Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: beggar

St. Peter (aka "Fritzlarer Dom") is tightly connected to Saint Bonifatius. the most important christian missionary in the east of the Frankish Kingdom, preaching the gospel to the germanic tribes. The "Vita sancti Bonifati", written only some decades after his martyrdom in 755, tells, that Saint Bonitatius came to this place and chopped down a sacred oak, dedicated to the pagan god Thor (Donar). All onlookers were waiting for Thor´s fierce reaction, but Thor did not care. After the felling Saint Bonifatius used the timber - and had a wooden church built here. There is a statue in front of the church, that shows Bonifatius standing on the stub of a oak, holding a huge axe. He founded a monastery nearby and named Saint Wigbert the first abbot. Saint Wigbert replaced the humble wooden structure by a prestigious stone one. This was probably the church that archeologists found traces of. It dates back to the end of the 8th century. Times were hard, in 774 pagan Saxons destroyed the abbey, but the stone church (23 meters.long), obviously withstook the attacs. But the Saxons returned in 1079 - and this time, they looted and destroyed the abbey, the church and the settlement. The building of a three nave, flat roofed basilica started 1085/1090 and was completed in 1118. It was an impressing large church with an extensive westwork, but already in 1171 the visiting Archbishop found the structure in such a bad state, the he commisioned a "rebuilding", what, as the romanesque style had changed created a "new church". Nowadays many architectural styles can be found here, as architects and builders were busy all the time. Here another capital from the interior of the narthex ("Paradies), that was added before between 1253 -1267. This hall was used as a chapel and as a law court in that times. When I saw this capital (and took the photo) I "underestimated" it. I just saw a strange figure, damaged edges. I did not take a closer look or take more photos. Meanwhile I tried to find information about this carving, but Gottfried Kiesow does not even mention these capitals in his book "Romanik in Hessen". The artistic style differs clearly from that elaborate carving of the capital just seen. In the center is a cripple with a huge head and a short round body. He has one long and one short leg. His arms are (compared to the body) way too long and his hands hold wooden blocks, that he uses to move. Around his neck is a kind of bag. One the right edge a large head - and two thin, rope-like arms. An animal (further right) bites into the elbow.

Romeno is a small village in the Val di Non. The small church, outside the village, is surrounded by orchards. It may date back to the 8th century, though it was mentioned first time in 1187. Soon after the interior walls of Santi Bartolomeo e Tommaso were adorned with murals. Some of the frescoes (dated to 1210) still exist. Here are the Magi approaching Bethlehem (Mary´s blanket is seen above them). On the right is a crippled beggar (and St. Martin?). The cripple uses a small stool-like crutch, that can often be seen in medieval times. This church is open for visitors even in March! Grazie!!

When the church, dedicated to Saint Amans de Rodez, got erected within the 12th century, it was dependent from the abbey Saint-Martin in Tulle (20kms north). It is known, that Humbaud, bishop of Limoges, consecrated a church here in 1094, but at that time the structure cannot have been completed The portal of Saint-Chamant is extraordenary (for a village church). While the tympanum over the doors is undamaged, all capitals are damaged. After the French Revolution some small vandals used their hammers. A well dressed miser with a huge sack (full of gold and silver) badly adviced by two ugly envoys of the evil not to share his wealth with the skinny beggars, that flank him.

Raoul de Bourges (aka "Saint Raoul"), archbishop of Bourges, son of the Count of Turenne founded an abbey on the banks of the Dordogne river in the 9th century with the help of monks from Solignac, where Raoul had started his clerical career. After feudal quarrels, the abbey Saint-Pierre joined the Cluniac movement in 1076 and soon after the erection of this church started. It was completed already mid 12th century. Though not situated at the busy pilgrim routes (eg "Via Podensis" runs about 60kms south) a large, typical "pilgrim church" was created here. It may well been, that the relics, that were on display here (Saint-Prime, Saint-Félicien, Sainte-Félicité) and the proximity to Rocamador (30kms southwest) motivated many pilgrims to do a detour. The abbey slipped into difficult times, when the number of pilgrims shrunk and feudal claims emerged again. The abbey and the city of Beaulieu suffered of the Wars of Religion. The Huguenots took over Beaulieu in 1569 and the monks had to flee. After the "Ligue Catholique" had reconquered the place, the monks returned and soon after the convent joined the Congregation of Saint Maur. The abbey existed upto the French revolution, when the last 6 monks had to leave. The abbey buildings got sold and demolished, while the church was taken over by the parish. The structure was in a ruined state at that time. The nave partly collapsed in 1808, but a difficult renovation undertaken end of the 19th century finally saved the church. Here is a detail of Saint-Pierre´s southern portal, that has a wonderful tympanum and pretty undamaged tympanum, created 1130/40 (see previous upload). These three carvings are older, rougher and may have been created for another place once. The rough reliefs do not really "fit" into the portal, they seem like spolia, glued onto the outside wall. I´m not sure about the left figure. Maybe a beggar, holding a bowl. In the center a miser with a moneybag. On the right a large Luxuria. She has a cousin in Moissac.

A church, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tour, was consecrated in 1156, the village is known already since the 11th century for supplying wine to the monastery in Leyre. The church is on the highest spot of the little village and the lanes going up there are really narrow. When I finally reached the church I knew, that it was to late to see the crypt. Actually I could not even enter the church but only walk around it - and take some pictures. One of the capitals flanking the door depicts Saint Martin of Tour on man on horseback, He has cut his cloak in two and is handing one half of it to a beggar, who is barfoot and wears only a kind of rag.

A harbour and a settlement existed here during Roman times already. A parish and a church Saint-Fortunat is mentioned in 1136, when Pope Innocent II confirmed a donation of the Abbey La Chaise-Dieu (Haute Loire). The erection of the church, seen today, started within the 12th century, but the structure got severely damaged during the 100 Years´ War and got rebuilt in Gothic-, later altered in Renaissance-style. The church is rather large for a small town with a population of less than 900. The Romanesque facade dating back to the 12th century is undamaged and very complete, what is a surprise, as the village was a stronghold of the Protestants. The stone, used by the carvers in the Saintong end of the 12 century, was very soft. So very elaborate works were possible. Due to the softness, some of the works are pretty weathered meanwhile. A miser, holding his well filled purse, on the left - and a poor guy on his knees, begging for small change, on the right.