A disappeared church
This essay[1] is about a church that is
datable around 9th century after Christ, when Italy and Rome, above
all, was conquered by Byzantium, now Istanbul; then much religious member of
religious order this is Basilian order, born in Constantinople during 9th
century and widespread on Byzantium and Italy, above all by presence and
election of Byzantine pope, above all pope Zacharias(741-752), that was very
next to Byzantium and his imperator, Constantine fifth. Zacharias introduced
much Byzantine culture and also in Rome and also to south Latium, particular
Sermoneta, where was this disappeared church. This church, whose we don’t known
name, was built by member of Basilian order in cloister of actual abbey of
Valvisciolo(Figs.1-4), why can we say it? First form of cloister, this is
square and above all to stones that now are present in pillar of cloister, to
arches that are typically Byzantine and other. First plan is square, and this
particular form is very common to Byzantine church, this is Saint Sophia and
other now in Istanbul or ancient Constantinople(Figs.5-7), we must consider
that Byzantine imperium was also in Italy until Ravenna, in central Italy,
therefore also architecture of Ravenna(Fig.8) is to some exemple very
meaningful as Saint New Apollinaire and in Class(Fig.12) typical architecture
of Byzantium, that during 9th century was used by Basilian order to
this church in Valvisciolo. Arches(Fig.9) that now are present in cloister are
typical architecture from Byzantium(Figs.10-13); the stones that now are to
pillars of Basilian church are very next to much building of Byzantium and
Byzantine(Figs.14-17bis,ter, quattuor); capitals are more over very next much
exemple of Byzantium and Ravenna (Figs.18-20), these capitals have took during
13th century in Sermoneta and used both to building of cathedral of
Saint Mary(Figs.25-27), and to some column today in a Medieval tower(Fig.23).
Form of abacuses(Figs.25-27) in the mentioned cathedral are very specular to
exemple in Ravenna and Byzantine architecture(Figs.18-20). A column, fortunately
again complete, shows a form very strange to medieval architecture in Italy(Fig.28),
in fact octagonal plane of this column is strange in Latium and in Rome, but it
is very next to Byzantium style; it is sufficient see pillars of monument to
Theodoric in Ravenna(Fig.30), that is very similar to our column and pillar;
because a pillar is again complete(Fig.29) in cloister of Valvisciolo, and I
think that this pillar supported a sculpture of saint that given name to
church, but important is that this pillar has an octagonal form, like column in
Medieval tower in Sermoneta. Basilian order was an ascetical religious order,
and therefore the presence of church was
present always; in fact along perimeter of cloister(Figs.31-33), at 1957, was
worked restores and worker found trace of wells of cells, this is cells of
monks that were in direct contact with church by arches. Where is now this
Basilian church? We can think that now it has destroyed, but we must correct
this affirmation because this church has dismantled and built again to other
church for a destruction for a battle between Annibaldi family and other next
town, Sezze Romano, at 1235; for this war, a document tells that the church of
Saint Mary was building. To this rebuilding was necessary both worker and also
material; cost of this was very important, then costumers took profit and
dismantled Basilian church. Other architectonical document about Byzantine
presence in Sermoneta is a church; this is first building of church of Saint
Michael Archangel, or better, a town of this church that is, fortunately,
remained complete during centuries(Fig.34); this town of church today is
ignored, but it is original Basilian church in Sermoneta centre. The entry to
church during 9th century was trough a staircase (Figs.35-36); this
opinion is supported by position of painting with Christ, that is very similar
to position to other painting and mosaic on the apses on the church in south
Italy, inspired to Byzantine architecture, as church of Monreale, Palermo; then
the access to church was staircase that now is access and exit to a room. Other
characteristic of Basilian order was isolation, this is convent of Basilian
usually were isolated, then this church was in region of Sermoneta particular
isolated, we must consider that during 9th century Sermoneta was
depopulated then perfect to exercise of asceticism we can see isolated town by
a painting of 1610(Fig.39), this town is called Pagan valley, somebody has
though that this name was to a pagan temple, but we must red Du Cange,
Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, a vocabulary that describes every
Latin word and his mean during century after fall of Roman empire, and to word
pagus he tells that this word means also field and territory, therefore a field
that monks cultivated, where now are home and other then was alone field.
Alessandro Lusana
Alessandro Lusana
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