CHURCH OF SANT’ANTONIO ABATE

HISTORICAL NOTES AND DESCRIPTION

In the historic center of Vitorchiano, in Piazza Roma on the east side, stands the Church of Sant’Antonio Abate, with a quadrilateral shape and a single nave. The church was founded in 1406 with the approval of the “Chapter of the Canons of St. John” and with the authorization, by the same Chapter, to build bell towers, cemetery, altar, baptismal font and the right to elect chaplain and Rector. In 1568 the cult building was entrusted to the “Confraternity of Mercy”, following the “Confraternity of S. Antonio”. Currently the church is the seat of the Confraternities of Vitorchiano, and houses the “Christs” in painted wood of the seventeenth century, that is to say the costumes and apparel of the brotherhoods that are carried in procession on the occasion of the most important religious celebrations. The church is accessed through a wooden portal with grooved jambs and architrave, flanked, on the left, by a small window with a grate. The façade is divided into two levels by a string course on which the following inscription is engraved: VIRGILIUS-FLAMINIUS-VI-D-RECTOR-ET-LATERAN-COMM-REST-MDLXXIX. In the center of the same there is a coat of arms. Above the string course, in the center of the façade, is a large rose window flanked at the top by two other coats of arms, including that of Vitorchiano.

Inside, leaning against the back wall, is an elevated altar shrine, which houses a canvas by an unknown artist depicting Sant’Antonio Abate, represented in monastic robes, holding the book of the Holy Scriptures in his left hand, and in the right the stick with a bell. On the cloak that covers it is the brooch in the shape of a cross. The aedicule is characterized by stucco pillars, on which are applied small paintings that hold ex voto in the shape of a heart, in silver. The pillars support a broken tympanum, in the center of which, surrounded by scrolls, is a small table depicting Christ Blessing, who has one hand raised as a sign of blessing, and in the other an open book, on which it is possible to read the sentence: EGO SUM IUX MUNDI. Below, on the lintel is the face of a winged putto. On the altar table is a tabernacle that takes up the lines of the aedicule in a stylized way.

Leaning against the left side wall, on the other hand, is a wooden pulpit painted in blue, from the 16th century, with the symbol of the Confraternity of the Gonfalone on the upper facade, in the center of the mirror. Next to it are the lanterns with rods, which parade alongside the wooden Christs carried in procession during the most important religious celebrations, including the one dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel. One is richly decorated at the ends by volutes, which have faces of cherubs in the center and in high relief, while at the top it is surmounted by a cross; the other two are richly decorated on the edges by scrolls that support the cross at the top. In the internal compartment, closed by glass plates, the candle is inserted.

In the center of the church the wooden Christs are exhibited. On the first, from the left, carried in procession by the Confraternity of Mercy, the body of Christ is well proportioned, has an accentuated musculature that contrasts with the outstretched features of the face, while the crown of thorns is comparable to a headdress. It is inscribed in a rhomboid structure decorated with pink flowers, also present on the extension of the arm of the cross. At the top the structure ends with a large tondo with the Eucharistic symbol in capital letters, on which, in turn, is a cross with flowers. A boat is depicted below.

The body of Christ of the crucifix in a central position, carried in procession by the Confraternity of the Gonfalone, is well proportioned, with rather prominent musculature. His face, very angular, has a thick pointed beard, while his hair, which is folded back in locks, falls over his shoulders. The crucifix is ​​inscribed in a rhomboidal structure decorated with white and yellow flowers, also present on the extension of the arm of the cross. On the latter runs a banner that reads MISERANDO ATQUE ELIGENDO, a phrase that belongs to the coat of arms chosen by Pope Francis. The coat of arms has a blue banner with a star, the lily and in the center, at the top, the Eucharistic symbol with the three nails of the Passion of Christ. Behind the banner are two decussed keys surmounted by the papal tiara.

The last crucifix, carried in procession by the Confraternity of SS. Rocco and Martino guards the body of Christ with the face framed by the beard, while his hair, gathered on the right side behind the neck, falls loose on the left. The drape that surrounds the hips ends on the right side with an articulated knot. It is inscribed in a rhomboid structure decorated with green flowers, also present on the extension of the arm of the cross. In the center of the arm there is a gilded paten on which is an open book with the Christological symbols of Alpha and Omega at the corners. Higher still is the reproduction of a small crucified Christ behind which is a green wheel. The Crucifixes underwent restorations between 2001-2002.

Finally, the counter-façade is divided into two levels by a string course, on which, in the center at the top, is the rose window. Next to the entrance door, on the ground, there is a bronze bell, while leaning against the wall is a peperino holy water stoup with a deep groove, which runs parallel to the edge with a semicircular section.

ESSENTIAL BIBLIOGRAPHY

Vitorchiano, il passato presente, edition edited by Fiorenzo Mascagna, historical research by Elide Vagnozzi, Stampa Arti Grafiche Artigiane 2005, p.52.

Picchetto F.- Pedrocchi A. M , scheda OA n. 12/ 00095553, 1977;

Picchetto F.- Pedrocchi A. M , scheda OA n. 12/ 00095564, 1977;

Picchetto F.- Pedrocchi A. M , scheda OA n. 12/ 00095565, 1977;

Picchetto F.- Pedrocchi A. M , scheda OA n. 12/ 00095566, 1977;

– Facebook page of Andrea Presutti Special thanks to Dr. Andrea Presutti for scientific advice and archival photographic material provided on Vitorchiano.