The Cathedral in Monaco posesses a remarkable altarpiece (retable) created by Louis Bréa for the Great Jubilee of the Year 1500 . In the upper register there appear John the Baptist, the Angel of the Annunciation, the image of Christ of Pity, the Virgin of the Annunciation, and Saint Anne . In the lower register are Saint Michael, Saint Stephen, Saint Nicholas, Saint Lawrence, and Saint Mary Magdalene . Saint Devote, St. Clare, St. Bernard, St. Barbara appear vertically on the left, and St. Julie, St. Margaret, St. Blaise and St. Bridget appear vertically on the right.
The Saint Nicholas Altarpiece
SOURCE: The Saint Nicholas Altarpiece (Monaco-Ville, Monaco); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 August 2011.
Also in the Cathedral is a reproduction of the Image of Divine Mercy designed by the mystic Sister Faustina Kowalska . Â I saw other reproductions of this painting several years ago while in Vilnius . The original, painted by Eugeniusz Kazimirowski in 1934, still hangs in Vilnius . The image shown here is actually based on a copy painted by Adolfa Hyły in 1944 . Below the image appear the words Jezu Ufam Tobie (Jesus, I trust in you) . Â I used a version of this supplication when I designed the gravestone for my Aunt Bronisława.
The Image of Divine Mercy
SOURCE: The Image of Divine Mercy (Monaco-Ville, Monaco); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 August 2011.
The baptistery of the Cathedral is found in an apse on the side of the structure.
The Baptistery
SOURCE: The Baptistery (Monaco-Ville, Monaco); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 August 2011.
The Cathedral holds a small sculpture of Saint Devota, patron saint of Monaco and Corsica, that was presented by Prince Rainier III on the occasion of the 700th anniversary of the Grimaldi family . According to legend, Saint Devota was martyred for her faith . Her body was placed in a boat so that it could be taken to Africa for burial . A storm arose, but a dove flew out of Saint Devota’s mouth and guided the boat safely to the shores of Monaco.
Saint Devota (Sainte Dévote)
SOURCE: Saint Devota (Sainte Dévote) (Monaco-Ville, Monaco); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 03 August 2011.
Copyright © 2011 by Stephen J. Danko
