Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges - Cathedral

The village Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, named after a bishop of the once existing diocese here,was just like neighbouring Valcabrère once part of a large Roman settlement, that may have had about 30.000 inhabitants. In the early 5th century the Vandals sacked the city, in 585 merovingian troops razed the site, that probably had the bishopric seat already at that time.

Saint Bertrand of Comminges (1073–1123) restored and fortified the town. He commissioned the erection of the cathedral. Saint Bertrand´s tomb was a center of regional pilgrimage already before he got canonized around 1220.

Pope Clement V, who had once been Bishop of this diocese, strongly promoted the pilgrimage, so that soon after the Romanesque church was to small for the many "pelerins". Between 1304 and 1352 the major part of old nave got demolished to make room for a new, larger Gothic nave.

In 1586, during the Wars of Religion, the cathedral was looted and severely damaged by the Huguenot troops. It took the next centuries to restore and repair. Saint-Bertrand´s relics were hidden during the Huguenot raids and are meanwhile back in the cathedral.

The Adoration of the Magi is depicted in the tympanum, while the twelve pose between under arches in the basement. I have the impression, that Joseph, who "normally" is placed in Maria´s back here is replaced by Bishop Saint Betrand. The
whole stone seems to be integrated into the tympanum, maybe it was originally created for another place. Note the palatial chair, Maria sits on.

There are inscriptions. "MARIA MATER" over Maria´s shoulder, "FILIUM DEI" near the child. Over the heads of the Magi insripted is "ET LEO FAR ET MIRON ASPRON". I learned from an 19th-century-explanation that this is a mixture between Greek and Latin. So it chould mean "I bring FAR - flour - MIRON - myrrh - ASPRON - gold/silver."


More infos can be found at the cathedral´s website:

www.cathedrale-saint-bertrand.org/