This is the Templar Church of the True Cross outside Segovia, near the Discalced Carmelite monastery that John of the Cross helped build. The Templar church was dedicated in 1208 as a shrine to house a fragment of the True Cross. That relic is now housed in a nearby village church. On the other hand, the friars' monastery chapel contains the tomb of St. John of the Cross. (He died in Ubeda but his body was moved at the insistence of a great friend who had helped finance the construction of the monastery when John was prior there.)
It is a striking complex, with the tower being especially attractive. I assume that you have seen it in person. What is the Discalced monastry, where St. John of the Cross lies buried, like? Have you published a picture of it here on the blog?
By the way, I think I had better come clean (to an extent) and sign this with my real name (yes it is), so no more "W. F."
Roderick, Welcome! I have seen the chapel but did not tour it. (I can't remember if it was open to the public when I was there or not. We went into everything else, which makes me think it was closed.) The monastery where John is buried was an older building that was reworked during his time there. I will post a picture or two if I can find any.
4 comments:
Oh, come on, Michael, where is it? Clearly a church, probably in Italy (or could be northern Spain). Let us know.
W. F.
This is the Templar Church of the True Cross outside Segovia, near the Discalced Carmelite monastery that John of the Cross helped build. The Templar church was dedicated in 1208 as a shrine to house a fragment of the True Cross. That relic is now housed in a nearby village church. On the other hand, the friars' monastery chapel contains the tomb of St. John of the Cross. (He died in Ubeda but his body was moved at the insistence of a great friend who had helped finance the construction of the monastery when John was prior there.)
It is a striking complex, with the tower being especially attractive. I assume that you have seen it in person. What is the Discalced monastry, where St. John of the Cross lies buried, like? Have you published a picture of it here on the blog?
By the way, I think I had better come clean (to an extent) and sign this with my real name (yes it is), so no more "W. F."
Roderick
Roderick,
Welcome! I have seen the chapel but did not tour it. (I can't remember if it was open to the public when I was there or not. We went into everything else, which makes me think it was closed.) The monastery where John is buried was an older building that was reworked during his time there. I will post a picture or two if I can find any.
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