medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
Nicholas was a teenaged monk from Steiris in mainland Greece who undertook a pilgrimage to Rome. But he never proceeded beyond Apulia, where he spent a few years wandering around its central and southern ports (all of which had Greek-speaking residents), proclaiming the Lord in Greek and -- inasmuch as he was a penitent -- repeatedly exclaiming "Kyrie eleison". He attracted followers and died on this day in 1094 at the Adriatic port of Trani. Miracles were reported at his tomb. Nicholas was canonized in 1098 during the Council of Bari. In the early twelfth century a dossier on him was put together for use at Trani, containing a translation from the Greek of an account of Nicholas' life before his arrival in Apulia, Adelferius of Trani's account of Nicholas' doings in Apulia, and Amandus of Trani's account of Nicholas' canonization and of his translation to Trani's cathedral (BHL 6223-6226).
Trani's mostly twelfth- and early thirteenth-century basilica cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta -- popularly known as the cattedrale di San Nicola Pellegrino -- is always worth a visit. This brief, silent video is a good introduction to the cathedral's siting, general outward appearance, and proportions, though not to its exterior sculptural details:
http://www.cattedraletrani.it/IT/
A brief look in English, including a photograph of relics of Nicholas on display in the crypt:
http://www.italiannotebook.com/places/trani-puglia/
This Italian-language page offers a good account the cathedral's history as well as a selection of exterior and interior views:
http://www.mondimedievali.net/Edifici/Puglia/Trani.htm
Three also Italian-language pages of exterior and interior views with brief commentary start here (to navigate to other pages use the links at the bottom of each page):
http://www.medioevo.org/artemedievale/Pages/Puglia/Trani.html
An Italian-language discussion of the later twelfth-century mosaic floor in the presbytery (with expandable thumbnails):
http://www.mondimedievali.net/Artemedievale/pavimenti/trani.htm
Some period-pertinent images of St. Nicholas the Pilgrim:
a) as depicted in relief (at center; at lower left, the sculptor Barisanus of Trani) on a plaque of the cathedral's later twelfth-century bronze doors (ca. 1175-1180):
http://www.medioevo.org/artemedievale/Images/Puglia/Trani/Trani17.jpg
b) as depicted (full-length-portrait and scenes) in an early fourteenth-century icon panel previously in the cathedral crypt and now in Trani's Museo diocesano:
http://tinyurl.com/j6y8pdr
Best,
John Dillon
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