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Description

This the interior of the gothic, conventual church of Archangel Michael in the small town of Ambel (modern Spain). Today, it is no longer in use and its doors remain shut to the public. Before its closure, however, it served a large community (a commandery) of knights of St John, known as Hospitallers. Ambel was once a Muslim village with stone-built fortifications that guarded the borders of the Islamic Taifa of Zaragoza. It had a tall, strong tower which is still partially incorporated into the Hospitaller church. After Islamic power collapsed, this area was taken over by the kingdom of Aragon and the tower of Ambel, together with a Muslim village next to it, was given to the knights Templar. The Templars were to guard Ambel from both Muslim incursions from the south and from Aragon’s rivals to the west – the kingdom of Castile With time, Ambel became a mixed, Muslim/Christian community with its own mosque and a parish church. In the early 14th C., however, the Templars were dissolved (many of them, unjustly killed) and their possessions were given to the Hospitallers. The knights of St John ruled Ambel, for much of the late medieval and early modern period. The Hospitallers invested in their commandery and brought numerous precious relics to enrich its church. This collection included a piece of the True Cross as well as the head of Hospitaller brother-knight Melchor de Monserrat who died defending the fort of Saint Elmo on Malta in June 1565. Although he was never officially recognized, local Hospitallers venerated his remains and cherished the memory of his heroic death.

The first great shock came to Ambel when its Moriscos, that is descendants of its Muslim population were expelled by the orders of king Philip III in 1609. Many houses in the village were forcefully emptied and to this day, one of the streets in the town is called, the street of the Moors, in memory of the people who once lived there. The Hospitallers could not have known that eventually, in 1851, they too will be expelled and their commandery will be privatized. The knights did not even manage to take their most precious possessions with them. To this day, the collection of relics assembled by them through the ages remains in the closed church of Archangel Michael. Thus, although religious services no longer take place here, some holiness remains as the piece of the True Cross as well as other relics, including the head of brother-knight Melchor de Monserrat still remain in their ornate reliquaries. Waiting, in case Christians decide to use this place for worship again.

I hope that posting such ‘abandoned’ church is fitting, given that today is the Good Friday, when Christ is ‘absent’ from Catholic churches, just like in the church in Ambel. Just in case you are worried, the building is well maintained and its art is protected – there is just no clear idea what to do with the building as the village of Ambel has another parish church nearby. Thank you for viewing and Merry Easter!

Description

This the interior of the gothic, conventual church of Archangel Michael in the small town of Ambel (modern Spain). Today, it is no longer in use and its doors remain shut to the public. Before its closure, however, it served a large community (a commandery) of knights of St John, known as Hospitallers. Ambel was once a Muslim village with stone-built fortifications that guarded the borders of the Islamic Taifa of Zaragoza. It had a tall, strong tower which is still partially incorporated into the Hospitaller church. After Islamic power collapsed, this area was taken over by the kingdom of Aragon and the tower of Ambel, together with a Muslim village next to it, was given to the knights Templar. The Templars were to guard Ambel from both Muslim incursions from the south and from Aragon’s rivals to the west – the kingdom of Castile With time, Ambel became a mixed, Muslim/Christian community with its own mosque and a parish church. In the early 14th C., however, the Templars were dissolved (many of them, unjustly killed) and their possessions were given to the Hospitallers. The knights of St John ruled Ambel, for much of the late medieval and early modern period. The Hospitallers invested in their commandery and brought numerous precious relics to enrich its church. This collection included a piece of the True Cross as well as the head of Hospitaller brother-knight Melchor de Monserrat who died defending the fort of Saint Elmo on Malta in June 1565. Although he was never officially recognized, local Hospitallers venerated his remains and cherished the memory of his heroic death.

The first great shock came to Ambel when its Moriscos, that is descendants of its Muslim population were expelled by the orders of king Philip III in 1609. Many houses in the village were forcefully emptied and to this day, one of the streets in the town is called, the street of the Moors, in memory of the people who once lived there. The Hospitallers could not have known that eventually, in 1851, they too will be expelled and their commandery will be privatized. The knights did not even manage to take their most precious possessions with them. To this day, the collection of relics assembled by them through the ages remains in the closed church of Archangel Michael. Thus, although religious services no longer take place here, some holiness remains as the piece of the True Cross as well as other relics, including the head of brother-knight Melchor de Monserrat still remain in their ornate reliquaries. Waiting, in case Christians decide to use this place for worship again.

I hope that posting such ‘abandoned’ church is fitting, given that today is the Good Friday, when Christ is ‘absent’ from Catholic churches, just like in the church in Ambel. Just in case you are worried, the building is well maintained and its art is protected – there is just no clear idea what to do with the building as the village of Ambel has another parish church nearby. Thank you for viewing and Merry Easter!