Simon rides his horse through streets full of noisy people and littered with excrement.
Pigs raised by some townspeople were cleaning dust and filth on the road under the supervision of a middle-aged town citizen wearing a ragged felt hat. However, the stench emitted by the pig itself and its dirty and huge body seem to make people more disgusted than feces.
Since many of the townspeople within the city walls are farmers engaged in agriculture, in addition to many shops and houses for people to live in, there are also many small vegetable plots and enclosures used to raise livestock.
"The stench is really unbearable!" Simon just frowned and shook his head slightly.
Like many people of this era, Simon has now gradually become accustomed to the various odors that pervade everywhere where human activities are present. It is no exaggeration to say that even if there is a dunghill next to him, Simon can still eat a piece of black bread with thick soup without changing his expression - because even the tavern or other halls used by lords to entertain guests are not much better. .
"Master, the church is ahead!" The fat man pointed excitedly at the masonry church in front of him that was obviously different from other wood and stone buildings. In Fatty's view, every step he takes now brings him one step closer to the holy and almighty God.
Although the church in Cologne is not as majestic as the later Cologne Cathedral, it is still larger than any monastery in the memory of Simon's previous owner.
The Diocese of Cologne is said to date back to 88 AD and was the bridgehead for missionary missions to the lowlands and the Black Forest barbarian tribes at that time. Before Simon lived in the tenth century, there were at least four saints among the archbishops of Cologne.
Therefore, in this Cologne church with a long history, which has been continuously repaired and expanded, various facilities have been relatively complete and complete.
Simon and the fat man passed through the door on the outer wall of the church and entered the church. I saw the monks around me wearing simple all-black monastic uniforms, doing their own work, and walking back and forth in the church.
On the left hand side of the entrance there is a dispensary and a medical room for the relief of refugees, the poor and the sick. I saw a monk brewing unknown herbal medicine next to a hanging pot in the open space outside the infirmary, where groans of pain occasionally came from.
Next to the infirmary were residences for the tenant farmers and slaves who worked for the church. Simon could see through the open door of this simple wooden house a bed of straw mats and small wooden buckets used to hold urine and feces.
Next to the tenant farmer's slave residence is a small stable, and a young stable boy is laboriously filling the water tank.
"Let's park the horses in the stable and then take the things to find the bishop." Simon turned his head and said to the fat man who was looking around curiously.
After the two tied up their horses, they walked towards the largest masonry building.
"Hello, these two respected gentlemen, what do you want to do when you come to the Holy Cologne Church?" Standing at the door of the church were two men holding spears and wearing soft armor hats and segmented nose-protecting dome helmets. , a soldier wearing iron-plated leather armor and leather gloves.
These two soldiers may have often seen nobles who came to visit the bishop, so even though they did not recognize the family crest on Simon's chest robe, they still maintained the polite and kind tone they should have.
"This is Sir Simon of Dorsten who defeated the Norman pirates who plundered Leer Abbey. We come to see the Archbishop of Cologne with a pious heart." After the fat man finished speaking, as expected, the two gatekeepers looked at each other. Lu was shocked.
"What, Simon of Dorsten! Come in quickly, I think the bishop will definitely be very happy." A soldier looked at Simon with wide eyes, full of awe, "The bishop was really proud of Lyle some time ago. The tragedy that happened in the monastery broke my heart. My dear lord, after the news of your victory over those damn bandits came out, it really made the bishop have a long-lost smile on his face for a while! "
"Really?" Simon raised the corners of his mouth slightly. From this point of view, although I haven't met the Bishop yet, he already has a good impression of me, and it may be much easier to deal with him by then.
After Simon entered this masonry cathedral, the first thing he saw was a rectangular pool. There are towering columns at the four corners of the rectangular pool, which extend all the way to the top of the church. You can see that there is an opening in the ceiling that is the same size as the pool on the ground.
Around the pool, some townspeople and pilgrims from afar were chatting in low voices, and there was a solemn atmosphere in the entire courtyard.
This is the atrium of the church, a place for believers to interact and communicate. However, this atrium is very much in the style of ancient Rome, and it seems that it has been repaired and renovated repeatedly over the years.
"Hello, Sir," at this moment, a young monk came in through the door behind Simon and said softly to Simon, "I heard from Larson that you are here to see the Bishop. We have just finished our lunch break. , the bishop is receiving a group of pilgrims, please come with me."
Only then could Simon take a closer look at these servants of God. I saw this young monk with a Mediterranean hairstyle that symbolized Christ's crown of thorns. He was wearing a black hooded robe made of rough cloth. A tight-fitting girdle with a small silver cross hanging on his waist. They wear simple loafers that remind the monks to always humble themselves like Christ.
Simon and the fat man followed the young monk through the atrium, and saw the young monk step forward and open the door connecting the antechamber to the nave.
"Wow!" The fat man behind Simon couldn't help but admired.
The nave has a tall beige vault, and there are splendid and exquisite arched side corridors on both sides. There are two rows of old and heavy benches in the center of the church, all shrouded in the light of dancing candlelight on the walls on both sides of the arcade, all exuding a sacred and solemn atmosphere.
In the semicircular apse facing the main entrance of the nave, the sun shines through the colorful glass of the church and shines on the bishop wearing a pure white robe standing on the side pulpit. The believers and pilgrims under the pulpit closed their eyes devoutly and listened carefully to the bishop's reading.
“I believe in the Holy Spirit, Lord and Life-giver, proceeding from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son, he is worshiped and glorified, and he has spoken through the prophets. I believe in the One, The most holy, catholic, apostolic Church. I acknowledge that there is only one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead and the life in the next life, Amen!" The impassioned words of the bishop fell.
"Please Lord, listen to us!" the believers said, bowing one after another and trembling slightly.
"I believe that the Lord can definitely feel your piety and faith. God is with you." After a long time, the bishop pressed his hands, picked up the Bible, and walked off the pulpit.
The believers and pilgrims excitedly discussed in low voices while suppressing their voices, and walked slowly towards the door of the nave. Being able to go to the historic Cologne Cathedral and say Mass under the auspices of the archbishop is a life-long regret for many people.
"Huh?" The tired Archbishop of Cologne, Wade Fred, rubbed his temples tiredly, while the young monk who led Simon to the door of the nave was whispering something next to the bishop.
Suddenly, Bishop Wade Fred's face was happy, looking a little surprised, and he hurriedly looked up at the nave door. Sure enough, a young man wearing mail and a heraldic robe, followed by a fat attendant, was looking at him at the door of the nave.
"Go over, the bishop wants to see you." The young monk quickly returned to Simon, bowed his head slightly and said humbly.
Although Simon's face was expressionless, he felt his heart beating loudly.
Simon walked slowly forward from the aisle between the two rows of benches and towards the semicircular apse. Facing the aisle in front of the main door of the nave is the holy altar, with a cross inlaid with the image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus placed on it. At this time, it is exuding dazzling colors in the sunlight reflected through the stained glass.
Simon took a deep breath and walked up to the bishop who was looking at him with a smile.
"May God be with you, Simon of Dorsten. To be honest, it's a pleasure to see you." Bishop Wedefred made the sign of the cross on his chest.
"Me too, dear Bishop." Simon replied respectfully.
"I heard some time ago that you defeated the Normans who once sacked Lyell Abbey. I am really proud of you, my son. Not long after I talked about it with Brother Brant at noon, you appeared In front of me, I have to say that maybe this is God's wonderful arrangement. Oh, Lord, praise God!" Archbishop Wade Fred looked very happy. Obviously, from his kind words and slightly excited tone, it can be seen that this is a bishop who is very devout to God.
"Yes, I also believe that all this is God's arrangement," Simon said, turning back to the fat man and winking. The fat man suddenly understood and walked forward with the bag of loot, "Except In addition, the almighty and loving God has also arranged for me to personally return to you and return to the church, my respected bishop, the precious sacred objects lost in Lisle Abbey that were taken back from the Norman pirates."
"Ah..." This was obviously something Bishop Wadefred had not expected. After the initial sluggishness, the bishop's face gradually filled with a bright smile, "Simon of Dorsten, your piety And the dedication is obvious to all present! These things will undoubtedly be of great help to us in rebuilding Lyell Abbey! Come on, my child, let’s go to the garden and talk in detail..."
