View S of the circular nave & semicircular chancel/apse of St Nicholas Church, Orkney, Scotland, UK: built in the early C12th by Earl Hakon Paulsson.

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View S of the circular nave & semicircular chancel/apse of St Nicholas Church, Orkney, Scotland, UK: built in the early C12th by Earl Hakon Paulsson after visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. The church & the Earl's Bu (hall) "just a few paces from it" are described in the Orkneyinga Saga. Hakon was responsible for the murder of his cousin & co-ruler Earl (St) Magnus on Egilsay c 1117; he became sole ruler of Orkney and went on pilgrimage to Rome & Jerusalem. "One of only two medieval round churches in Scotland." Scapa Flow & the island of Hoy are visible to the rear.

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Size: 4961px × 3749px
Location: St Nicholas Church, Orphir, Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland, UK
Photo credit: © Mick Sharp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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