SMM+S

jimmcginlay

Location: In centre of town off the A935,
8 Church St, Brechin, DD9 6EU.

Cathedral dates from the 13th century and has undergone restoration at various times.

Wikepedia article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brechin_Cathedral

Entrance archway

What looks like a mason's mark

The Round Tower dates from around the 11th century

The doorway is above ground level for security. Its reminiscent of the Pictish symbol stones with its combination of the Christian; the crucified Christ at the top and flanking bishops; and the pagan, the two interesting pictish animals at the base. It also resembles the image of the 'Arrest of Christ' in the Book of Kells, folio 114r which can be seen here:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b6/KellsFol114rArrestOfChrist.jpg&imgrefurl=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:KellsFol114rArrestOfChrist.jpg&usg=__oxEA4LqnEhDQpTqadwz8VZCJyZw=&h=1952&w=1500&sz=4856&hl=en&start=11&tbnid=grpQ0rSmN_NQLM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=115&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dkells%2Barrest%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26ie%3DUTF-8
The image of Christ flanked by two figures or animals is common in early Christian art. It relates to the gnomic prophesy that the lord would be known between two animals and the prophesy was seen as being fulfilled when Christ was crucified between two thieves. It also relates to the tradition of sustentatio in early Byzantine and Christian ceremony and art where two figures of lower status would support a third figure thereby conferring or signifying his higher status.