Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: baptism

Many churches, chapels and abbeys all over continental Europe claim to be founded by Charlemagne. Saint John Abbey in the village of Müstair (= monasterium) is - most likely - founded in deed by Charlemagne or a bishop under Charles´ order around 774. At that time Charlemagne fought war against the Langobards in Northern Italy and needed save and secure passes over the Alps for his army. Fortified monasteries played an important role in this strategy. Dendrochronological surveys found out, that some of the beams used for the construction cut around 775, what is, when Charlemagne´s soldiers conquered the Lombardy. The "Benediktinerinnenkloster St. Johann", today still a Benedictine nunnery, is since 1983 a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Most spectacular is the interior of the convent´s church, that meanwhile serves the parish. It was constructed in Carolingian times, but remodelled later, when it got a late Gothic vaulted ceiling. Around 1200 all the walls of the church and the apses were covered with Romanesque frescoes. 300 years later, they seemed "old fashioned" - and the walls got whitened. End of the 19th century art historians discovered not only the fresco paintings from 1200, there were wall paintings even from the Carolingian times, dating back to 800. The carving depicts the Baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan. John 1:29-33 "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, "A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me." I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel." Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, "The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit."

"Saint-Germain" once belonged to the Grestain Abbey ("Abbaye de Grestain"). It was built in the mid-twelfth century in the center of Barneville-sur-Mer, now part of Barneville-Carteret. During the Hundred Years' War it got fortified, what did not avoid damage. The nave, with its arches and many carvings, is still Romanesque. Here is the baptism of Jesus in the river Jordan. Jesus (cross-nimbus) is very tall compared to John the Baptist. Angels, holding towels, flank the scene.

The abbey was founded already in the sixth century. Since 1099 the relics of Saint Remi are kept here. The abbey developed well and got very important. Charlemagne received Pope Leo III here. It was one of the richest convents in what is France today during the 9th century. From 780 to 945 the archbishops of Reims served as its abbots. Over centuries the "Holy Ampulla", holding the held the anointing oil for the coronation of the kings of France, was kept here. During the French Revolution the glass vial was publicly destroyed. The present basilica was the abbey church, that was consecrated by Pope Leo IX in 1049. It was built "over the tomb" of Sait Remi. The nave, seen here, is 122m long - and 26m wide. The original vaulting got destroyed during WWI. The rebuilding process of the basilica was finally completed in 1958. Just behind the choir of the church are the ruins of a small chapel. This may be the place, where Saint Remi, bishop of Reims, baptised Clovis, King of the Franks, in 496. At least here the memorial, depicting the scene, is placed.

The Monasterio de San Pedro el Viejo ("Saint Peter the Old") is a former Benedictine monastery built within the 12th century. A church had existed here (built on the place of a Roman temple) since Visigothic times and even, when the Moors hold Huesca, this church was in use. Christian troops conquered Huesca in 1096 and from 1117 on Benedictines with obvious ties to Cluny reconstructed the church and erected a monasterio here. Of course the Benedictian monastery needed a decent cloister. This got erected adjoining the church around 1140. Many of the capitals, carved in the style of the "Master of Agüero" (aka "Master of San Juan de la Peña"), are creations done during the renovation of San Pedro el Viejo end of the 19th century. Here is one of the old, weathered carvings. From information given in Huesca I learned, that this may be connected to legend of Pope Sylvester I. This was later added by Jacobus de Voragine to the "Legenda Aurea", a medieval bestseller. As seen on the previous upload, Pope Sylvester I, seated on the cart, was on his way to Rome. When he had reached Rome, he healed (following the Legenda Aurea) Constantine the Great from leprosy. Constantine then, seen here, got baptized by Sylvester. The emperor was so grateful, that he did the "Donation of Constantine", transferring the authority over Rome and a part of the Roman Empire to the Pope. This is the begin of what is now known as "Vatican City", an independent state, ruled by the Pope. Already in 1433 Nicholas of Cusa identified the "Donation of Constantine" as a fake. The document was actually fabricated within the eighth century.