God is often referred to as the "Great Architect of the Universe." Meanwhile, on the mortal earth, Satan himself often participated in the creation of architectural objects. At least, that's what the legends say … Particularly often Satan was credited with participating in the construction of churches, cathedrals and bridges … We can only guess what goals the Prince of this world pursued …
According to legend, it was Satan who drew the plans for the Cologne and Aachen Cathedrals. Albertus Magnus (1193-1280) himself took part in the construction of the Cologne Cathedral, founded in 1248. His real name was Albert von Bolstedt. The famous theologian and scholastic, the author of numerous scientific and theological works, he nevertheless had the glory of a magician-warlock, alchemist and astrologer … Apparently, this is why the legend arose that he knew the devil himself and he helped him build a cathedral …
And the Aachen Cathedral was allegedly built by Satan himself. It was founded in 798 on the site of the destroyed Roman baths. From the very opening, there was devilry within its walls. Either the poltergeist was disgraceful, or the ghosts appeared … Repeatedly during the liturgy, it was as if someone snatched a cup of wine from the hands of a priest. Moreover, the cup fell under the feet of precisely those of the parishioners who were guilty of some serious sins …
According to legend, the construction of the famous Notre Dame de Paris - Notre Dame Cathedral - was not without the devil. Moreover, the unclean person portrayed himself in the image of one of the chimeras - the so-called devil-thinker.
There is an amazing legend about the gate of Notre Dame. They are adorned with an intricate applied wrought iron pattern in the form of intertwining openwork leaves and figured iron locks. It is said that a blacksmith named Biscorne was entrusted with forging the gate. Fearing not to cope with the work, the blacksmith called for the help of the devil himself … So the world appeared beauty that human hands are not able to create. However, when the locks were cut into the gate, it turned out that they could not be opened. This was possible only after the iron was sprinkled with holy water. As for Biscorne, tormented by the memories of the deal with the devil, day by day he became darker and darker, and finally an unknown illness brought him to the grave …
Concerning the Cathedral of Chartres, supposedly built on the site of the sanctuary of the Druids, there were persistent rumors that the foundation of the temple was laid by Satan. Until the 18th century, the cathedral kept a statuette of a woman carrying a child under her heart, carved from ebony. The Black Virgin, or the Black Madonna, as Christians called her, was found in the 3rd century, and since then has been revered as an image of the Mother of God. However, according to historians, the statuette did not depict the Virgin Mary at all, but the Celtic mother goddess …
With the help of the devil, the building could be erected in no time. So, the church of St. Barbara in the French province of Brittany was erected in just a week. Apparently, the devil worked at night … And builders from among the local residents suddenly began to suffer from strange seizures, which soon after the completion of the construction brought them to the grave.
Another of the devilish "masterpieces" is the abbey of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, erected in the 12th century right on a cliff in the middle of the sea, because of which it was possible to get there only during low tide … Legend says that the devil called for a "competition" the Archangel Michael himself, arguing with him who will build the temple more beautiful. The archangel built the church, which was so beautiful that it was taken to heaven, and people could not appreciate its beauty. The temple, built by Satan, remained standing on the ground, decorated with figures of shaggy monsters and grinning chimeras … Today it is considered a masterpiece of Gothic architecture.
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And in Sweden, the devil built a huge cathedral for King Olav the Saint. As it seemed to people, it was crowned with a cross. But when the king climbed to the roof, he saw on the spire instead of a cross a golden statue of a kite with outstretched wings.
There are a lot of "devil's bridges" on the globe. So, it was on such a bridge in the Alps, thrown across the abyss, that Suvorov walked with his soldiers in 1799.
They say that the inhabitants of the Italian town of Borgo a Mozzano could not build a bridge across the river - every time it invariably collapsed. Then the townspeople promised the devil that he would be able to take the soul of the first living creature that would cross the bridge after construction. But even then the lord of hell was outwitted by sending a stray dog to the bridge … The bridge, which received the name of the Devil's Bridge, has stood in its place for a thousand years …
Another "devil's bridge" was built in the 12th century across the Danube. The builder of the bridge allegedly made a bet with the architect of the cathedral in Regensburg (Austria), which of them will finish their work faster. The first resorted to the devil's help and won the "contest", and the second was so upset by this that he jumped from the roof of the cathedral and crashed to death … However, the legend is a legend …
TRINITY MARGARITA