Arles, Saint Trophime

In the Vth century, Saint Trophime, first bishop of Arles, transforms into cathedral a primitive basilica, then dedicated to Saint Etienne. The invasions of VII-VIIIth centuries cause the destruction of this building. A rebuilding is undertaken at the Carolingian time .There remain certain walls about it. Several restorations are made in X-XIth centuries. It is at that time that the name of saint Trophime ,from which the relics are transferred for the first time in the cathedral, overrides saint Etienne. These relics, removed in 1078, are brought back in 1152, after new work which transforms the nave and the crypt.

At that time, Arles becomes the point of rallying of many pilgrims on the road of Compostelle (starting point of Via Tolosana). (http://architecture.relig.free.fr/arles.htm)

The church was an old primatiale of Gaules, lowered with the row of parish church. It is one of the rare churches in France to have an initiatory course in form of tau and another in form of anhk. (Egyptian initiatory course: two others being Saint Sernin of Toulouse and Notre Dame of the Port in Clermont-Ferrand.)

Filiation is transmitted by the column of Saint trophime who broad of one is bent Egyptian.

The way of Saint Jacques to the Middle Ages, was an alchemical course. The pilgrim was going from halt in halt to learn the secrecies from the philosopher's stone to finish in return by its own transmutation. All these messages are found on the sculptures of the churches and others cloisters of the pilgrimage, hidden well with the eyes of the external world.

Arles confirms all.

In the church, we find the relics of several saints, of which a hunting which vibrates more extremely than the others, that of holy the Marie-Jacobé and Marie-Salome…

The cloister is one of the places where I felt the most energy, with the vault saint Michel d' Aiguilhe in Puy, with the presence of a menhir is perhaps included in one of the pillars… And also of the guards whom I could meet.