What is the significance of the reliquary of St Foy?
What is the significance of the reliquary of St Foy?
The reliquary at Conques held the remains of Saint Foy, a young Christian convert living in Roman-occupied France during the second century. At the age of twelve, she was condemned to die for her refusal to sacrifice to pagan gods, she is therefore revered as a martyr, as someone who dies for their faith.
Where is the relic of St Foy?
Conques
The relics of Sainte-Foy arrived in Conques through theft in 866….
| Abbey Church of Sainte-Foy | |
|---|---|
| Wikimedia | © OpenStreetMap | |
| General information | |
| Location | Conques, France |
Where was the reliquary located?
Holy Thorn Reliquary
| The Holy Thorn Reliquary | |
|---|---|
| Material | gold, sapphire, ruby, rock crystal, pearl, enamel |
| Created | prob. before 1397 |
| Present location | Room 2A, British Museum, London |
| Identification | WB.67 |
How old is Conques?
Conques, the jewel of Romanesque art Thanks to the relics of Sainte Foy, brought here from Agen in 883, Conques became one of the main stops on the Saint-Jacques de Compostelle pilgrimage route from Puy en Velay.
When was Sainte Foy built?
A church had stood on the spot since the 600s; the Church of Sainte-Foy was built from 1050-1130.
Who built Sainte Foy?
The date of the creation of the reliquary is unknown, but the first recording of it was in 1010 by Bernard of Angers. The reliquary is made of wood but gold-covered, and the statue is luxurious, with the gold and gemstones sparkling in the light.
When was the church of Sainte Foy built?
1050-1130
A church had stood on the spot since the 600s; the Church of Sainte-Foy was built from 1050-1130.
Who made the church of Sainte Foy?
Abbot Odolric
The present Romanesque church construction started under the guidance of Abbot Odolric (1031-1065) on the setting of a 10th century basilica. The first campaigns of work concerned the lower parts of the apse and the minor apses, using the special red sandstone from Combret quarry in the Dourdou valley.
Are reliquaries still made?
Nonetheless, the use and manufacture of reliquaries continues to this day, especially in Roman Catholic and Orthodox Christian countries. Post-Reformation reliquaries have tended to take the form of glass-sided caskets to display relics such as the bodies of saints.
When was the reliquary of Sainte Foy made?
How old is Conques France?
A Brief History of Conques Conques has a documented history that goes back to the year 500. Charlemagne gave some money for the building of an Abbey where hermits had been. This was a really secluded place, surrounded by woods. Then in the 700s Louis the Pious gave money for a bigger Benedictine Abbey.
What was the church of Sainte Foy made of?
The Reliquary of Sainte Foy is a 33-½ inch wooden statue covered in gold and gemstones. The reliquary holds the skull of Sainte Foy in the bust, which is made from a repurposed Roman helmet. The use of spolia, or the repurposing of Roman artifacts, connects the statue to Rome, the seat of Christianity, and its riches.