Jannette and I wandered over to the Monastery with Doug and Terry Weatherford (co-director). The monastery is currently in renovations but one can still experience the beauty of the space despite the scaffolding. Here are some of the highlights:
The domed ceiling at the entrance to the monastery has at its center the figure of a pelican. The pelican developed into the a symbol of Christ. The idea comes from the belief that The pelican was believed to pierce its own breast with its beak and feed its young of its blood. It became the symbol of Christ sacrificing himself for humanity.
The monastery is also a crypt for several of the monarchs from the 11th - 12th centuries. These are they tombs.
One of the tombs, that of a queen, has this dog at her feet (symbol of fidelity).
One of the most beautiful tombs is the one above. On the side it tells a story: Starting at the left you see women mourning and giving comfort to one another. The middle scene shows the body of the deceased woman. On either side of her are angels who are lifting her spirit towards Christ who is seen in a mandorla and in glory. To the right is a depiction of her mourning husband with friends comforting him in his grief.
So, it had been a dreary, cloud covered, cold day. Then suddenly the sun came out just as we were standing in the cloister and we caught this stunning shot of the light pouring through the tracery-topped arches.
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