Saint Zephyrinus (199 A.D. - 217 A.D.). Pope And Martyr. Feast Day 26 August.

Text taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal,
unless otherwise stated.
Illustrations taken from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.

26 August.
Feast of Saint Zephyrinus.
Pope and Martyr.

Simple.

Red Vestments.

Pope Saint Zephyrinus

(199 A.D. - 217 A. D.).

Date: 24 March 2006 (original upload date).

Source: Transferred from en.wikipedia;

Original uploader was Amberrock at en.wikipedia;

transferred to Commons by User:Sreejithk2000

using CommonsHelper.

Author: Unknown.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Happy Zephyrinus to all Readers of this Blog.

Today is the Feast of Saint Zephyrinus, Pope and Martyr.

Pope Saint Zephyrinus succeeded Pope Saint Victor on the Pontifical Throne and, like him, was Martyred (Gospel). He abolished the use of Wooden Chalices, in the Celebration of the Holy Sacrifice, and ordered them to be replaced by Glass Chalices. He prescribed that all the Faithful should receive Holy Communion on Easter Day.

He had to defend the Dogma of the Unity of God and the Trinity of Persons against the Sabellians. Besides this strife, he had to suffer persecution. God always supported him in his trials, in order to enable him to support the Flock of Christ (Epistle).

He died in 217 A.D., after a Pontificate of seventeen years.

Français: Église Saint-Zéphirin-de-Stadacona à Québec en 1986. Construite en 1890 sur les plans de l'architecte Joseph-Ferdinand Peachy, rénovée en 1918 par l'architecte Adalbert Trudel.

English: The Church of Saint Zephyrinus of Stadacona (Saint-Zéphirin-de-Stadacona)

(built in 1890) in Quebec City, Canada.

Date: Photographed in 1986 and Uploaded on 24 January 2014.

Source: Own work.

Author: Claude Brochu.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The following Text is from Wikipedia.

Pope Zephyrinus (+ 20 December 217 A.D.), was Bishop of Rome, or Pope, from 199 A.D., to his death in 217 A.D. He was born in Rome. His predecessor was Pope Victor I. Pope Zephyrinus was succeeded by his principal Advisor, who became Pope Callixtus I.

During the 17-year Pontificate of Zephyrinus, the young Church endured severe Persecution under the Emperor, Severus, until his death in the year 211 A.D. To quote Alban Butler, "this holy Pastor was the support and comfort of the distressed flock". According to Saint Optatus, Zephyrinus also combated new Heresies and Apostases, chief of which were Marcion, Praxeas, Valentine and the Montanists.

Eusebius insists that Zephyrinus fought vigorously against the blasphemies of the two Theodotuses, who, in response, treated him with contempt, but later called him the greatest defender of the Divinity of Christ. Although he was not physically Martyred for the Faith, his suffering – both mental and spiritual – during his Pontificate have earned him the title of Martyr.

During the reign of Emperor Severus (193 A.D. – 211 A.D.), relations with the young Christian Church deteriorated, and in 202 A.D., or 203 A.D., the edict of persecution appeared, which forbade Conversion to Christianity under the severest penalties.

Zephyrinus's predecessor, Pope Victor I, had excommunicated Theodotus the Tanner, for reviving a Heresy that Christ, while a Prophet, was only a mere man. Theodotus' followers formed a separate Heretical community at Rome, ruled by another Theodotus, the Money Changer, and Asclepiodotus. Natalis, who was tortured for his Faith during the Persecution, was persuaded by Asclepiodotus to become a Bishop in their sect, in exchange for a monthly stipend of 150 denarii.

Natalis then reportedly experienced several visions warning him to abandon these Heretics. According to an anonymous work, entitled The Little Labyrinth, and quoted by Eusebius, Natalis was whipped a whole night by an Angel; the next day he donned sackcloth and ashes and, weeping bitterly, threw himself at the feet of Zephyrinus.

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Poitiers, France (Part Three).

Text and Illustrations from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.

The Church of Notre-Dame La Grande,

Poitiers, France.

Photo: 3 October 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: Gibert Bochenek, Gilbertus

(Wikimedia Commons)

English: The Church of Notre-Dame la Grande, Poitiers, France.

Français: Notre-Dame la Grande, France.

Photo: 25 June 2006.

Source: Own work.

Author: TwoWings.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Poitiers Train Station was built in the 1850s, and connected Poitiers to the rest of France. Poitiers was bombed during World War II, particularly the area around the Railway Station, which was very badly hit on 13 June 1944.

From the Late-1950s until the Late-1960s, when Charles de Gaulle ended the American military presence, the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force had an array of military installations in France, including a major Army logistics and communications hub in Poitiers, part of what was called the Communication Zone (ComZ), and consisting of a Logistics Headquarters and Communications Agency, located at Aboville Caserne, a Military Compound situated on a hill above the City.

Hundreds of graduates of Poitiers American High School, a school operated by the Department of Defense School System (DODDS), have gone on to successful careers, including the recent Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Special Forces Command, Army General Bryan (Doug) Brown. The Caserne also housed a full support community, with a Theatre, Commissary, recreation facilities and an affiliate Radio Station of the American Forces Network, Europe, headquartered in Frankfurt (now Mannheim, Germany).

Interior of the Church of Notre-Dame la Grande,

Poitiers, France.

Photo: 21 July 2009.

Source: Own work.

Author: PMRMaeyaert.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The town benefited from industrial décentralisation in the 1970s, for instance with the installation during that decade of the Michelin and Compagnie des compteurs Schlumberger factories. The Futuroscope Theme-Park and Research Park project, built in 1986–1987, in nearby Chasseneuil-du-Poitou, after an idea by René Monory, consolidated Poitiers' place as a tourist destination and as a modern University centre, and opened the town to the era of information technology.

The City of Poitiers has a very old tradition as a University centre, starting in the Middle Ages. The University of Poitiers was established in 1431 as the second oldest University in France, and has welcomed many famous philosophers and scientists throughout the ages (notably François Rabelais; René Descartes; Francis Bacon).

Poitiers is twinned with: Northampton, United Kingdom; Marburg, Germany; Lafayette, Louisiana, United States; Coimbra, Portugal; Yaroslavl, Russia; Iaşi, Romania; Azrou, Morocco; Moundou, Chad; Eggelsberg, Austria.

Details of the Frieze on the Exterior

of the Church of Notre-Dame la Grande,

Poitiers, France.

Photo: 21 July 2009.

Source: Own work.

Author: PMRMaeyaert.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Church of Notre-Dame la Grande,

Poitiers, France.

Photo: 21 July 2009.

Source: Own work.

Author: PMRMaeyaert.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Detail on the Great West Door,

Church of Notre-Dame la Grande,

Poitiers, France.

Image: ROMANES.COM

Français: Église Sainte-Radegonde (Classé).

English: The Church of Saint Radegonde,

Poitiers, France.

Photo: 26 July 2012.

Source: Own work.

Author: Whn64.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Radegund (also spelled Rhadegund, Radegonde, Radigund) (circa 520 A.D. – 587 A.D.) was a 6th-Century Thuringian Princess and Frankish Queen, who founded the Monastery of the Holy Cross at Poitiers. She is the Patron Saint of several Churches in France and England and of Jesus College, Cambridge (whose full name is "The College of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint John the Evangelist and the glorious Virgin, Saint Radegund".

Church of Saint Radegund,

Grayingham, England.

Date: 22 July 2006 (original upload date).

Source: Transferred from en.wikipedia;

transferred to Commons by User:Oxyman using CommonsHelper.

Author: Original uploader was Asterion at en.wikipedia

(Wikimedia Commons)

Saint Radegonde Church,

Poitiers, France.

Photo: 21 July 2005.

Source: Own work.

Author: Sumolari, B25es.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Deutsch: Poitiers: Kathedrale St. Pierre.

English: Poitiers Cathedral (Saint Peter's Cathedral),

Poitiers, France.

Photo: April 1989.

Source: Own work.

Author: Ziegler175.

(Wikimedia Commons)

THIS CONCLUDES THE ARTICLE ON POITIERS, FRANCE.

Called To Be One. The Personal Ordinariate Of Our Lady Of Walsingham.

This Article is taken from THE PERSONAL ORDINARIATE OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM

Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham.

Welcoming the Anglican heritage into the Catholic Church.

CALLED TO BE ONE.

SATURDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2014.

Ordinariate Groups across the country have published the details of what 

they are planning for the Ordinariate’s exploration day, Called to Be One.

The day is especially aimed at those who feel that God might be calling 

them to join the Ordinariate, but everyone is welcome! Find out where your 

local event is on the list below and come and join us to see what the 

Ordinariate is, what it is for, what it looks like near you.

All the events take 

place on Saturday 6 September, unless otherwise stated.

Beckenham

St Edmund’s Church Hall, Village Way, Beckenham, BR3 3NP

4.30 pm: Tea and cakes in the Hall 

5.00 pm: DVD presentation and discussion on the theme ‘Called to be One’

6.00 pm: Vigil Mass in St Edmund’s Church according to the Ordinariate Use

Birmingham

The Sisters of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 99 Old Oscott Hill, B44 9SR

3.00 pm: Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament;

exhibition about the Ordinariate and tea

4:45 pm: Benediction 

5.00 pm: Close.

Black Country

Saint Bernadette’s Church Hall, Wombourne WV5 9HW

3.00 pm: Explorers’ Meeting & Tea.

Bournemouth

Church of St Thomas More, Iford, BH6 5QG

1.15 pm: Free organ concert

2.00 pm: Church open for our Festival of Beautiful Things 

3.30 pm: Evening Prayer and Benediction

4.15 pm: Free tea in the church hall.

Bristol

St Joseph’s Church, Weston-super-Mare BS23 2EN

10.30 am: Coffee in hall

11.00 am: Presentation about the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham 

11.30 am: Holy Hour with Benediction in church 

Contact: Fr Peter Clarke 01935850408

pclarke48@btinternet.com

Buckfast (with Cornwall)

Christ the King Catholic Church & Hall, Plymouth, PL1 2EN

2.00 pm: Silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament in the Church 

4.00 pm: Cream teas and an opportunity for finding out more about the Ordinariate.

Chelmsford

Blessed Sacrament Church, Chelmsford, CM1 2DU

3.00 pm: Welcome & tea 

3.30 pm: Introduction of the afternoon and DVD presentation 

4.00 pm: Questions and Answers

4.30 pm: Evensong.

Chichester

St Richard's Catholic Church, Chichester, PO19 1XB

1.45 pm: ‘The Ordinariate OLW - The Answer to a Prayer?’ 

2.15 pm: Break 

2.30 pm: Anglicans and Catholics United - What does it mean in Practice? 

3.00 pm: Question Time

4.00 pm: Sung Eucharist (Ordinariate Use)

5.15pm: Refreshments. 

Colchester

St John Payne Church, Greenstead, Colchester, CO4 3QD

12 noon: Mass

1.00 pm: Buffet lunch with questions and comments from visitors and explorers

3:30 pm: Close.

Coventry (with Derby)

St Joseph the Worker Catholic Church, Coventry CV4 7DU

(behind Cannon Park shopping centre)

12 noon: Refreshments & Welcome

12.30 pm: Lunch (free of charge);

Presentations & exhibition on the Ordinariate and the 

 Coventry Mission; Questions & Answers 

3.00 pm: Evensong 

For more details contact Father Paul Burch on 024 7669 3752.

Croydon

St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Croydon, CR0 2AR

2.00 pm: Buffet lunch in the Crypt, 

2.45 pm: Introductory talk and DVD and a further talk on plans for the future; 

 Question Time

5.00 pm: Evensong and Benediction sung by the John Fisher School choir.

Darlington

St Osmund’s Catholic Church, Gainford, DL2 3DZ.

10 am: Mass

10.30 am: Morning Coffee in the Parish House

11.00 am: Presentation – What is the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham? 

11.30 am Question 

12.00 noon Angelus and depart.

Deal (Deal, Kent)

St John's Church, Deal, Kent CT14 9LD

2.00 pm: Presentation about the Ordinariate and Q and A session

3.00 pm: Tea & cake

3.30 pm: Evening Prayer & Benediction

Deal (Canterbury, Kent) —  SATURDAY 13 SEPTEMBER

Franciscan International Study Centre, Canterbury CT2 7NA

11.00 am: Presentation about the Ordinariate and Q and A session 

12 noon: Coffee & cake 

2.30 pm: Midday Office.

Deal (Ramsgate, Kent) — SATURDAY 13 SEPTEMBER

Shrine of St Augustine, Ramsgate CT11 9PA

4.00 pm: Presentation about the Ordinariate and Q and A session

5.00 pm: Tea & cake

5.30pm: Evening Prayer and Benediction

Eastbourne

St Agnes Eastbourne BN22 8NJ

10.00 am: Blessing of a new statue of Our Lady of Walsingham, followed by 

 Intercession before Our Lady, Mass, Exposition with prayers for healing, 

 sprinkling with holy water from Walsingham, presentations about the 

 Ordinariate of our Lady of Walsingham 

4.00 pm: Evensong (Please bring a packed lunch).

Edinburgh

See SCOTLAND

Folkestone

Our Lady Help of Christians Church Hall, Folkestone, CT20 1EF

3.00 pm: Presentation about the Ordinariate and Q and A session

3.45pm: Tea & cake

4.30 pm: Evening Prayer.

Ham, Richmond

Church Hall, St Thomas Aquinas Church, Ham, Richmond TW10 7HT

7.30 pm: An ‘Evening Celebration of the Ordinariate’.

Hemel Hempstead — SUNDAY 7 SEPTEMBER

St Mark’s Church, Hollybush Lane, Hemel Hempstead HP1 2PH

9.00 am Mass followed by light refreshments and discussion about the Ordinariate.

Inverness

See SCOTLAND

Isle of Wight

St Mary's Catholic Church, Ryde PO33 2RE

3.30 pm: Choral Evensong (in the Anglican tradition) followed by a reception in the 

 adjoining church hall with a presentation about the Ordinariate.

London Walthamstow (with Leytonstone and Harlow)

Our Lady & St George, Walthamstow E17 9HU

2.30 pm: Refreshments and presentation on the life of the Ordinariate

3.30 pm: Evensong and Benediction. (Those wishing to join the choir for evensong are 

 invited to attend a music rehearsal at 1.00pm).

London South

Church of the Most Precious Blood, O'Meara St., London SE1 1TA 

2.30 pm: ‘This is our story, this is our song': an illustrated presentation of our hopes for 

unity and reconciliation, followed by question & response with a panel; 

3.30 pm: Tea, cakes & sandwiches, informal meeting & conversation in the rectory 

4.30 pm: Evensong 

Tel 020 7407 3951.

E-mail: parish@preciousblood.org.uk

Manchester (with Lancashire)

St Joseph’s Church, Heywood OL10 1EG

3.00 pm: Cream tea 

4.00 pm: Choral Evensong

Northampton

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Ranelagh Road, Wellingborough

3.00 pm: Sung Evensong (Preacher: Mgr John Broadhurst)

4.00 pm: Tea and Q&A session.

Nottingham

St John the Evangelist, Stapleford NG9 7BT

11:00 am Eucharistic Adoration

12 noon: Mass, followed by buffet lunch and presentation (please pre-book lunch with 

 Nola Murray, cost £5, from nolamurray@ymail.com or 07939 688584)

2.30 pm: Benediction.

Oxford

Holy Rood Catholic Church, 38 Abingdon Road OX1 4PD 

3.00 pm: Discussion: ‘Ordinariate: Dead End or Ecumenical Breakthrough?’

4.00 pm: Tea and cake

5.00 pm: Evensong

6.00 pm: The First Mass of Trinity XII (all are welcome to stay for this).

Portsmouth

St Agatha’s, Portsmouth PO1 4AD

11.00 am: Marian Mass, followed by refreshments; Clergy will be available in the 

church to talk about the Ordinariate and printed information will be available for visitors

4.00 pm: Choral Evensong.

Reading

St James’ Church, The Forbury RG1 3HW

4.00 pm: Evening prayer and Benediction.

Salisbury

St Osmunds Church, 95 Exeter Street, Salisbury SP1 2SF

10.30 am: Mass for Unity

11.15 am: Holy Hour and Benediction

12.15 am: Refreshments and opportunity to meet in the adjacent church hall.

SCOTLAND

- Central Scotland

Falkland Town Hall, Falkland KY15 7BX

2.30 pm: Open event in Falkland Town Hall

3.45 pm: Solemn Evensong and Benediction in the Chapel Royal, Falkland Palace.

Stornoway, Isle of Lewis

St Lennan’s House, 13A Scotland Street, Stornoway HS1 2JN

2.30 pm: Talk: “What is the Ordinariate?” followed by tea/coffee

4.00 pm: Evensong.

Sevenoaks

St John the Baptist Catholic Church, Westerham TN16 1TB

3.00 pm: Prayers in front of the Lord (Coram Domine).

3.20pm The why and how of the Ordinariates? (Fr Ivan).

3.35pm What has changed for me? (members of  the group).

3.50 pm: Questions, Walsingham Devotions and Tea.

Shrewsbury

St Winefride’s Church, SHREWSBURY SY2 5RA

2.30 pm: Presentation about the Ordinariate and Q and A session;

followed by Tea & Cake and then Evening Prayer.

Southend (Hockley and Benfleet)

Catholic Church of St. Pius X, Hockley SS5 4QH

2.00 pm: Welcome and introduction: How we arrived and where we are going; 

 testimonies from Group members. 

3.00 pm: Tea

3.15 pm: DVD - Q & A session

3.45 pm: Evening Prayer and Benediction

4.15 pm: Close.

South Wales

St Joseph’s, Cardiff CF14 3BR

2.00 pm: Mass (Ordinariate Use)

3:00 pm: Break for Tea / Coffee / Refreshments

3:30 pm: Presentations and Discussion: (1) ‘The work and mission of the Ordinariate 

 in South Wales’ (Fr Bernard Sixtus); (2) 'Why I am a member of the 

 Ordinariate' (A lay member of our Ordinariate Group); 

4.30 pm: Close.

Stirling

See SCOTLAND

Stornoway

See SCOTLAND

Torbay

Catholic Church of Holy Angels (Church Hall) Queensway, Chelston, Torquay TQ2 6B

3.00 pm Welcome, DVD, Q&A followed by cream tea

4.00 pm Evensong and Benediction in Church.

Tunbridge Wells (with Maidstone) — SUNDAY 7 SEPTEMBER

Saint Anselm’s, Pembury TN24DZ

6:30 pm: Evensong & address

7.30 pm: Refreshments.

Worcester

10.45 am: Coffee and Introduction; DVD presentation about the work of the 

 Ordinariate; questions and discussion; Mid-Day Office.

Walsingham

Our Lady of the Annunciation, Friday Market, Walsingham NR22 6DB

12 noon: Angelus and Mass, followed by Presentation about the Ordinariate and 

 Q and A session.

Poitiers, France (Part Two).

Text and Illustrations from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,

unless otherwise stated.

The Church of Notre-Dame La Grande,

Poitiers, France.

Photo: 3 October 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: Gibert Bochenek, Gilbertus

(Wikimedia Commons)

Français: Retable baroque de la chapelle des jésuites de Poitiers, au collège Henri IV.

Tableau de Louis Finson, statues de Gervais de la Barre.

English: Baroque Retable (Framed Altarpiece) in the Chapel of the Jesuits of Poitiers,

at the Henry IV College, Poitiers, France.

Photo: 2 October 2010.

Source: Own work.

Author: Danielclauzier.

(Wikimedia Commons)

In 1569, Poitiers was defended by Gui de Daillon, Comte du Lude, against Gaspard de Coligny, who, after an unsuccessful bombardment, and seven weeks, retired from a siege he had laid to the town.

The type of political organisation existing in Poitiers, during the Late-Medieval or Early-Modern period, can be glimpsed through a speech given on 14 July 1595, by Maurice Roatin, the town's Mayor. He compared it to the Roman State, which combined three types of government: Monarchy (rule by one person); Aristocracy (rule by a few); and Democracy (rule by the many).

He said the Roman Consulate corresponded to Poitiers' Mayor, the Roman Senate to the town's Peers and échevins, and the Democratic element in Rome corresponded to the fact that most important matters "can not be decided except by the advice of the Mois et Cent" (Broad Council).

The Mayor appears to have been an advocate of a mixed Constitution; not all Frenchmen in 1595 would have agreed with him, at least in public; many spoke in favour of Absolute Monarchy. The Democratic element was not as strong as the Mayor's words may seem to imply: In fact, Poitiers was similar to other French Cities, Paris, Nantes, Marseille, Limoges, La Rochelle, Dijon, in that the town's governing body (corps de ville) was "highly exclusive and oligarchical": A small number of professional and family groups controlled most of the City Offices. In Poitiers, many of these positions were granted for the lifetime of the Office Holder.

Français: Vue panoramique de la nef de la cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers.

English: The Nave, Poitiers Cathedral,

Poitiers, France.

Photo: 9 April 2009.

Source: Own work.

Author: TCJ.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The City Government, in Poitiers, based its claims to legitimacy on the theory of government, where the Mayor and échevins held jurisdiction of the City's affairs in fief from the King: That is, they swore allegiance and promised support for him, and, in return, he granted them Local Authority. This gave them the advantage of being able to claim that any townsperson, who challenged their authority, was being disloyal to the King.

Every year, the Mayor and the twenty-four échevins would swear an Oath of Allegiance "between the hands" of the King or his representative, usually the Lieutenant-Général or the sénéchaussée. For example, in 1567, when Maixent Poitevin was Mayor, King Henry III of France came for a visit, and, although some townspeople grumbled about the licentious behaviour of his entourage, Henry smoothed things over with a warm speech acknowledging their allegiance and thanking them for it.

In this era, the Mayor of Poitiers was preceded by Sergeants, wherever he went, consulted Deliberative Bodies, carried out their decisions, "heard Civil and Criminal Suits in first instance", tried to ensure that the food supply would be adequate, visited markets.

Français: Poitiers Cathédrale (Saint Pierre).

English: Saint Peter's Cathedral,

Poitiers, France.

Photo: July 2009.

Source: Own work.

Author: Ganeshub.

(Wikimedia Commons)

In the 16th-Century, Poitiers impressed visitors because of its large size and important features, including "Royal Courts, University, prolific printing shops, wealthy Religious Institutions, Cathedral, numerous Parishes, markets, impressive domestic architecture, extensive fortifications, and Castle."

16th-Century Poitiers is closely associated with the life of François Rabelais and with the Community of Bitards.

In the 17th-Century, the town saw less activity during the Renaissance. Few changes were made in the urban landscape, except for laying way for the rue de la Tranchée. Bridges were built, where the inhabitants had used gués (fords). A few hôtels particuliers were built at that time, such as the hôtels Jean Baucé, Fumé and Berthelot. Poets Joachim du Bellay and Pierre Ronsard met at the University of Poitiers, before leaving for Paris.

During the 17th-Century, many people emigrated from Poitiers and the Poitou to the French settlements in the New World, and, thus, many Acadians or Cajuns, living in North America, today, can trace ancestry back to this region.

Français: Bourdon de la tour nord de la cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers.

English: The Bell-Tower, Poitiers Cathedral, Poitiers, France.

[Note: The Bourdon is the heaviest of the Bells that belong to a musical instrument,

especially a Chime or a Carillon, and produces its lowest tone.]

Photo: 28 January 2014.

Source: Own work.

Author: Danielclauzier.

(Wikimedia Commons)

During the 18th-Century, the town's activity mainly depended on its administrative functions as a Regional Centre. Poitiers served as the Seat for the Regional Administration of Royal Justice, the évêché, the Monasteries and the intendance of the Généralité du Poitou.

The Vicomte de Blossac, intendant of Poitou from 1750 to 1784, had a French garden landscaped in Poitiers. He also had Aliénor d'Aquitaine's ancient wall razed and modern boulevards were built in its place.

During the 19th-Century, many Army Bases were built in Poitiers, because of its central and strategic location. Poitiers became a Garrison Town, despite its distance from France's borders.

PART THREE FOLLOWS.

Poitiers, France (Part One).

Text and Illustrations from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.

The Church of Notre-Dame La Grande,

Poitiers, France.

Photo: 3 October 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: Gibert Bochenek, Gilbertus

(Wikimedia Commons)

Notre-Dame la Grande is a Roman Catholic Church in Poitiers, France. Having a double status, Collegial and Parochial, it forms part of the Catholic Diocese of Poitiers. The West Front, adorned with statuary, is recognised as a masterpiece of Romanesque Religious Art. The walls inside the Church are painted.

Français: Cette image représente les armoiries la ville de Poitiers, Vienne, France.

D'argent au lion de gueules, à la bordure de sable besantée d'or;

au chef d'azur chargé de trois fleurs de lis d'or.

English: Coat-of-Arms of Poitiers, France.

On Silver, a Red Lion. On the Black Border, Gold Discs.

On the Blue Chef (Head/Top), three Gold Fleurs-de-Lys.

Date: 15 March 2005.

Source: Own work.

Author: Odejea.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Poitiers is a City on the Clain River, in West-Central France. It is a Commune and the Capital of the Vienne Department and of the Poitou-Charentes Region. Poitiers is a major University centre. The centre of town is picturesque and its streets include historical architecture, especially religious architecture, and especially from the Romanesque period.

Two major battles took place near the City: In 732 A.D., the Battle of Poitiers (also known as the Battle of Tours), in which the Franks, commanded by Charles Martel, halted the expansion of the Umayyad Caliphate, and, in 1356, the Battle of Poitiers, a key victory for the English during the Hundred Years' War. This battle's consequences partly provoked The Jacquerie.

Inhabitants of Poitiers are referred as Pictaviens (male) and Pictaviennes (female), from Pictavis, which was the ancient name for the town. It is not uncommon for inhabitants of Poitiers to call themselves Poitevins or Poitevines, although this denomination can be used for anyone from the Poitou Province.

Poitiers was founded by the Celtic tribe, the Pictones, and was known as the oppidum Lemonum, before Roman influence. The name is said to have come from the Celtic word for elm, Lemo. After Roman influence took over, the town became known as Pictavium, or, later, Pictavis, after the original Pictones inhabitants.

Historic centre of Poitiers

with Church of Saint-Radegund, Cathedral of Saint-Pierre

and Palace of Justice in the background.

Picture by Mario Vercellotti (www.vermario.com).

Date: 2005-11-01 (original upload date).

Source: Originally from en.wikipedia; description page is/was here.

Author: Original uploader was Vermario at en.wikipedia

Permission: Released into the public domain (by the Author).

(Wikimedia Commons)

There is a rich history of archeological finds from the Roman era in Poitiers. In fact, until 1857, Poitiers hosted the ruins of a vast Roman amphitheatre, which was larger than that of Nîmes. Remains of Roman Baths, built in the 1st-Century and demolished in the 3rd-Century, were uncovered in 1877.

In 1879, a burial-place and tombs of a number of Christian Martyrs were discovered on the Heights to the South-East of the town. The names of some of the Christians had been preserved in paintings and inscriptions. Not far from these tombs is a huge dolmen (tomb) (the Pierre Levée), and around which used to be held the Great Fair of Saint Luke.

The Romans also built at least three aqueducts. This extensive ensemble of Roman constructions suggests Poitiers was a town of first importance, possibly even the Capital of the Roman Province of Gallia Aquitania during the 2nd-Century.

Français: Poitiers Cathédrale (Saint Pierre).

Façade (ouest) de la cathédrale.

English: The Great West Door of Saint Peter's Cathedral,

Poitiers, France.

Photo: 13 October 2006.

Source: Own work.

Author: user:Rigolithe.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Poitiers Cathedral (Cathédrale Saint-Pierre de Poitiers) is a Roman Catholic Cathedral in Poitiers, France. It is the Seat of the Archbishop of Poitiers.

Its construction began in 1162, by King Henry II of England and his Queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, on the ruins of a Roman Basilica, and work was well advanced by the end of the 12th-Century. It is the largest Mediaeval monument in the City of Poitiers.

It is built in the Romanesque, and Early Gothic, Styles, the latter predominating. It consists of three Naves, almost equal in height and width, all three of which decrease towards the West, thus enhancing the perspective. Its length is 308 ft., and the keystone of the central Vaulted Roof is 89 ft. above the pavement. There is no Apse, and the exterior, generally, has a heavy appearance. The principal Front, which is broad, relative to its height, has unfinished Side-Towers, 105 ft. and 110 ft. tall, begun in the 13th-Century.

The Organ of Poitiers Cathédrale (Saint-Pierre de Poitiers),

built by François-Henri Clicquot and Claude-François Clicquot.

Photo: 12 May 2010.

Source: Poitiers_-_Cathédrale_Saint-Pierre_-_Orgues.jpg

Author: Poitiers_-_Cathédrale_Saint-Pierre_-_Orgues.jpg: Christophe.Finot

User: Derivative work: UHT.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Most of the windows of the Choir, and the Transepts, preserve their Stained-Glass of the 12th- and 13th-Centuries; the end window, which is certainly the first in the order of time, contains the figures of King Henry II and Queen Eleanor. The Choir Stalls, carved between 1235 and 1257, are among the oldest in France.

On the night of 25 December 1681 the Organ was destroyed by fire. It was not until 1770-1778 that a campaign was launched to build a replacement. François-Henri Clicquot, at that time the leading Organ-builder in France, was appointed to undertake the work, but died in 1790, before completing the work. His son, Claude-François Clicquot, finished the job, handing it over for presentation in March 1791. The instrument is a beautiful example of 18th-Century Organ design, and is still largely intact.

The West Front of Saint Peter's Cathedral,

Poitiers, France.

Photo: 2 August 2005.

Source: Own work.

Author: Enzo627.

(Wikimedia Commons)

As Christianity was made official, and gradually introduced across the Roman Empire during the 3rd- and 4th-Centuries, the first Bishop of Poitiers, from 350 A.D., to 367 A.D., Hilary of Poitiers or Saint Hilarius, proceeded to evangelise the town.

Exiled by an ignorant Emperor, he risked death to return to Poitiers as Bishop, after discovering that the Christian "Eastern" Church were not Heretics, as believed in Rome, but had, rather, reached many of the same conclusions about the Holy Trinity as had the Western Church. The first foundations of the Baptistère Saint-Jean can be traced to that era of open Christian evangelisation. Saint Hilary of Poitiers was named "Doctor of The Church" by Pope Pius IX.

In the 4th-Century A.D., a thick wall, 6 m (18 ft) wide and 10 m (30 ft) high was built around the town. It was 2.5 km (2 miles) long. Around this time, the town began to be known as Poitiers.

The Great West Door,

Poitiers Cathedral,

(Saint Peter of Poitiers)

(Saint-Pierre de Poitiers),

Poitiers, France.

Photo: 2002.

Source: Own work.

Author: JC Allin.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Fifty years later, Poitiers fell into the hands of the Arian Visigoths, and became one of the principal residences of their Kings. Visigoth King Alaric II was defeated by Clovis I at Vouillé, not far from Poitiers, in 507 A.D., and the town thus came under Frankish dominion.

During most of the Early Middle Ages, the town of Poitiers took advantage of its defensive tactical site and of its location, which was far from the centre of Frankish power. As the Seat for an évêché (Bishop) since the 4th-Century, the town was a centre of some importance and the Capital of the Poitou County. At the height of their power, the Counts of Poitiers governed a large domain, including both Aquitaine and Poitou.

Français: Église St-Hilaire-le-Grand Poitiers, France.

English: Church of Saint Hilary the Great, Poitiers, France.

This File: 12 April 2008.

User: MainMa.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The first decisive victory of a Christian army over a Muslim power, the Battle of Tours, was fought by Charles Martel's army, in the vicinity of Poitiers, on 10 October 732 A.D. For many historians, it was one of the world's pivotal moments.

Eleanor of Aquitaine frequently resided in the town, which she embellished and fortified, and, in 1199, entrusted with communal rights.

During the Hundred Years' War, the Battle of Poitiers, an English victory, was fought near the town of Poitiers on 19 September 1356. Later in the war, in 1418, under duress, the Royal Parliament moved from Paris to Poitiers, where it remained in exile until the Plantagenets finally withdrew from the Capital in 1436. During this interval, in 1429, Poitiers was the site of Joan of Arc's formal inquest.

The University of Poitiers was founded in 1431. During and after the Reformation, John Calvin had numerous converts in Poitiers and the town had its share of the violent proceedings which underlined the Wars of Religion throughout France.

PART TWO FOLLOWS.