Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: epiphany

Around Aulnay are a couple of small church, that are often underestimated, as "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" is such overwhelming, that it shadows everything around. But the craftsmen, that created "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" did not only work there, but they also found jobs in the area. Notre Dame in Nuaillé-sur-Boutonne, located only 7 kms west of Aulnay, is an example of this. The small church was erected in the 12th century, same time as Aulnay. Depicted on the outer archivolt are the Magi, who were adored by all pilgrims at that time. The Magi had followed the Star of Bethlehem on their long journey to Bethlehem, just like the pilgrims following the "chemin" to Santiago. From Aulnay it was a walk of less than two hours to see the Magi here. The scenes do not follow a chronological order. The Magi have reached Bethlehem and are adorating. They hold their gifts. The Star of Bethlehem is seen on the staff the Virgins holds. Matthew 2.09 - 2.11 "After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."

La Chaise-Dieu was founded in 1043 by Robert de Turlande. It was named "Casa Dei", from which La Chaise-Dieu developed. From the 11th to the 13th century, the abbey experienced rapid and significant development. When the founder died in 1067, already 300 monks lived here. In the Auvergne La Chaise-Dieu gained importance similar to that of the Burgundian Cluny Abbey. The abbey received many donations from noble families and administered 42 daughter monasteries. Popes who visited the abbey include Urban II, Calixt II, Alexander III. and Innocent II. In 1342, Pierre Roger, who had lived as a monk in La Chaise-Dieu, became Pope in Avignon under the name Clement VI. He financed a new building of the abbey church, in which he was finally buried. The building was completed in 1378 under the pontificate of Gregory XI, a nephew of Clement VI. Since 1516 La Chaise-Dieu, like most other French abbeys, became "in commendam" so the commendatory abbot drew the revenue of the monastery but without fulfilling the duties of the abbot or even residing at the monastery. Calvinist troops looted the abbey in August 1562. After most of the monastery buildings were destroyed by fire in 1695, they were rebuilt by the monks in the decades that followed. In 1786, Cardinal de Rohan, who was involved in the "Affair of the Diamond Necklace" was exiled to La Chaise-Dieu. While the abbey had 40 monks at that time, religious life ended at the beginning of the French Revolution. La Chaise-Dieu is known for the tapestries, once woven to embellish the monks´ choir. They were commissioned by Jacques de Saint-Nectaire and were woven by a Flemish workshop between 1501 and 1518. The collection includes 14 tapestries of which two are different and may have been ordered by the abbot for his personal use. The 12 other tapestries constitute a complete continuation of the Annunciation to the Last Judgment. An inventory prior to the Revolution mentions 18 tapestries, so four tapestries have therefore disappeared. The tapestries were only exhibited during major liturgical feasts. They were rolled up and kept during the troubles during the Wars of Religion and the Revolution. In 2013 the tapestries were removed. They got restored and returned to the abbey in July 2019. I was lucky to see them in August 2019. The Adoration of the Magi is seen in the centre, left is David longing for water from Bethlehem (Samuel 23:15), to the right the "Queen of Saba".

Venice (ital. Venezia) is one of the most important tourist destinations worldwide with about 30 million visitors each year. As each tourist takes at least 100 photos (minimum!) in Venice 3000000000 photos are taken here per year, what means more than 8 millions per day. I have already uploaded dozends of shots from previous visits, so ll try to cut down the number of uploads this time. - The main altar of the Basilica di San Marco is located under a ciborium. Here is a detail of one of the pillars, supporting the canopy. I have no idea, how old these complex pillars are or where they came from, nor could I read/translate the inscriptions. They may originate from Byzanz like many works of art here (eg. the "Four Tetrarchs"). Seen here is the "Adoration of the Magi". Note the name HERODES below