Church of Acquaformosa

San Giovanni Battista’s Church

Saint John the Baptist’s Church, Acquaformosa

The parish church, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, was built from 1500 to 1526 by refugees from Albania. It was rebuilt between 1936 and 1938. With three naves, almost entirely covered by a wonderful gold mosaic, project of 1989 wanted by the late Papàs Vincenzo Matrangolo. The external facade has in the center the entrance preceded by the protrum above which the rose window gives light to the central nave. It was declared a national monument in 1939.

Historical Background

The arrival of the Albanians in Italy coincides with two serious historical events for Rome Church:

– The schism of the East with the Orthodox Church of Constantinople (sec. XI);

– The Western schism with the German Church (sec. XVI), headed by the Augustinian monk Martin Luther.

Saint John the Baptist’s Church and its Mosaics

The parish church

In the church of San Giovanni Battista we can find evident elements of the Romanesque architecture that inspired the designer. The rhythmic articulation of both the support structures and those supported, the complex organization of the masses and spaces gives a sense of robustness. That was accentuated by the presence of pilasters and buttresses, thats make the mother church of Acquaformosa a splendid example of the Romanesque of southern Italy.

Chapel of the Conception

Immaculate Conception’s church was built between the end of the fifteenth and the beginning of the sixteenth century, and was the first oratory of the Albanians who came to Acquaformosa. On the central wall and on the right wall there are frescoes dating back to the early 1500s. The wooden ceiling of the seventeenth century is finely painted. In the chapel there are 17 relics of the Monastery of Santa Maria di Lucio.

The Sanctuary of Mercy

It is the most recent of the churches of Acquaformosa. In 2020, a cycle of wall paintings with scenes from the New Testament, Apostles and Saints was created in the Sanctuary.

Madonna del Monte Sanctuary

At 1464 meters above sea level, in the woods, there is the S. Maria del Montes Church. Dating back to the period between the 8/10th centuries (period in which the iconoclastic fury of Leo I of the emperor ceased).

In Gothic style and example of rural religious building. This preserves a valuable bust of Madonna nursing with Child (stone sculpture of the eighteenth century, of unknown author)…

Religious Festivities of Acquaformosa Community

S. Francis of Paola’s day

It is celebrated on the first Sunday after Easter. The feast is preceded by a novena in honor of the Saint, while the evening before the solemn celebration takes place a fireworks display followed by the famous bonfires of Saint Francis, organized in different districts of the village, where between good food, songs and dances there is a joyful atmosphere of celebration. On the Sunday of the feast is celebrated the Liturgy and, subsequently, the statue of the Saint is carried in procession through the streets of the village where, on returning to the Church, finally fireworks mark the end of the celebrations.

Feast in honor of Madonna del Monte

The feast in honor of the Madonna del Monte, is celebrated on the last Sunday of July in the Shrine dedicated to her. A long procession passes through various mountain towns, until you arrive at the place where the statue in tuff of the Madonna nursing. In that place the pilgrims throw a stone as a guarantee of their return there and the whole day is dictated by celebration and joy for all the mountain resorts of Acquaformosa and Lungro. In ancient times, many pilgrims from the district followed a pilgrimage according to a fixed calendar. On the square of the sanctuary a large cattle market framed the festive air.

Our Lady of Mercy’s day

It is celebrated on the last Sunday of May and also on this occasion the great celebration is preceded by a novena. The latter takes place in a particular way, as it begins in the Parish Church and continues through a procession in the Church dedicated to Our Lady of Mercy herself (info Padre Raf.) for all nine days. A large fireworks display precedes the festive Sunday, which includes the celebration of the Holy Liturgy, after which the statue of the Virgin is carried in procession along the streets of the village, procession of course, is always accompanied by fireworks, then returns to the parish church where the statue is preserved.

Patron Saint John the Baptist

The days of August 28 and 29 are entirely dedicated to the festivities in honor of the Patron Saint of Acquaformosa: Saint John the Baptist. These feast days are preceded by a novena, which takes place in the afternoon in the charming parish church dedicated to the saint. On August 28, the day of the eve, it is celebrated with fireworks and live music, while on August 29 it proceeds with religious celebrations, in the morning the solemn Mass and, in the afternoon, there is a long procession along the streets of the old town, with the statue of the Saint accompanied by the faithful and the band. At dusk the statue returns to the church, accompanied by long applause and a fireworks display.

The Rite

One of the traditional aspects most jealously guarded by the Albanians in Italy is the religious one.
Even today, in most of the Italo-Albanian communities the Greek-Byzantine rite is still alive.

Characters of Acquaformosa

The most important person is Father Vincenzo Matrangolo

Papàs Matrangolo

Professore di teologia spirituale

Papàs Raffaele de Angelis

Parroco della Chiesa Acquaformosa

The project of Saint John Baptist’s Parish

The Nursing Home is part of the pastoral activities of the Parish and is located in via Roma, n. 40 in Acquaformosa (CS), it is administered directly by the Pastor and Director, Father Raffaele De Angelis.

The Saint John Baptist’s Parish, in the wide range of his experience and pastoral action, has always embraced all people in the various age groups and in the different moral and social issues. Thus we intend to represent “the caress of the Church to her people” and adopt a preferential option for and with the poor, the excluded or marginalized.

Through the services that the Nursing Home offers, the Parish aims to heal man, giving him hope, dignity, love, affection, respect, consideration, attention, space.