Chapelle Orthodoxe Sainte-Marie-Madeleine - Mirabeau, France
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member YvesProvence
N 43° 41.512 E 005° 40.133
31T E 715083 N 4841111
La petite chapelle orthodoxe Sainte-Marie Madeleine de Mirabeau.
Waymark Code: WMY94K
Location: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Date Posted: 05/13/2018
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member Math Teacher
Views: 4
Download this waymark:
.GPX File
.LOC File
.KML File (Google Earth)

FR Cet édifice est bâti juste derrière le pont de la Durance, sur un éperon rocheux situé aux abords de la route des Alpes et surplombant la rivière. Sa construction remonte au XIème ou au XIIème siècle. Vers 1170 fut construit à proximité un prieuré rural de bénédictins, qui fut abandonné et ruiné avant 1343.
Son architecture est très classique : nef à deux travées, voûte en berceau brisé et abside semi-circulaire. Les nombreux trous qui marquent sa façade ont servi à mettre en place un auvent destiné à abriter des pèlerins. Le défilé de Mirabeau fut le siège de passeurs de rivière ; l'édifice s'appela donc "chapelle des radeliers". Vers 1260, elle prit le nom de "Sainte Madeleine du Pont de Canteperdrix", en référence à un premier pont qui fut construit sur la Durance. Le pont a été maintes fois détruit, puis remplacé chaque fois jusqu'à notre époque.
La chapelle fut utilisée comme remise après la Révolution. Classée cependant monument historique en 1928, elle fut restaurée en 1948.

Cette chapelle romane porte en outre une curieuse inscription, à moitié en latin et en vieux provençal, faisant état d'une éclipse ayant eu lieu en juin 1239. L'inscription est certainement bien postérieure à la construction de la chapelle, d'après le style architectural. Le texte exprime une touchante leçon de morale. En un temps où les conditions de vie étaient particulièrement difficiles, et les croyances très vivaces, une éclipse a peut-être provoqué un certain émoi dans la population. On aurait ensuite voulu garder mémoire de l'évènement en l'inscrivant sur les pierres d'un sanctuaire.
Voici le texte gravé sur l'édifice, lisible sur l'un des claveaux à gauche de l'entrée : "Anno domini millesimo ducentesimo trigesimo nono,
III nonas junii sol obcuratus fuit.
Grada si commensas cofenira.
Oi ben fara, ben (trobara)".

Ce qui signifie :
"L'an du Seigneur 1239,
le 3 des nones du mois de juin, le soleil s'est obscurci.
Réfléchis, prends garde, si tu commences, comment tu finiras.
Qui bien fera, bien (trouvera)".

Depuis peu, faute de culte, cette chapelle est devenue une chapelle orthodoxe comme le mentionne la plaque sur la porte.
EN This building is built just behind the bridge of the Durance, on a rocky spur located on the edge of the road of the Alps and overlooking the river. Its construction dates back to the 11th or 12th century. Around 1170 was built near a rural Benedictine priory, which was abandoned and ruined before 1343.
Its architecture is very classic: nave with two spans, broken barrel vault and semicircular apse. The many holes that mark its facade were used to set up an awning intended to house pilgrims. The parade of Mirabeau was the seat of the river smugglers; the building was called "chapel radeliers". Around 1260, it took the name of "Sainte Madeleine du Pont de Canteperdrix", in reference to a first bridge that was built on the Durance. The bridge was destroyed many times, then replaced each time until our time.
The chapel was used as a shed after the Revolution. Classified however historical monument in 1928, it was restored in 1948.

This Romanesque chapel also bears a curious inscription, half Latin and old Provençal, mentioning an eclipse that took place in June 1239. The inscription is certainly much later than the construction of the chapel, according to the architectural style. The text expresses a touching moral lesson. At a time when living conditions were particularly difficult, and beliefs very vivid, an eclipse may have caused a stir in the population. We would then have wanted to keep memory of the event by inscribing it on the stones of a sanctuary.
Here is the text engraved on the building, readable on one of the keys on the left of the entrance: "Anno domini milleimo ducentesimo nono trigosimo,
III nonas junii sol obcuratus is fleeing.
Grada if commensas will cofenira.
Oi ben fara, ben (trobara) ".

Which means :
"The year of the Lord 1239,
the 3rd of June, the sun has darkened.
Think, take care, if you start, how will you end up?
Who will do well, well (find) ".

Recently, for lack of worship, this chapel became an Orthodox chapel as mentioned on the plaque on the door.


La chapelle en video
Date the Church was built, dedicated or cornerstone laid: 01/01/1100

Age of Church building determined by?: Other reliable source

If denomination of Church is not part of the name, please provide it here: Orthodoxe

Street address of Church:
Chapelle Orthodoxe Sainte-Marie-Madeleine
D996
Mirabeau, France
84120

Primary website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link]

Secondary Website for Church or Historic Church Building: [Web Link]

If Church is open to the public, please indicate hours: Not listed

If Church holds a weekly worship service and "all are welcome", please give the day of the week: Not listed

Indicate the time that the primary worship service is held. List only one: Not Listed
Visit Instructions:
1) A photo of the church is required for visits to a waymark.

2) Please share some comments about your visit.

3) Additional photos are encouraged. If you can have information in addition to that already provided about this church, please share it with us.

Search for...
Geocaching.com Google Map
Google Maps
MapQuest
Bing Maps
Nearest Waymarks
Nearest This Old Church
Nearest Geocaches
Create a scavenger hunt using this waymark as the center point
Recent Visits/Logs:
There are no logs for this waymark yet.