The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1923-07-18
SPANISH CHURCH
ERECT Fl IN 661
Building Stands Practically Same
as When Finished.
is WORTHY EXAMPLE OF ART

The old temples. basilicas and bap-
tistries built in Spain at the dawn of
Christianity have all disappeared. and
n can but construct mind pictures
OF them from reading the carefully
written literary records. a fairly ac-
curate idea of early Christian archi-
lecture is gained from these descrip-
lions, but to the ordinary reader they
do not carry the same lasting impress
sion that is to be obtained from seeing
a thing for ones self and perhaps
taking a snapshot of it.
There are still standing in Spain to-
day ruins or reconstructions of tenn
pies built there during the Seventh
century. The ruins of S~egobriga and
the chapel of .Eliche, Santa Comba de
Bande and San Miguel de Tarras, the
latter simply a baptistry, are examples
of this early architecture, but in each
case there is either a question as to
the exact date of erection or il it's
present remodeled state little is left
Of the early style and atmosphere.
Rare Specimens of Art.
Francisco Mendizabal, in an article
in "A B G" says that the Oldest
church of which the date Of building
is certain is the Basiiica ofrSan Juan
Bautista de Banos de Cerrato, built in
6G1 by Recesvinto. an early king Of
the Visigoths. The peculiar thing |
about this church which sets it apart
from others built a few years earlier,
perhaps, and still standing, is the fact
hal with slight changes 1t has kept
through the ages very nearly the same
form in which it came from the hands
of the ancient Visigoth workmen. 1t
is said of this church:
1T is the oldest of the Christian
temples of Spain, and without a doubt
-he most important one which has been
preserved with regard to architectural
worth, structure and integrity. 1t is
not a ruin, a fragment. 1t is a com
)lete specimen, unequaled in SPAIN
This old basilica, situated not far
Palencia, in northern Spain, was
dedicated to st. John by the king who .
lad it built. Recesvinto, during his !
'eign, undertook to crush a rebellion
Imong the Basques, who had reyolted
-gainst him. Having accomplished this, {.
le returned to old CASTLE victorious J
tut exhausted and i'll, and sought rest }
nd solace in the quiet fields along the !
'isuerga river. I
Story of Cure of King. I
One day, the story goes, he was z
beside the banks of a clear }
and, coming to a crystal spring, !
e leaned down to drink. Almost as I
Don as the water touched his lips he Z
cit that he was being relieved of the }
isease that lie had contracted. He Y
ontinued to drink, and as he did so he q
as miraculously cured. He attributed Z
ne miracle to st. John, to whose pro- I
ection he had long ago committed J.
imself, and as an act of gratitude had q
lie temple built not far from the z
spring and dedicated it to st. 4
ohm. y
1t is a quaint building, this Basilica 9
: San Juan Bautista, with it's columns 4
colored jasper and Corinthian capt. 4
Is. The wall of the nave, above the =
orseshoe arches, is cut by a row Of Y
nall windows of the same horseshoe q
lape, and within the church one may \
e above the central arch the old ded- 4
atory inscription written so many 4
ago. .