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| Statue to miracle man |
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| Monday, 18 June 2007 | |
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Last month, a bronze statue of the Abbé Ténèbre was unveiled by Philippe de Villiers, president of the conseil général, outside the chapel at La Tulevrière, Saint-Étienne-du-Bois. The spot marks the site of a miracle that took place during the Vendéen wars. The statue was created by Henry Murail, who attended the ceremony. The miracle refers to an episode in 1794 when La Tulevrière parishioners were gathered around their priest. A colonne infernale - one of the killing campaigns led by General Turreau to eliminate counterrevolutionary insurrection, was heading towards Saint-Étienne-du-Bois, burning the surrounding farms and villages. The villagers wanted to escape but Abbé Ténèbre urged them not to move. The 22 who did were killed when the colonne infernale reached La Picaudière opposite, but it never made it to La Tulevrière. The villagers erected a chapel dedicated to their dead. The statue is part of refurbishment of the chapel, which now houses relics of the Abbé Ténèbre himself. |
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