San Damiano, Assisi
San Damiano is the name of a church and a former convent in Assisi. The place is closely connected with the biography of St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi ( 1194-1253 ).
Location
San Damiano is located about 20 minutes walk below Assisi is surrounded by fields and olive trees.
Religious significance
Composed of a chapel and monastery complex of buildings is largely originally received and this is different from most other churches in Assisi, which were decorated elaborately after the death of Francis of Assisi or in the case of Portiuncula with the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli as grand as were overbuilt colossal. In addition to the Hermitage delle Carceri San Damiano is thus probably the place in the country side of Assisi, in which can best be modeled as Francis lived: simply, withdrawn and close to nature.
Vision of St.. Francis
During the lifetime of the Holy. Francis San Damiano was a disused chapel, which was partially probably already worn by peasants. In 1205 Francis heard according to tradition, before the cross in the decaying church, the words: " Go, Francis, and repair my house here, which, as you see, is quite dilapidated ." The Cross of San Damiano now hangs in the Basilica di Santa Chiara in Assisi.
First monastic community of Poor Clares
1212 founded the Saint. Klara here with mates the first convent of the Poor Clares, which was later also her sister Agnes and her widowed mother joined. 1253 died Clare at San Damiano. The Poor Clares lived in the convent of San Damiano to 1260th
Seal of the Canticle
The hl. Francis took advantage of San Damiano as a retreat from the bustling Assisi. In the years 1224 and 1225 he wrote in his famous San Damiano " Canticle Creature " (Song of the Creatures ) in German as " Canticle of St.. Francis called ".
Art history
The church has a single storey open porch ( portico ). On the right side in the chapel of St.. Jerome found frescoes of Tiberio d' Assisi in the early 16th century. Inside the nave church a copy of the original Cross of San Damiano depends. The frescoes in the church, among other things, with episodes from the life of St. Francis, date from the 14th century. Before the altar leads right over a landing with a Crucifixion scene by Pier Antonio Mezzastris ( 1482 ), in the cloister garden and the convent. In the cloister there are frescoes by Eusebio da San Giorgio ( 1507). In the refectory, which is largely in original condition, frescoes by Dono Doni are seen in bad state of preservation.
- San Damiano, entrance to the church
- Cloister of the Poor Clares
- View of the sanctuary
- Choir of the monastery church
- Front of the church