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Germigny-des-Prés
GERMIGNY-DES-PRES: CAROLINGIAN ORATORY
The oratory was built in 805 or 806 by Théodulphe, adviser to Charelemagne. The original ground plan was in the form of a Greek cross.
Damaged by fire in the 9th century, it was repaired and substantially altered in the 11th, 15th, 16th and 19th centuries.
The mosaic of the apse was rediscovered in 1820, under a coating of whitewash, and restored.
Mosaic of the apse: 9th century, restored in the 19th century. Top-left: angel representing the Christian people - Top-right: the angel representing the Jewish nation - Between the two angels: the starry heavens - Between the heavens and the wings of the angels: God's hand - Bottom: the Ark of the Covenant and two cherubs - Bottom-left, diagonally, just above the inscription: the river Jordan. The mosaic is composed of about 130 000 glass tesserae or enamelled smalts of various colours: green, red, white, black, sinople, grey, gold or silver...
Inscription: ORACLUM SCM ET CERUBIN HIC ASPICE SPECTANS ET TESTAMENTI MICAT ARCA DEI HAEC CERNENS PRECIBUSQUE STUDENS PULSARE TONANTEM THEODOLUM VOTIS IUNGITO
Regarde et contemple le saint propitiatoire et ses chérubins/ Regarde et contemple ce saint des saints avec ses chérubins/ Et vois ici l'Arche de l'alliance divine/ Devant ce spectacle, efforce-toi de toucher par tes prières le Maître du tonnerre/ Et ne manque pas, je t'en prie, d'associer Théodulf à tes prières.
Look and behold the holy Seat of Mercy and its cherabim/ And behold the divine Ark of the Covenant/ Behold! and by your prayers try to touch the Master of thunder/ And do not fail, I pray thee, to remember Théodulf in your prayers.
Location and nearby churches
- Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire 5.0 km
- Varize 62 km
- Lutz-en-Dunois 65 km
- Saint-Loup-sur-Cher 73 km
- Allouis 74 km
- Conan 74 km