Cámara Santa

The Cámara Santa (, Saints chamber ') was built as part of a palace complex under the Asturian King Alfonso II the Chaste ( 783 and 791-842 ). It is now integrated into the cathedral of San Salvador of Oviedo, capital of the Spanish region of Asturias. In 1998, the Cámara Santa was recorded with San Julián de los Prados and the well house La Foncalada in Oviedo in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Monuments. Since then, the Cámara Santa belongs to the already 1985 registered Monumentos de Oviedo y del Reino de Asturias ( Monuments of Oviedo and the Kingdom of Asturias ) as Santa María del Naranco, San Miguel de Lillo and Santa Cristina de Lena.

History

The Cámara Santa was built during the reign of Alfonso II the existing Michael Sturm of the Royal Palace, who was standing next to the 812 church dedicated to San Salvador, a former building of the Cathedral of Oviedo. Maybe it was built as a palace chapel were worshiped in the mainly relics, perhaps also as a repository for other precious objects. The most important relics came only later to Oviedo. The preparation of the Arca Santa (, Holy Shrine ') in the Michael Chapel is occupied only from 1075. 1931, the Cámara Santa a cultural monument ( Monumento Nacional) was declared. During the Asturian Revolution of 1934 it was badly damaged by an explosive device. 1938-42 it was restored by reusing the original stone material.

Architecture

The building is constructed from smaller dressed stone, which are assembled in regular layers, and were originally plastered. For the building corners and buttresses blocks were used. The construction consists of two superimposed, nave floors that do not have common access.

Crypt of Santa Leocadia

The basement is used as a crypt of St. Leocadia called. Leocadia suffered in the 4th century in Toledo martyred. Whether and when her remains were brought to Oviedo, is not occupied. Under the King Alfonso III. ( 866-910 ) were the remains of two martyrs of Cordoba, Leocritia and Eulogius, who suffered martyrdom in Córdoba 859, transferred to Oviedo and buried here. The room has a built brick barrel vault which rests on a base on the ground. It is divided into the ship and the sanctuary. The latter still retains its original floor in opus signinum. Before the chancel are three grave slabs of limestone, probably from the time of the building and two of which are decorated with a relief of plant motifs. On the north and on the south side there is a door. A window opens, in which Stonegrid a Greek cross can be seen on the east wall. Two squat pillars surrounding the window opening, under which a stone shrine is a rectangular niche, in perhaps the relics were preserved.

Michael Chapel ( Capilla de San Miguel)

Upstairs there is a chapel dedicated to the Archangel Michael. She was raised in the 12th century and the original wooden ceiling replaced by reinforced with transverse arches barrel vault. From this time the Apostle Roman sculptures come. Here the Cathedral will be issued with the relics.

Relics

1977 Angel Cross, the Victory Cross and the agate shrine were stolen and largely destroyed. The recovered remains were restored in 1985.

Holy Shrine ( Arca Santa )

The Arca Santa (, Holy Shrine ') is a reliquary, which come after the legend of Jerusalem, and to be reached via Alexandria to Toledo, and thence to Oviedo. It contains numerous relics like the Sudarium of Oviedo (Santo Sudario de Oviedo ), thorns from the Crown of Thorns and splinters of the cross.

Angel Cross ( Cruz de los Ángeles )

The Angels Cross is a Greek cross, whose arms widen outwards. The cross was originally a wooden core of wild cherry, covered with gold sheet and with 48 precious stones on the front - was occupied and five on the back and some of the Roman period of which date - such as sapphire, amethyst, ruby, agate, opal. A Roman cameo depicting a young woman is now only receive a copy. The name Angel Cross goes back to a legend according to which the goldsmith who had made ​​the cross, angels were, as a chronicle of the 12th century reported.

An inscription on the back is called the year 846 of the Spanish era, 808 of our era is the year in which Alfonso II donated the cross. The inscription also contains the warning that anyone who should remove the cross from the place where the king had determined the divine lightning should strike. The inscription ends with the words: " Under this sign the Pious is protected. Under this sign of the enemy is defeated. " This formula is interpreted as a reference to the emperor Constantine the Great, who had defeated his pagan opponent Maxentius in 312 under the sign of the cross. They can also be seen in connection with the Moorish conquest of Spain and the Christian Reconquista.

Victory Cross ( Cruz de la Victoria)

The Victory Cross was of Alfonso III. commissioned and paid in the year 908, a hundred years after the foundation of the Angel Cross by Alfonso II, the Cathedral of Oviedo. Again Year, threat of divine lightning in theft and protection and winning formula are held in a soldered on the back inscription. The Victory Cross is a Latin cross with oak wood core and gold foil trim, end the arms in three semi-circles, which in turn are attached to three small, jeweled discs. At the intersection of the two arms of the cross there is a cavity that was designed for the accommodation of a relic. The Victory Cross is twice as high and three times as heavy as the angel cross and equipped even richer with precious stones, pearls, enamel plates and pelletized gold wire. Its name goes back to the belief that its wood core was the cross, the Christian Reconquista had won at the Battle of Covadonga under their leader Pelayo their first victory over the Moors. That is why it is also called Cruz de Pelayo ( Pelayo - cross' ).

Agate Shrine ( Caja de la agatas )

This shrine is a 42 cm long and 27 cm wide, clad with gold and silver metal box made ​​of cedar. It has notches 99, which are designed with agate slices. 225 precious or semi-precious stones and coral decorate the enclosure. On the bottom is an inscription with similar wording is how the two crosses, and as the date the year 910 Agate Shrine