Reeds – Haiku 2025 – #Thursday Doors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetryTags:
Main Entrance, South facade, Santa María del Juncal, Irún Spain. Image credit: Zarateman -CC 3.0 | Wikimedia

a plan rejected

becomes the builders’ cornerstone

the architect— reeds

*

*The featured door is carved wood with four inlaid sculptures in the ornate main portal of Iglesia de Santa María del Juncal, Irún, Spain.

One of the sculpted figures on the door is a representation of The Virgin Mary of the Reedbeds (Santa María del Juncal), the patron saint of the city of Irún, Spain, and the church.

Moreover, I am not certain, but my guess is that the featured door’s four carved wood and painted inlay statues could, in the right lighting, appear as raised metal forms. This illusory style was a cutting-edge technique employed in the Baroque architectural period.

Trivia #1:

The legend of the disappearing construction materials, Santa Maria del Juncal Church, Irún, Spain.

And so…back in the year 1400 A.D.,

plans were put in place to build a new church some distance away from Irún’s city center, which was deemed too marshy and full of reeds near the bank of an estuary canal (the canal has long since disappeared with time). The original plan was to build Santa María del Juncal Church in an area further to the north— Alto de Veron.

However,

Soon after construction began, a mystery ensued…

Every day when the workers and artisans arrived at the build site in Alto de Veron…to their dismay, as the legend goes, all the key building materials (they had left there the night before) were gone!

The builders and artisans for the Santa María del Juncal construction at Alto de Veron would then scour the city and lo and behold…

They would find the building materials intact at the edge of the reeds marshland (the present-day sight of Santa María del Juncal)!

The builders and workers would then return the missing materials back to their worksite at Alto de Veron and resume work for that day.

Only to return the next day to work at Alto de Veron…to discover that yet again, the much-needed building materials were gone!

And so,

This scenario went on for a few days…

And then came… a miraculous discovery!

An ancient small carved statue of the Virgin Mary centuries older than anything ever discovered in the region was found in the reeds in the exact spot where the construction supplies seemed to miraculously reappear.

Legend has it the local church builders took these two events (the mysterious vanishing/reappearing construction supplies and the finding of an ancient statue of the Virgin Mary in the reedbeds) as signs of divine intervention. Thus, Santa María del Juncal church was built where the statue of the Virgin Mary was found in the reedbeds.

Trivia #2:

Although not the only starting point, Irún is considered one of the common options for the first leg of The Camino del Norte, the Spanish route north to Santiago De Compostela (The Way of St. James) pilgrimage.

Santa María del Juncal Church, Irun, is an official passport stamp location for the Camino del Norte pilgrimage passports. Although the church is not open 24/7, the parish staff (who live on-site) is reportedly amenable to open these featured doors to anyone who knocks seeking either a new Camino del Norte passport or an existing Camino passport stamped, free of charge.

Additional fact:

The same statue of the Virgin Mary found in Irún’s marshland reeds has been enshrined in Santa María del Juncal’s gilded altarpiece since the church’s completion in 1606. It is currently, with modern dating techniques, confirmed as the oldest carved statue of its kind in the Gipuzkoa region.

*The statue of the Virgin Mary reportedly found in the reeds that day in 1400 A.D. in Irún, Spain has been dated (by modern techniques) as originating centuries earlier in the 12th century.

Main Entrance, Santa María del Juncal, Irún, Spain. Licensed image credit: © Leonid Andronov | Dreamstime.

And for more #ThursdayDoors visit Dan Antion at No Facilities

Ritva Photography

Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

52 thoughts on “Reeds – Haiku 2025 – #Thursday Doors”

  4. The story about the beginning of the church sent a chill up my spine, Suzette. I think the builders made the right decision. I love your haiku. Thanks for bringing this history to us along with a great poem and photos,

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I am glad that the story was of interest Dan. Yes, it was wise of the builders to sense that their plan had been miraculously ‘adjusted.’ Have a great weekend! Thank you for your work and your support on ThursdayDoors and prompts. Much appreciated,

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Pingback: Reeds – Haiku 2025 – #Thursday Doors – QuietMomentsWithGod

  8. I’m in awe of the main entrance to Santa María del Juncal in Irún. It’s amazing how some cathedral doors feel like you’re stepping into a courthouse or a constitutional court—but these doors, with their pillars, are different. They’re majestic and reverent, inviting you into something sacred.

    The story of the statue of Mother Mary found among the reeds is fascinating—almost as if it was meant to be lost, so the church could be built right there in the reedbeds. I wonder who first held that ancient statue before it disappeared into history. It’s incredible to think it’s the oldest carved statue of its kind.

    I love these backstories behind the cathedrals—their hidden beginnings, their quiet miracles.
    Magnificent doors, and beautifully shared for the Thursday Offering. Your haiku captured it perfectly.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I am glad you enjoyed the journey into a story from this church’s past that still connects to it today. The figure of the Virgin Mary now part of its alter since the church was completed speaks volumes to the esteem to which the discovery was given. I too have pondered who crafted this figure so long ago and indeed how it ended up in the reeds to be found. Deeply profound!
      The portal is amazing, it is one of a kind for sure, its reverance and quality master craftpersonship is evident in every detail…a prayer almost without words from the artisans that left behind this great portal, the local historians call simply “the cover.”

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      1. It’s a wonderful piece of history and divine details you brought home to us on this Thursday.
        I suppose that is part of the mystery of the church, we will never know, most importantly, the statue was place where it belongs.
        Beautiful prayers of the artisans.
        You do a great job in providing us with the back stories.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I delight in finding interesting bits to share on these long-and stalwart building still in operation after centuries working, serving the people, places of worship or retreat and many other actitivities and still relevant as ever. You are most welcome. Happy Thursday.

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  17. I love such stories! Not because I believe them — that’s irrelevant — but because so much in life is mysterious. Who’s to say? And what beautiful doors. Imagine sculpting wood and painting it in such a way to make it look metallic; those artisans were nonstop in demonstrating their faith. Reeds as architect — again, who’s to say?

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    1. Well said Maureen! So much of life is mysterious who’s to say what is fact, legend or not and is that relevant with faith is another realm altogether? Thank you as always for your wonderful and thoughtful comments. Blessings to you.

      Liked by 1 person

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