L'église du Crocefisso del Tufo est un lieu de culte troglodyte creusé dans la falaise nord d'Orvieto, située en contrebas de l'église San Giovenale.
L'église rupestre du Crociffiso del Tufo est datée du Vie siècle (v. Pacetti c., L'antica chiesa.
Histoire[]
L'église remonterait, selon C. Pacetti, au VIe siècle.
This chapel, which was cut into the rock, is named for the crucifix carved into the tufa on what is now the altar wall. Riccardo Mancini rediscovered it in the 19th century, during his excavation of the nearby necropolis of the Crocifisso del Tufo, which was named for it. The windows are now covered, but you can look through gaps to glimpse this crucifix. An inscription inside records the somewhat fanciful story of the foundation of the chapel. Apparently, a (presumably Byzantine soldier) called Florianus, who was in Orvieto at the time of Totila (presumably after the final defeat of the Goths in 554, when the city returned to Byzantine control) was unjustly accused of theft and murder. He jumped from the cliff here, praying to a crucifix that he wore, and miraculously escaped harm. His innocence thereby established, he is said to have carved this image in the rock in thanks. In fact, scholars generally ascribe the crucifix and hence the chapel to the 16th century. It was documented in 1615 and, according to a second inscription, was restored in the 18th century. It belongs to San Giovenale, which stands on the cliff edge above, and is occasionally open for worship.
Occurrences[]
Etudes[]
- Paccetti C., L'antica chisa di S. Giovenale in Orvieto, Rome, s.d.