The Maltese chapel of bones
I’ve written about Czech ossuaries before, and I’ve visited the one in Paris, but few know there is a Maltese chapel of bones. Well, there used to be one anyway.
Why does St Margaret always appear with a dragon?
I’ve have a keen interest in iconography and imagery. Regular readers will know I often write about these things. Sometimes I spot something I haven't before and, curiosity piqued, I look into it. Which is how I got to know about St Margaret and the dragon.
The Schmalkaldic war
The Holy Roman Empire has a lot to answer for. Before it defined modern international relations, the Empire was going through the Reformation. This led to the tongue-twisting Schmalkaldic war.
Father Toufar – tortured by communists
Czechoslovak communists tortured Czech priest Josef Toufar in 1949 for a miracle which may or may not have happened. This article describes the story and the tragic ending of Father Toufar's life.
The Rotunda of the finding of the Holy Cross
Prague's early chapels and churches seem to all have been rotundas. At least, that's all we seem to have left. Close to the Vltava river, almost overshadowed by newer buildings, you can find the Rotunda of the finding of the Holy Cross. This article explains its provenance and history of this oddly named church.
The Temple of Proserpina
There are few Roman remains on the island of Malta. Not far from Rabat in the village of Mtarfa, the Romans had built the now-lost Temple of Proserpina.
The church that moved
We often hear of buildings being “in the way” of new developments. It’s a constant argument between conservationists and modernisers. Sometimes, ancient treasures are even lost in our quest to build our modern times. And then there are cases where people move mountains to preserve things, literally.
Every parents’ worst nightmare: The carnival deaths
In the 19th century, the monks at the convent annexed to the Ta' Giezu church in Valletta would help young boys stay out of mischief during carnival. They would pray together and then give the boys food. In 1823, this act of charity turned into a catastrophe.
Spanish steps
Rome’s Spanish steps are an iconic image of the city. People have loitered on the stairs since the 16th century. Not everyone knows the reason behind the name. Why would it be the Spanish steps when it’s in Italy?
The startling story behind the Hebrew inscription
One of the more curious sights on Prague’s Charles Bridge is that of Hebrew script on a Roman Catholic crucifix. The crucifix is a religious symbol that points to the break between the Jewish faith and Christianity so the story behind this is intriguing indeed.