The Glory of Holycross скачать в хорошем качестве

The Glory of Holycross

Holycross didn’t always have that name… until the arrival of a relic of the True Cross arrived it was known as the Church of the Eight Hands — for rather gruesome reasons. There’s a lot more to this church than you might notice on first glance, and I’m happy to tell you some highlights. Transcript: In County Tipperary in the 12th Century, a hermit monk was praying under a large tree when he was interrupted by four thieves demanding the treasures of his monastery. The humble monk insisted he had no treasure and lived an austere, isolated life in devotion to God. Mocking him, the bandits demanded he perform a miracle and make the branches of the tree bend down and touch the earth. The monk pleaded with them not to test the Lord, but the Divine had other plans. Suddenly, the tree shook and its branches arched down to the ground. When the enraged bandits went to push the limbs away, their hands stuck to the tree. Suddenly, the branches sprung back to their original positions and the four robbers were left hanging from the tree by their hands. Two days later, King Dónal Mór Ó Briain came to the site and asked the monk what happened. Upon hearing the story, he ordered his men take down the bandits and a monastery be built on the site. Unable to free their hands, the thieves were cut down at their wrists and their hands remained in the tree Thus, the place becoming known as the Church of the Eight Hands. The Cistercian Monastery was established on the site after 1169. Around 1233, Queen Isabella of Angoulême chose to honor the monastery for their kindness in burying her son, “Pierce the Fair” who was murdered nearby, by bequeathing the abbey with a relic of the True Cross… the cross on which Jesus was hung… and the place became known as Holycross. This was the era of The Crusades, and this sacred antiquity made Holycross extremely popular… and coupled with the monastery’s reputation for hospitality to pilgrims, the religious community became exceptionally wealthy. In honor of Queen Isabella, there is a monument carved from Tipperary blue limestone recognizing “The Good Woman’s Son” which is said to be the finest example of medieval furniture in Ireland. Around 1400, the most powerful family in Ireland, the Butlers of Ormond financed renovations of the abbey and acquired a second relic which become known as the Ormond Relic. In an unusual twist of fate… the prince son of Queen Isabella who was buried near Holycross and the very reason for its success as a pilgrimage location was also the half-brother to Henry III of England, whose successor Henry VIII generations later would suppress the abbey in 1536. The relics, also called the “Holy Rood,” were publicly venerated until 1632, until the Abbey was abandoned in 1633. 333 years later, in 1966, a community effort led to a landmark decision that changed the abbey’s status from National Monument to a place of worship. After this change in designation, Holycross undertook one of the most extensive and courageous restoration projects in Irish history. The church was tediously restored with local craftsmen and laborers with no funding required from the state. The relics were gifted back to Holycross Abbey by the Ursuline Nuns in Cork who had been safeguarding them, and the site is again an active parish and pilgrim destination. In 2011, two thieves wearing balaclavas arrived at Holycross armed with an angle grinder. They cut a Reliquary holding a piece of the True Cross from the wall as well as another relic and fled. Very little has been made public about the investigation into the crime, but a few months later, the antiquities were recovered and are again on display at Holycross… however, they’re now a bit more secure. If you visit Holycross, be sure to light a candle, view the monument to “The Good Woman’s Son” (it looks like an ornate wall seat for three people), inspect of the Medieval drawings on the wall across from the reliquaries, and make note of the the Great East Window behind the altar… a reproduction was installed at the Basilica at the Shrine at Knock to represent the Province on Munster. For full transcript, visit www.IrishFireside.com Episode #160 Photo credits: -- National Library of Ireland -- Kman999 https://flic.kr/p/hKK6Q -- Kay Caplice https://tinyurl.com/wudoutw -- Jamin Gray https://flic.kr/p/58HBdG -- Luton Anderson https://flic.kr/p/9p5HWf -- Heribert Bechen https://flic.kr/ps/2GoRGu -- www.holycrossabbey.ie -- Liam Hughes -- Corey Taratuta -- Mike Searle https://www.geograph.ie/photo/3037826 -- www.tipperary.gaa.ie Music composed by Hicham Chahidi Library: Genval Style & Gregorian Song Style royalty free music http://musicscreen.org/