Ancient abbeys are examples of ancient architecture. These are incredibly beautiful cathedrals that tourists are actively visiting today. It is noteworthy that the architecture of these monastery complexes is fraught with many puzzles for historians. They are decorated with decor, elements of which belong to groups of occult symbols, which causes even greater interest of both specialists and tourists. So, the meaning of the word "abbey" and the most interesting ancient monastery complexes we will consider below.
What is an abbey?
Abbey is a Catholic monastery. Catholics make up the majority of believers in Europe and Latin America. The Catholic Church is a strict hierarchical system, led by the pope. And the abbots are not the last step in this system.
In the Middle Ages, abbeys were the richest and largest monasteries. They exerted not only religious, but also political and economic influence on the country. So what is an abbot?
Meaning of the word
It is the abbot (male) or abbess (female) who govern the abbey. They report directly to the bishop or even to the pope.
Who is the abbot in terms of linguistics? The origin and history of this title is very ancient. The very word "abbot" (in lat. - abbas ) has Jewish and Syriac ( abba ) roots and means father. In Catholicism, this is the name of the abbot of a male Catholic monastery. Initially, in the V-VI centuries. This title was given to all the abbots of the monasteries, but with the advent of various religious orders, many synonyms of the word "abbot" appeared. Thus, the Carthusians called the abbots priors, the Franciscans - the Guardians, and the Jesuits - rectors.
As a rule, a priest was appointed to the post of rector by a bishop or pope for life.
Appearance story
The emergence of religious communities dates back to the origins of Christianity. Even then, people gathered around the home of a man known for his holiness. They built houses around this place and voluntarily obeyed this man. Over time, such religious communities began to devote themselves to the service of God.
Medieval Abbey is a monastery built like a real fortified town. In addition to the monastery, the complex included multiple buildings. Stables and workshops were built here. The monks planted gardens. In general, there was everything that was needed for subsistence farming. Since lay people lived in the abbey, the architecture of the monastery provided for their separation from each other.
Over time, the abbeys turned into entire complexes of buildings, in which there were refectory, hospitals, libraries and chapel rooms, in which the monks held meetings. The abbot had separate chambers. Of course, this general picture was supplemented by various details, depending on the individual charter of the order.
Since most of the monasteries were very often rebuilt as a result of battles, it is difficult to imagine their original appearance. It is known that almost every order was distinguished by its own architectural style, which, exactly, alas, was sometimes not possible to recreate exactly during the restoration.
The first monastic order was called Benedictine. It was founded by St. Benedict of Nursia in the VI century in Italy. Already in the VIII century, Benedictine monasteries were erected in many parts of Western Europe. By the beginning of the XII century, the Benedictines had enormous power. They managed their own lands and actively built temples and churches.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey in London is one of the most famous and ancient in the world. Its appearance has not changed since its opening in 1066. Officially, Westminster Abbey is called the Collegiate Church of St. Peter. The monastery impresses with its majestic splendor, which came from the depths of centuries. Subtle and elegant Gothic style makes it one of the most beautiful monasteries in the world.
The history of Westminster Abbey begins in the 960-970s. The first Benedictine monks settled here. They built a small monastery, but in the XII Edward the Confessor ordered to rebuild it, making it larger and more magnificent. Westminster Abbey opened for visits in February 1066.
Since its inception, Westminster Abbey has been the main church in the UK. It is here that the monarchs of Britain are crowned and buried. But not only the monks find their last refuge in the monastery - in the so-called “Poets' Corner” famous subjects of the English crown are buried, including great poets, actors, and musicians. In total, Westminster Abbey has about 3,000 graves.
Interesting fact! Some royal offspring also married in the abbey. So, Prince Harry married Kate Middleton here.
Bath Abbey
The former Benedictine monastery, and now the church of Saints Peter and Paul, is located in Bath (a city in England). The abbey is an ideal example of a Gothic architectural style. It is one of the largest British monasteries. Initially, the monastery was supposed to become a woman’s - in 675 the abbess Berthe granted the land for the construction of the temple. But later the monastery became a man.
The abbey enjoyed great influence during its heyday. Later there was a bishop's pulpit, which then moved to Wales. After the reformation, the monastery, which had lost its former influence, was closed, and the land was sold.
Only in the XVI century the parish church was opened here. Elizabeth I ordered the restoration of this church in the style of perpendicular Gothic - that is how it should have looked from the beginning, but in those days the abbey did not have enough funds for such a grandiose project.
Abbey of Mont Saint Michel
This abbey is called the eighth wonder of the world. Mont Saint-Michel is located in France and is one of the most popular French attractions. On all sides, the abbey, spread on a rocky island, is surrounded by the sea, and only a dam connects it with the land. Once, only at low tide it was possible to walk to this magnificent structure.
According to legend, these rocks were brought into the sea by giants. Mont Tomb, aka Saint-Michel, carried a giant on his shoulders, and his second rocky hill, Tombelen, was dragged by his wife. However, they were tired and threw rocks off the coast.
The history of this stunningly beautiful monastery begins in the 8th century. It is believed that Archangel Michael himself appeared in a dream to Bishop Ober, having ordered that a monastery be built on the island. However, the saint had to visit the bishop twice more, before the bishop correctly interpreted his command. That is why the name of the monastery is translated as "Mount St. Michael".
The abbey was built slowly - in order to give it its present appearance, it took 500 years. Today, only a few dozen people live in the monastery, but more than 3,000,000 tourists visit it annually.
Lerinsky Abbey
Lerinsky Abbey is located on the small island of Saint-Honoré (Lerins Islands). It is a complex consisting of a huge monastery and seven chapels. Today, the abbey is open to visitors and bears the title of historical monument of France.
The history of Lerinsky Abbey is very eventful. The island for a long time it remained uninhabited, as it was teeming with snakes. The Romans, who at that time ruled on French soil, were afraid to visit it. But in 410, the hermit Honorat of Arelat decided to settle here. He sought to find solitude, but his students decided to follow him, forming a small community. Thus began the history of Lerinsky Abbey. It was Honoratus who later drafted the "Rule of the Four Fathers", which later became the first monastic charter in France.
Lerinsky Abbey has been attacked more than once. So, in 732 the monastery was almost completely destroyed by the Saracens. In 1047 he fell into the power of the Spaniards. During the French Revolution, the monastery was bought by a French actress, who turned it into a guest yard. But today the monastery, newly rebuilt by Bishop Frejus in the nineteenth century, majestically rises on the island and hospitably opens the doors to tourists.
In addition to the monastery and chapels, tourists can visit the museum of historical manuscripts and the cloister (courtyard).
Bellapais Abbey
The abbey is located in the village of the same name, just a few miles from Kyrenia. Today Bellapais Abbey (in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus) is a dilapidated building, but some of its buildings have retained their former appearance. This building is one of the most striking examples of the ancient Gothic culture in Cyprus. A part of the decorative elements has also been preserved. So, tourists are happy to admire the ancient church, decorated with frescoes, staircases and columns, preserving their pristine architectural style, a refectory (monastic dining room).
Unfortunately, very few facts are known about this monastery. It was founded by the Augustinian monks who arrived from Jerusalem. In 1198, the construction of the monastery of St. Mary of the Mountain began. In the XIII century, the monastery was transferred to the order of protesters, who probably built a church that has survived to this day. Since the monks wore white robes, they were unofficially called the "White Abbey."
Monastery of St. Gall
This abbey is located in Switzerland, in the heart of the city of St. Gallen. Belongs to the group of the oldest monasteries in the world. In 612, on the site of the monastery, St. Gall built himself a cell. Later, the Benedictine abbot Otmar built a huge monastery on the site of a small cell, which very quickly began to bring income to the city through donations from wealthy parishioners. Until the 18th century, it retained its original appearance. But in the XVIII century, the ancient complex of the monastery was demolished, having built in its place a new, even larger-scale and majestic baroque monastery.
Especially valuable in the monastery is the library. It has about 160,000 medieval manuscripts. It also houses the plan of St. Gall, which is an idealized picture of a medieval monastery, painted in the distant IX century.
Abbey Maria Laah
In the Eifel Mountains, in Germany, on the shore of Lake Laah, there is a monastery, small, elegant and sophisticated. Founded in 1093 by noble spouses, it still retains its architectural beauty. During the construction of this monastery several grades of stone were used, as a result of which the interior of the monastery has unique decoration elements.
Decorated with mosaics depicting floral ornaments and German mythology, the monastery is striking in its graceful beauty. An enclosed garden, which is surrounded by an arched gallery, is attached to the western wing of the facade. Such cozy corners are called cloisters and are a distinctive feature of Romanesque monasteries.
Currently, the cathedral is open for tourists, in whom it is in great demand.
Conclusion
All the above abbeys are unique and incredibly valuable for historians of the building. However, tourists are even more interested in them. After all, these are holy places filled with a special, divine atmosphere.