The Red Porphyry and Charlemagne-
At the end of the long arm of the church is a circle of inlaid red porphyry, maybe seven feet in diameter. Our guide, Ulysse, told us the story about Charlemagne kneeling on Christmas Eve in 800 AD and accepting the crown from the pope. To dramatize this, Ulysse knelt on one knee. I happened to be the one standing nearest to him, so I gave him the sign of the cross, just to play along. When Joanne later told him I was an Episcopal priest, he laughed, (remember the thorn in the toe) but I think he was moved and confused. His own religious feelings were well concealed.
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