LICEUS

In nomine Domini

Title of this essay has two references, the first is God, that in Latin language is Dominus; therefore ecclesiastical architecture, that we are going to see during read, And second reference is the chief, that in Latin is same dominus; these difference between earthly and divine power has determined both architecture and motive to this build; we can consider that the Monarchia of Dante Alighieri, is a book of this beautiful poetry that explain that mankind has two leaders, these are God and imperator, that in small dimensions become the local church and chief of feud. I want not certainly annoy to description material or form of a church, but I want alone search common stylistic origin of material, and who has worked; thereupon style. I want begin to a abbey of Valvisciolo, near Sermoneta, Italy(Figs.1-1b), that from 1241 has been an abbey of Cistercian order, that today is there present, nothing at last to Italy is interesting, but we can see some architectonic structure, that in cloister is very interesting to bound that we are going to find in other structure, as cathedral of Saint Mary in Sermoneta(Fig.4). Coincidences alone or other causes are determined this nearness? Certainly other causes and what? In years 1054 a scission between Roman Church and oriental Church, that after is become orthodox, a mere theological question was sufficient to divide the two Churches, until that years united in principal question, although issues and disagreements has been also before; but in the Roman Church, so Constantinople called the occidental faith last pope from Constantinople, pope Zechariah, was given a small of city, this is Ninfa(Figs.5-6), today very beautiful garden, according to opinion of the New York Time that has valued that it is garden is more beautiful and romantic in the word; certainly pride motive, but some structure that is present we must consider that it are relic of ancient structure, that we can date about 9^th century, and we can consider it as survive of church, Basilian churches, what is Basilian order? This order is born to 4^th century in Middle orient and to 9^th century is present in Rome, characteristic is asceticism in convent, and monks live in small cells where they pray alone and in church; it is alone history and very small interesting, but during 8^th century, in 750 a.Ch., imperator of Constantinople and Italy, Constantine 5^th gift the land of Ninfa to pope Zachariah, last oriental pope, that has filled this land of monks of order very faithful to Constantinople, thereupon Basilian was one of these order, and certainly more numerous than others; therefore the garden of Ninfa was land very important to this translated, apropos they monks, at last then spoke prevalently the Byzantine Greek; it is necessary to a epigraph that we after we are going to see. From Ninfa garden and Abbey of Valvisciolo distance is 7 miles, therefore very near, and some monks has transferred and built the first nucleus of abbey of Valvisciolo, that today would be difficult identify, but we must consider that this first built is today visible in fact we can walk in this structure simply walking in the cloister; the plane of this cloister is regular and on Greek cross, this is quadrate, and cloister(Figs.7-8), is perfectly quadrate, but this built isn’t of Cistercian order, but it is primitive church of Basilian order, now without roof, but in origin it was. During restores of 1957, in cloister on floor were found traces, very labile but present of partition walls, that defined the cells of Basilian monks that in front of cells have the church; in rule of Saint Basil therefore asceticism was constant. Title of this essay has two references, the first is God, that in Latin language is Dominus; therefore ecclesiastical architecture, that we are going to see during read, And second reference is the chief, that in Latin is same dominus; these difference between earthly and divine power has determined both architecture and motive to this build; we can consider that the Monarchia of Dante Alighieri, is a book of this beautiful poetry that explain that mankind has two leaders, these are God and imperator, that in small dimensions become the local church and chief of feud. I want not certainly annoy to description material or form of a church, but I want alone search common stylistic origin of material, and who has worked; thereupon style. I want begin to a abbey of Valvisciolo, near Sermoneta, Italy(Figs.1-1b), that from 1241 has been an abbey of Cistercian order, that today is there present, nothing at last to Italy is interesting, but we can see some architectonic structure, that in cloister is very interesting to bound that we are going to find in other structure, as cathedral of Saint Mary in Sermoneta(Fig.4). Coincidences alone or other causes are determined this nearness? Certainly other causes and what? In years 1054 a scission between Roman Church and oriental Church, that after is become orthodox, a mere theological question was sufficient to divide the two Churches, until that years united in principal question, although issues and disagreements has been also before; but in the Roman Church, so Constantinople called the occidental faith last pope from Constantinople, pope Zechariah, was given a small of city, this is Ninfa(Figs.5-6), today very beautiful garden, according to opinion of the New York Time that has valued that it is garden is more beautiful and romantic in the word; certainly pride motive, but some structure that is present we must consider that it are relic of ancient structure, that we can date about 9th century, and we can consider it as survive of church, Basilian churches, what is Basilian order? This order is born to 4th century in Middle orient and to 9th century is present in Rome, characteristic is asceticism in convent, and monks live in small cells where they pray alone and in church; it is alone history and very small interesting, but during 8th century, in 750 a.Ch., imperator of Constantinople and Italy, Constantine 5th gift the land of Ninfa to pope Zachariah, last oriental pope, that has filled this land of monks of order very faithful to Constantinople, thereupon Basilian was one of these order, and certainly more numerous than others; therefore the garden of Ninfa was land very important to this translated, apropos they monks, at last then spoke prevalently the Byzantine Greek; it is necessary to a epigraph that we after we are going to see. From Ninfa garden and Abbey of Valvisciolo distance is 7 miles, therefore very near, and some monks has transferred and built the first nucleus of abbey of Valvisciolo, that today would be difficult identify, but we must consider that this first built is today visible in fact we can walk in this structure simply walking in the cloister; the plane of this cloister is regular and on Greek cross, this is quadrate, and cloister(Figs.7-8), is perfectly quadrate, but this built isn’t of Cistercian order, but it is primitive church of Basilian order, now without roof, but in origin it was. During restores of 1957, in cloister on floor were found traces, very labile but present of partition walls, that defined the cells of Basilian monks that in front of cells have the church; in rule of Saint Basil therefore asceticism was constant; in fact in the rule of Saint Basil in sixt chapter regard solitude of monk is written:“To aid the soul to concentrade, is necessity live in solitude. It is dangerous live among whom tha live without fear of God, and refuse of follow his orders… if we want furthermore to continue for prayer continue, we must begin take decision of dwell in solitude". Other Basilian church, very poor, whose is a central nucleus is in Sermoneta, and name or titration is Saint Michael Archangel, original titration we don’t know, but today is corridor, usually called crypt, but it is original church during 9^th century, and a painting attests the entrance of original church(Figs.9-9a), because the Christ painted on roof of this church, to right and specular to a stairs is same disposition of mosaic painting in the churches that has originally or to imitation of Byzantine style(Figs.10-12). The theological divergences between the two Churches has determined the scission, and Basilian order have to abandon these churches in Ninfa and Sermoneta, and Valvisciolo; but the churches were present again, and it is normal, but in Sermoneta a very dislike episode occurred, a war to Sezze Romano, a town very near, determined the destruction of the cathedral of Saint Mary, in 1236, and the family reigning then, this is Annibaldi, in person of Riccardo Annibaldi(1210-1276), commissioned the rebuilt of cathedral and rather than buy material, he used that of churches of Basilian churches of Ninfa; the proofs are the epigraph in Greek language in the cathedral of Sermoneta(Fig.12a), lozenges(Fig.4) of cathedral that are specular to those of Valvisciolo(Figs.2-3), and in epigraph of Greek text is translatable a small part that says:..θασσω that is place; may the original indication to monks to indicate the position in front of altar, in original church of Valvisciolo(Fig.1) whose plane is, I repeat, regular on quadrat, as plane of Saint Sophie(Fig.1a) and other byzantine church(Fig.1b) Rebuilt of campanile of church of Saint Mary(fig.13) has same external facing of principal tower of Caetani in the castle in Sermoneta(fig.14), called maschio. Furthemore we must consider that capitals of cathedral of Sermoneta(Figs.18-19), are very similar to capitals of Byzantine churches of Ravenna(Figs.16-17, 20), it attestes the byzantine origin of model, and one structural element, whose today is very hide to vision of internal of church, because are alone some fragment(Figs.21-22a), but throught attention we can consider that during past century, before open chapels, long side navals, two arches allowed access to church, therefore this church, in origin was a centrale nave, that after on sides is enlarged for chapels, but these fragment arches are document of two access that, were destroied for built of chapels, and the access is backed away. This double accessis directly copied by architect Francesco da Volterra(1535-1594) in the church of Saint Mary of Grazie(Figs.23-24), that in 1581 was in Ninfa as guest of Onorato 4^th Caetani, and he worked also other progect, to church of Saint Mary of Mountains, today no visitable; but da Volterra has took idea of medieval double access of church of Saint Mary and has translated to this church.Other document of this Byzantine origin of this church, is topographical name of street where is this built; the name is Via Val Pagana, this is Pagan street, that if we consider it alone, is instinctive judge: “I don’t give damn”, it is name as other, but it is so? No certainly, it is attests from Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange(1610-1688), that written a dictionary of last Latin language, the last Latin that has changed often the mean of words, but it seems that to this substantive is same, because the word Pagus is: “Part in the region, and in region to towns, so towns in villages, city and how we called countries”, it is alone and would stay alone a small notation of last Latin language, if we not consider that during 8^th century Sermoneta was depopulated and only this church was a human presence, and this land about this church, today populated, but at the time only monks were presence, and certainly not much, because a clarification about word of “pagus” is important, because other acceptation, this is “Part in the region”, this region is Basilian region, because, after I have said that diffusion of this order in land of Sermoneta was very important, thereupon the Basilian presence represented a land that they called region; therefore the Pagan street is originally from pagus, as ecclesiastical region.