Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Fourteen Holy Helpers

Kottingwörth developed from a settlement on an island ("Werder") in the Altmühl river. The first wooden church may date back to the time of Christianisation. The first stone church was built in the 12th century. It got consecrated between 1183 and 1195. The towers were built between 1250 and 1310. In the first half of the 16th century, the towers were raised. In the years 1760/61, the medieval church building was replaced by a baroque new building. The oldest part of the church is the basement of the west tower, dated to the 13th century. Around 1310 the choir of the church (now the Vitus chapel) was adorned with frescoes. During the renovation work in the chapel in 1891 these murals were rediscovered under a coat of paint. The paintings are still well preserved. Seen here may be Saint Erasmus of Antiochia (aka Erasmus of Formia or St. Elmo). He has been tortured in many way, according to the legend he died when his abdomen was slit open and his intestines wound around a windlass. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers - just like St. Vitus.

In the annals of Kloster St. Peter auf dem Schwarzwald (Saint Peter in the Black Forest), house monastery and burial place of the House of Zähringen, the church is mentioned first time in 1089. In 1323 it the place is called “sant Gylien”, 1360 "sant Gylgen". A decade later it changed to “capella s. Egidii . All this goes back to Saint Giles, one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers", who was and still is venerated in Saint-Gilles in Southern France. His name changed to Sankt Ägidius in German. The church was erected from the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century. The basement of the tower can still be classified in the late Romanesque, the remaining components in the early Gothic. It is way too large for the little hamlet with less than 100 inhabitants. There are theories that it might have been a Saint Ägidius pilgrim´s church, but there is no proof. The vaults if the choir.

In the annals of Kloster St. Peter auf dem Schwarzwald (Saint Peter in the Black Forest), house monastery and burial place of the House of Zähringen, the church is mentioned first time in 1089. In 1323 it the place is called “sant Gylien”, 1360 "sant Gylgen". A decade later it changed to “capella s. Egidii . All this goes back to Saint Giles, one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers", who was and still is venerated in Saint-Gilles in Southern France. His name changed to Sankt Ägidius in German. The church was erected from the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century. The basement of the tower can still be classified in the late Romanesque, the remaining components in the early Gothic. It is way too large for the little hamlet with less than 100 inhabitants. There are theories that it might have been a Saint Ägidius pilgrim´s church, but there is no proof.

In the annals of Kloster St. Peter auf dem Schwarzwald (Saint Peter in the Black Forest), house monastery and burial place of the House of Zähringen, the church is mentioned first time in 1089. In 1323 it the place is called “sant Gylien”, 1360 "sant Gylgen". A decade later it changed to “capella s. Egidii . All this goes back to Saint Giles, one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers", who was and still is venerated in Saint-Gilles in Southern France. His name changed to Sankt Ägidius in German. The church was erected from the end of the 13th and beginning of the 14th century. The basement of the tower can still be classified in the late Romanesque, the remaining components in the early Gothic. It is way too large for the little hamlet.

The church and the round Karner (ossuary), surrounded by the graveyard, are located right in the center of the little village (pop > 400). The first church was erected here between 958 and 991 and so is one of oldest in the area. Some walls of this building may still exist and be part of the church seen today. The round Karner has a little apse. The Karner was erected in the 12th century. Protected under a little roof on the southern wall is a large "Christopherus". Between his legs swims a crowned mermaid.

The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Located in the center of La Celle (pop 350) is Saint Blaise, the fromer priory´s church. It was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure started to crack. The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Saint Blaise, the priory´s church, was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure of the nave started to crack. Around the apse are some extraordinary carvings. Some of them are complex capitals like this one. The heads seem to grow out of the foliage. Green men? Are they human? A closer look onto the monkey (?), playing with a lizard (?). See previous upload for an overview. Quarries near the village were already used since Roman times and so some stone mason masters may have worked here in medieval times. St. Blasie, one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers", is the parton saint for stone masons and carvers. Today he is better known for the "Blessing of the Throats", celebrated on he Feast of Saint Blasie (February 3.).

The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Located in the center of La Celle (pop 350) is Saint Blaise, the fromer priory´s church. It was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure started to crack. The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Saint Blaise, the priory´s church, was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure of the nave started to crack. Around the apse are some extraordinary carvings. Some of them are complex capitals like this one. The heads seem to grow out of the foliage. Green men? Are they human? Here is the weirdest of the many tongue protruders in La Celle. This one has a second face - on the tongue! There is a small owl - and a monkey (?), with a strange (foliage) tail. Quarries near the village were already used since Roman times and so some stone mason masters may have worked here in medieval times. St. Blasie, one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers", is the parton saint for stone masons and carvers. Today he is better known for the "Blessing of the Throats", celebrated on he Feast of Saint Blasie (February 3.).

The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Located in the center of La Celle (pop 350) is Saint Blaise, the fromer priory´s church. It was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure started to crack. The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Saint Blaise, the priory´s church, was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure of the nave started to crack. Around the apse are some extraordinary carvings. Some of them are complex capitals like this one. The heads seem to grow out of the foliage. Green men? Are they human? Tongue protruders (with enormous tongues) play in important role in La Celle. I have no idea, what that means. Quarries near the village were already used since Roman times and so some stone mason masters may have worked here in medieval times. St. Blasie, one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers", is the parton saint for stone masons and carvers. Today he is better known for the "Blessing of the Throats", celebrated on he Feast of Saint Blasie (February 3.).

The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Located in the center of La Celle (pop 350) is Saint Blaise, the fromer priory´s church. It was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure started to crack. The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Saint Blaise, the priory´s church, was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure of the nave started to crack. Around the apse are some extraordinary carvings. Some of them are complex capitals like this one. Tongue protruders (with enormous, overzised tongues) play in important role here. I have no idea, what that means. Quarries near the village were already used since Roman times and so some stone mason masters may have worked here in medieval times. St. Blasie, one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers", is the parton saint for stone masons and carvers. Today he is better known for the "Blessing of the Throats", celebrated on he Feast of Saint Blasie (February 3.).

The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Located in the center of La Celle (pop 350) is Saint Blaise, the fromer priory´s church. It was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure started to crack. The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Saint Blaise, the priory´s church, was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure of the nave started to crack. Around the apse are some extraordinary carvings. Here is a m musician, playing a pan flute. Quarries near the village were already used since Roman times and so some stone mason masters may have worked here in medieval times. St. Blasie, one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers", is the parton saint for stone masons and carvers. Today he is better known for the "Blessing of the Throats", celebrated on he Feast of Saint Blasie (February 3.).

The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Located in the center of La Celle (pop 350) is Saint Blaise, the fromer priory´s church. It was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure started to crack. The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Saint Blaise, the priory´s church, was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure of the nave started to crack. Around the apse are some extraordinary carvings. A cat (from hell!) devours a human head - just like a corn cob. Quarries near the village were already used since Roman times and so some stone mason masters may have worked here in medieval times. St. Blasie, one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers", is the parton saint for stone masons and carvers. Today he is better known for the "Blessing of the Throats", celebrated on he Feast of Saint Blasie (February 3.).

The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Located in the center of La Celle (pop 350) is Saint Blaise, the fromer priory´s church. It was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure started to crack. The Benedictian abbey Notre Dame in Déols had established a priory here in the 11th century. Saint Blaise, the priory´s church, was erected in two phases (from east to west) during the 12th century. Flying buttresses had to be added in the 18th century, when the structure of the nave started to crack. Around the apse are some extraordinary carvings. Here a a corbel with a "two headed" forkbeard. Quarries near the village were already used since Roman times and so some stone mason masters may have worked here in medieval times. St. Blasie, one of the "Fourteen Holy Helpers", is the parton saint for stone masons and carvers. Today he is better known for the "Blessing of the Throats", celebrated on he Feast of Saint Blasie (February 3.).