Solemn excommunication scene from the classic film Becket, starring Richard Burton as Archbishop Thomas Becket, Peter O'Toole as King Henry II of England, and John Gielgud as King Louis VII of France. In this scene, Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Becket excommunicates Roger de Pont L'Évêque, the archbishop of York, along with Gilbert Foliot, the bishop of London, and Josceline de Bohon, the bishop of Salisbury. Saint Thomas Becket (also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, Thomas of London, circa 1118 -- 29 December 1170) served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in Canterbury Cathedral in 1170 by assassins believed to be operating for King Henry II of England. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican denomination. Following Becket's death, the monks prepared his body for burial and discovered that he had worn a hairshirt under his archbishop's garments—a sign of penance. Not long after, the faithful throughout Europe began venerating Becket as a martyr, and in 1173 — barely three years after his death on 21 February 1173 — he was canonised by Pope Alexander III in St. Peter's Church in Segni. On 12 July 1174, in the midst of the Revolt of 1173--1174, Henry humbled himself with public penance at Saint Thomas's tomb as well as at the church of St. Dunstan's, which became one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in England. Becket's assassins fled north to Knaresborough Castle, which was held by Hugh de ...

• published: 27 Apr 2011
• views: 6259
• author: UnaVoceMiami