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

Founded by the Romans around 30 BC as "Augusta Treverorum", Trier claims, just like Xanten, Cologne, Worms, Speyer..., to be the oldest existing German city. Trier is not only full of monuments, but as well full of stories. Trier, the center of a diocese already within the 3rd century, was destroyed by the Alemanni (275), rebuilt under Constantine the Great, who resided here, like his son Constantine II. With a population of more than 80.000 "Augusta Treverorum" was the largest city north of the Alps at that time. When Roman influence and power crumbled, Suebi and Vandals attacked the city, the Huns conquered the city, before the Franks took over. In 882 Trier was seized by the Vikings/Normans and nearly completly burnt down. But Trier came back all the time. Many wellknown persons were born here, just to name three: - Doctor of the Church Saint Ambrose (aka "Sant'Ambrogio", "Ambrosius von Mailand") - * 339 - Caspar Olevian, Reformed theologian, friend of Calvin and co-autor of the "Heidelberg Catechism". - * 1536 - Karl Marx, author of "The Communist Manifesto", style icon and most copied bearded man in the second half of the 1960s. - * 1818 Trier´s silhouette, seen from the top floor of the (former) NH-Hotel. The Cathedral ("Trierer Dom") is in the center. Sorry for that ugly blue/white concrete block.

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 di Sant'Eustorgio, located only about 500 ms south of the Basilica di San Lorenzo, existed already since centuries at that time, as it was founded in the 4th century. The name refers to Eustorgius I, the bishop of Milan (~350). It is attributed to Eustorgius to have translated the relics of the Magi to the city from Constantinople in 344, a present of Roman Emperor Constantius II (337-361). This legend came up in the 12th century, when the "new" Basilica di Sant'Eustorgio was erected in Romanesque style. In 1164, when Milano was sacked by Frederick Barbarossa, Rainald von Dassel, who had just become Archbishop of Cologne and Archchancellor of Italy, he brought the bones of the Magi with him to Cologne as loot from Milan and as a gift of Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. From the 13th century the church was the main Milanese seat of the Dominican Order, who promoted its rebuilding. The adjoining buildings, that once hosted the large convent are now home of the Museo Diocesano. The stucco medaillon was one placed inside the basilica. Saint Ambrose (= Sant'Ambrogio) holds a book in his left and has his right arm in a blessing gesture. The inscription (book) SANC/TUS/AM/BRO/SIUS is dated to the 14th century, replacing an older one. The medaillon is probably from the 10th/11th century.

The "Basilica dei San Vitale e Sant'Agricola" is part of the "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") that encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. This church is dedicated to the Saints Vitalis and Agricola, venerated martyrs, who are considered to have died at Bologna about 304, during the Diocletian persecution. End of the 4th century Bishop Eusebius of Bologna, announced the discovery of the relics of Vitalis and Agricola. When he reburied them, Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was here and his writings about the event led to popular veneration of these saints. Saint Agricola (left) and Saint Vitalis flank Christ. They greet the onlookers below, while Christ blesses them. This relief adorned the facade of the church once. It got replaced by a copy. The original is protected inside the museum.

The "Basilica dei San Vitale e Sant'Agricola" is part of the "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") that encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. This church is dedicated to the Saints Vitalis and Agricola, venerated martyrs, who are considered to have died at Bologna about 304, during the Diocletian persecution. End of the 4th century Bishop Eusebius of Bologna, announced the discovery of the relics of Vitalis and Agricola. When he reburied them, Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was here and his writings about the event led to popular veneration of these saints. The church first was named "San Vitale ed Agricola in Arena", as it may have been built over the remains of an amphitheatre where the martyrdom of Vitalis and Agricola had taken place. Obviously some Roman pillars were reused here - reinforced by iron rings.

The "Basilica dei San Vitale e Sant'Agricola" is part of the "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") that encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. This church is dedicated to the Saints Vitalis and Agricola, venerated martyrs, who are considered to have died at Bologna about 304, during the Diocletian persecution. End of the 4th century Bishop Eusebius of Bologna, announced the discovery of the relics of Vitalis and Agricola. When he reburied them, Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was here and his writings about the event led to popular veneration of these saints. The church first was named "San Vitale ed Agricola in Arena", as it may have been built over the remains of an amphitheatre where the martyrdom of Vitalis and Agricola had taken place. Two Romanesque capitals flank the door. In case Saint Vitale and Saint Agricola are seen on the left side of the door - and having in mind, that the place, where the church is now, may have been the "arena" where they were martyred, then the twelve heads may symbolize the crowd of spectators then have been in the amphitheatre.

The "Basilica dei San Vitale e Sant'Agricola" is part of the "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") that encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. This church is dedicated to the Saints Vitalis and Agricola, venerated martyrs, who are considered to have died at Bologna about 304, during the Diocletian persecution. End of the 4th century Bishop Eusebius of Bologna, announced the discovery of the relics of Vitalis and Agricola. When he reburied them, Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was here and his writings about the event led to popular veneration of these saints. The church first was named "San Vitale ed Agricola in Arena", as it may have been built over the remains of an amphitheatre where the martyrdom of Vitalis and Agricola had taken place. Two Romanesque capitals flank the door. Seen here may be Vitalis and Agricola. Legends tell that Agricola was a noble Christian, who converted his slave Vitalis to Christianity, what resulted in martyrdom. To the left somebody is riding a dragon - and is just getting devoured. Well the two dragons will probably share the poor soul.

The "Basilica dei San Vitale e Sant'Agricola" is part of the "Basilica di Santo Stefano" known as "Sette Chiese" (= "Seven Churches") that encompasses a complex of interconnected religious edifices, erected between the 5th and the 13th century. This church is dedicated to the Saints Vitalis and Agricola, venerated martyrs, who are considered to have died at Bologna about 304, during the Diocletian persecution. End of the 4th century Bishop Eusebius of Bologna, announced the discovery of the relics of Vitalis and Agricola. When he reburied them, Saint Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, was here and his writings about the event led to popular veneration of these saints. The church first was named "San Vitale ed Agricola in Arena", as it may have been built over the remains of an amphitheatre where the martyrdom of Vitalis and Agricola had taken place. Within the 15th century a sarcophag was found here bearing the inscription "Symon". A rumor spread, that the original tomb of Simon Peter - aka Saint Peter. Suddenly pilgrims headed to Bologna instead to Rome. To stop that "business" Pope Eugenius IV ordered to fill up this church with earth - and is stayed so - for 70 years.