Today I traveled back to England from Ireland; here are some scenes from yesterday’s jaunt to Armargh, the See of Patrick. My driver was my host, Mary accompanied by her dog, Bailey.
Armargh is the Ecclesiastical Capitol of Ireland. It was the See of Patrick, and is now graced by TWO cathedrals bearing his name (Church of Ireland & Roman Catholic).
The spires of the Catholic Cathedral of St Patrick in the background.
Curious, no? Sitting in a wall indention by some businesses.
Pink is all the rage in Belfast — still, that is. You see …
The weekend before I arrived, May 10-11, they hosted the Giro D’Italia. There’s pink everything, everywhere.
Even homemade displays!
First stop, age before beauty: Cathedral of St Patrick (COI) — on this spot (though the building has changed) since the time of Patrick.
Inside the church, an old (headless) high cross dating from the 11th century.
Check it out.
Here’s the missing top.
Patrick gets some land for the church that would one day bear his name.
Looking toward the altar. See the tapestry?
Here’s a closer view. Can you find Judas? (Hint – he does not have a halo.) In Orthodox iconography Judas is usually the only one at the table that is hiding something — that is, the other side of his face! All the other disciples’ eyes, both of them, are portrayed — only half Judas’s face is visible (because he’s hiding something). Can you find him in this western image?
Arrgh! What on earth is this guy doing in here?! You can read about him below … but, in the church?
Over at the other cathedral with the same patron (St Patrick RC) …
A bishop’s statue stares across the way at St Patrick’s Cathedral COI.
The edifice is so tall, the steps from the street so close — hard to get the whole thing in one little shot.
But, up close, the eyes of Patrick are upon you.
The interior – marred, as was the COI Cathedral, by TV monitors on all the columns!
The floor mosaics: shamrocks & serpentine designs.
One peculiar thing about St Patrick’s Roman Catholic Cathedral, Armargh, is the suspending from the ceiling of the hats, or galeros, of deceased Cardinals. They hang here, deliberately unattended, until totally disintegrated, signifying the transition of all worldly things to decay. [None have yet fallen; the hats are no longer issued.]
Forgive me, but … “confession booths” always make me wanna go to confession. [My mom always hated when I returned from trips with tons of pics and me not in a one of ’em. So, look closely, there I am in the confessional.]
This is a fabulous little tradition, not unlike other pious customs in the Church. Click to enlarge the story of St Brigid’s cross.
A shot back at Armagh on the return to Belfast.
Don’t let this picture fool ya — as ever, bring your slicker and umbrella (it spits rain any and often).
Bailey the dog had to “go” — so we pulled off into the drive of this picturesque estate.
This old church (denomination unknown) is being revitalized by the City.
“The most bombed hotel in the world” — The Europa Hotel. Just beside …
The Belfast Opera House.
Which … brings me to THIS morning in Belfast (5/14). “May the road rise to meetchya …”
Orthodixie
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