Monday, February 28, 2011

Saint Gregory the Illuminator

Saint Gregory the Illuminator former church, LivornoSaint Gregory the Illuminator (or Saint Gregory the Enlightener) is the national saint and patron of Armenia. The Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholomew introduced Christianity into the country in the early 1st century, but Gregory was the first head of the Church.
In 301 AD, Armenia was the first nation to adopt Christianity as its official religion.Saint Gregory the Illuminator former church, LivornoThe church of “San Gregorio Illuminatore” was built in 1716 for the prosperous Armenian community of Livorno by the architect Giovanni Del Fantasia on a project by Ferdinando de' Medici, the Grand Prince of Tuscany.Saint Gregory the Illuminator former church, LivornoDamaged but not destroyed during the last war, the main body of church was demolished leaving only a small oratory and a portico in front of the facade.

See also: Half a Church

19 comments:

Luis Gomez said...

Thank you for this post VP. Very nice!

Michelle said...

Very interesting post and that first image is so detailed. Very nice.

Randy said...

That's where my mother got my middle name from. I love the B&W photo.

EG CameraGirl said...

Great detail in the first photo. I didn't realize Armenia was the first to adopt Christianity as its national religion. I think that's interesting!

Anonymous said...

thank you for teaching me something I did not know before. may time and life treat this building kind. please have a good new week.

Jack said...

Another very informative post, VP. The statue of Saint Gregory is wonderful. It is fortunate that it was repairable after the damage shown in the last photograph.

Lynette said...

A well done post. Thank you for all three photos.

Anonymous said...

Learning new things about Livorno almost everytime I come to your site...bravo for the artisans who rebuilt the church after WWII. If there'd been no last photo, I'd have never known it didn't always look as it does in your first two excellent photos!

Ciao!

Small City Scenes said...

Patron Saint of Armenia---interesting post. At least some of the church was saved and restored. MB

Dina said...

I should be used to them by now, but each of your war photos comes as a shock.
Thanks for this enlightening post.

cieldequimper said...

I had no clue about Armenia. And what a beautiful church front.

Cezar and Léia said...

Thanks so much for the two pictures, how nice that it's restored, the church has a lovely detail in the entrance, beautiful sculpture!
And I like those vases as well!
Léia

Traveling Hawk said...

You are full of surprises, VP! I didn't know you used to have an Armenian community in Livorno. We also had one in Bucharest. I like Armenian churches and I visit the Cathedral in Etchmiadzin, in former Soviet Union.

Birdman said...

Thanks for the 'enlightening'.

Kate said...

Wars take their toll with humans as well as architectural treasure. Love the top photo, especially the Bishop's mitre shown with great clarity ad detail.

joo said...

It's a beautiful church. We have Armenian church in Gliwice, but it's smaller and simpler!

Arianna said...

Non sembra una chiesa, è un'architettura molto bella! Ciao, Arianna

Francisca said...

News to me too, about Armenia being the first to adopt Christianity. Fortunate the front of this mainly demolished church was reparable. A lovely facade. Migration has been a human activity since the beginning, hasn't it.

Unknown said...

I really like the detail shot on top. Just great.