Today we visited this church called St. Pierre de Lemenc. This was our first church service and it was so interesting! I think it's the antiquity of this country that is so striking. St. Pierre de Lemenc was built in the 15th century. What was so interesting was that the church contains a crypt which dates back to the 9th and 11th centuries. When we were leaving, a lovely French lady was explaining to me the history of St. Jacques. On the top of the church was a rooster, which she explained, was the symbol of the pilgrimage of St. Jacques. According to religious scripture, Saint Jacques (James) was the brother of John, one of the 12 Apostles. The scallop recipe, which we know as coquilles St. Jacques, received its name based upon this famous pilgrimage. According to legend, the scallop shell was the symbol of the crusaders of the Order of Saint James. St. James intervention saved the life of a drowning knight. The knight emerged from the sea covered with scallop shells. Scallops were named Coquilles St. Jacques in St. James honor, as was the dish. Coquilles St. Jacques means 'shells of St. James'. I love these stories!
Mme. Wallace
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