Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Abednego

It is known, that the Abbaye Sainte-Marie de Lagrasse (11kms north) had a priory here since 1093, but this church is probably older than that. The small church was obviously erected in two stages. Some scholars see mozzarabic influences, dating it to the very early 11th centuries, while other scholars see Visogothic traces, dating it back to the 8th/9th century. Only a small part of the frescoe, dated to the 12th century did survive. They must have covered the eastern walls of the church completely. It is belived, that this frescor depicts Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, the three young men thrown into a furnace by Nebuchadnezzar´s soldiers, when they refused to bow down to the king's image. - Daniel 3:15 - 25. They have rectangular nimbuses! Some people have compared the frescoes to works in the Vall de Boí (about 300kms southwest).

The collegiate church, dedicated to Saint Ursus of Aosta, existed here already in Carolingian times. Ursus, who may have been Irish, was a missionary, who supported the Bishop of Aosta. When an Arian became bishop of Aosta, Ursus and other canons left the cathedral and settled outside the walls of Aosta at the present site of the collegiate church of Saint Ursus. A Romanesque church was built around 1000, but this church got rebuilt, altered and enlarged many times over the centuries. The beautiful cloister, next to the basilica, was erected mid 12th century. It got restored end of teh 15th century, but 37 of the 42 original capitals are still "in situ". The now darkgrey capitals were white, when they were carved. The story of the Shadrak, Mishak, and Abednego in the furnace. The had refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar´s new image of gold. Daniel 3:19-21 "Then Nebuchadnezzar was furious with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, and his attitude toward them changed. He ordered the furnace heated seven times hotter than usual and commanded some of the strongest soldiers in his army to tie up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and throw them into the blazing furnace. So these men, wearing their robes, trousers, turbans and other clothes, were bound and thrown into the blazing furnace."