Master Stonemason Frank Helmholz has finished his work for the spring on the Sacred Stones project at the Abbey of New Clairvaux in Vina.  Frank, who spent nearly six months during his most recent stay in Vina, made great strides in completing the stone-by-stone reconstruction of a 12th century Spanish chapter house that uses original 800-year-old stones.                 

All of the arches are done.  “By the end of November we should have all of the ceiling stones finished,” said Frank,  who will leave that work to his 6-person crew.  Frank will return to Vina next spring to hopefully complete the entire chapter house.  Until then he will travel to Egypt to resume work on the Temple of Medinet Habu, dismantling,  restoring  and resurrecting one of the gates at The Luxor. 

The public is invited to visit and learn more about the stunning Sacred Stones project.  For a tour, please contact the Sacred Stones office at (530) 839-9936 or at sacredstones@newclairvaux.com. A $10 donation per person is requested to help complete the project.