthew (left) and John (right). Below are two biblical scene: The "Massacre of the Innocents" and the "Flight to Egypt". Matthew 2:13-16 "And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee 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 into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying" I have no idea, what the large group of ducks on the outer archivolt stands for.