medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
According to his closely posthumous Vita by Elias of Roda (or of Barbastro; BHL 7074), Raymond was born in the diocese of Toulouse in a place that modern scholars have identified as today's Durban-sur-Arize (Aričge) in the northeastern foothills of the Pyrenees. Others think him a native of Durban (Gers). For fairly obvious reasons, his natal place is unlikely to have been Durban, Natal (now Durban, KwaZulu-Natal). Raymond became a canon regular at Saint-Antonin de Frédélas and went on to be prior at Saint-Sernin in Toulouse. In 1104 Peter I of Aragón-Navarre brought him to northern Iberia to be bishop of Roda and Barbastro (whence he is also known as Raymond of Barbastro); Peter died not long afterward and the appointment was effectuated by his successor Alfonso I. According to his Vita, Raymond was an active reform bishop, performing visitations, successfully defending his diocese against lay encroachments, manifesting a deep pastoral concern, and generally making changes for the good. He lived ascetically, was charitable to others, and was beloved by his clergy. In 1116/17 bishop Esteban of Huesca resolved a territorial dispute by sending troops who forcibly evicted Raymond from Barbastro, where he had resided since 1110; thereafter Raymond resided at Roda.
Raymond took part in Alfonso's incursion into Andalusia in 1125. He died in Huesca in the following year and was buried in Roda. Miracles ensued and his cult began. The former cathedral at today's Roda de Isábena (Huesca) preserves objects said to be his, including this mitre:
http://www.romanicoaragones.com/2-Ribagorza/Roda%20G26b.jpg
also the fragments of a wooden chair shown here:
http://www.romanicoaragones.com/2-Ribagorza/Roda%20G25.jpg
Today is Raymond's _dies natalis_ . It is his feast day in the diocese of Barbastro-Monzón and his day of commemoration in the Roman Martyrology.
Raymond as portrayed (at center) on a narrow end of his later twelfth-century sarcophagus (1170) in the crypt of Roda de Isábena's ex-cathedral of San Vicente:
http://www.romanicoaragones.com/2-Ribagorza/Roda%20G33.jpg
Detail view (Raymond):
http://tinyurl.com/hvwd6vy
An illustrated, English-language account of Roda de Isábena's mostly eleventh- and twelfth-century ex-cathedral of San Vicente, consecrated in 1067, modified in the eighteenth century, and restored in the later twentieth century:
http://tinyurl.com/528l53
A multi-page, illustrated, Spanish-language site on this monument (subordinate pages reachable via the drop-down menu to the right of "SELECCIÓN RÁPIDA"):
http://tinyurl.com/4otndf
Raymond's sarcophagus in the crypt:
http://tinyurl.com/5tzjt8
This was formerly supported by the four evangelists:
http://www.jdiezarnal.com/public/rodadeisabenacatedralcripta01.jpg
The latter now support the church's main altar:
http://tinyurl.com/5mv7bx
http://tinyurl.com/6ghcts
Frescoes in the north crypt:
http://tinyurl.com/484ajv
On 10. December 1123 Raymond consecrated the church of Sant Climent / San Clemente in Taüll (Lleida) / Tahull (Lérida), famous for its mural paintings (removed to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona in 1922 and in part replaced _in situ_ by recent copies). Herewith an illustrated, English-language account of this church, which forms part of the Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí (since 2002 a UNESCO World Heritage Site):
http://tinyurl.com/5hgbyq
Two illustrated, Spanish-language accounts of the building:
http://www.arquivoltas.com/7-Lerida/TahullSC1.htm
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Climent_de_Ta%C3%BCll
Some views of the apse frescoes and English-language discussion of them:
http://america.pink/sant-climent-taull_3915035.html
http://blog.museunacional.cat/en/virtual-apse-of-sant-climent-de-taull/
Raymond's consecration of the church is recorded on one of its interior columns:
http://www.arquivoltas.com/7-Lerida/TahullSC%20G34.jpg
On the following day Raymond consecrated the nearby church of Santa María in Taüll (Lleida) / Tahull (Lérida). An illustrated, Spanish-language page on this church is here, not omitting its frescoes:
http://www.arquivoltas.com/7-Lerida/TahullSM1.htm
An illustrated, Catalan-language page on this church and its frescoes:
http://tinyurl.com/3fju72
An illustrated, English-language page on the frescoes:
http://tinyurl.com/zqazj26
An illustrated, Catalan-language page on the frescoes:
http://tinyurl.com/z9zcwes
Best,
John Dillon
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