Draft:Priscus of Nocera

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia



Priscus of Nocera
The famous silver bust of San Prisco, preserved in the Diocesan Museum of the same name in Nocera Inferiore
Born3rd century
Died3rd century
Honored in
FeastMay 9th
PatronageNocera Inferiore and Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno.

Priscus of Nocera (Nuceria Alfaterna, 3rd century – Nuceria Alfaterna, 3rd century) was the first bishop of Nocera, patron saint of the city of Nocera Inferiore and of the diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno.

In the liturgical year its religious anniversary is May 9th, celebrated in Nocera Inferiore great celebrations, being his birthday a city holiday.

References in literature[edit]

Christian literature[edit]

The first author to write about San Priscus was the Italian bishop Saint Pontius Anicius Meropius Paolinus in his book Carme or Carmen, vol. XIX, who recalls how his cult was practiced in 405 in Nola, as well as in Nuceria Alfaterna. The testimony of the saint from Nolan is precious because it represents an ante quem term to date the life of Priscus.

Ponzio Anicio Meropio Paolino, "Fonte sacrata dies illuxerat illa beati
natalem Prisci referens, quem te Nola celebrat
quamvis ille alia nucerinus Episcopus
Urbe sederit.
" [Carme XIX], Carme XIX (in Italian), vol. 515–518

Another author who mentioned the life of Saint Prisco was saint Adonis of Vienne in one of his volumes, called the Martyrology.

Other authors[edit]

Giovanni Antonio Remondini also took up a very brief description of the holy bishop in one of his texts.

Giovanni Antonio Remondini (1751), "Della nolana Ecclesiastica storia" [Of the Nolan Ecclesiastical History], Splendea quel dì nella città di Nola
festivo a Prisco che pastor già resse
là dei pagani e picentin Nocera.
 (in Italian), vol. II, book III, Naples (Italy), p. 674

Finally we have a quote about San Prisco by the author Gennaro Orlando, in his book History of Nocera de' Pagani, where the figure of the holy bishop is also described.[1]

Critical authors[edit]

Vincenzo D'Avino in his book the Ecclesiastic's Encyclopedia, volume 3, even if he cites two authors who speak of the exploits of San Priscus, the first Saint Pontius Anicius Meropius Paolinus and the second, more recent Ludovico Antonio Muratori famous presbyter, Italin historian, expressly states that there is no certain prood of his life.[2][3][4]

Miracles[edit]

The Roman fountain, believed to be a gift from the pontiff to the bishop.

Popular tradition ascribes many miracles to the saint.

Accused of heresy[5] for having celebrated mass at dawn in solitude, he was taken while still wearing cassocks and forced to go to Rome to clear his name in front of the Pope. Having nothing to offer as a gift to the pontiff, he convinced some geese to follow him to Lazio to make a gift to Peter's successor.

Roman marble basin or basin, believed to be a gift from the Pope to Bishop Priscus (1st century AD).

Angels appeared in front of the Pope who totally exonerated him. Impressed by this miracle, the pontiff gave Priscus a large marble fountain which the saint transported to Nocera with the sole aid of two vaccarelle (cows).[6] Furthermore, to satisfy the needs of his thirsty companions, the saint made a doe appear out of nowhere who quenched their thirst with her own milk, heating them with burning embers that she had kept under her tunic.

Close to death, he decided to lie down in the same tomb that welcomed his sisters, asking their skeletons to move to make room for him, a wish which was granted.[7]

Finally, the miracle of the separation of the split mountain, a pass (probably Roman work) located on the border between the municipalities of Nocera Inferiore and Castel San Giorgio, as reported in the first volume of the historical novel by Andrea Calenda di Tavani, entitled: ''Ramondello Orsino, storia napoletana del Trecento''.[8][9]

Cult[edit]

He was initially buried in a tuff tomb in one of the necropolises of Nuceria Alfaterna; his body, the object of growing popular attention, which later became devotion, was moved just west of the ancient city, to an area that would take the name of vescovado, initially to a Benedictine abbey. With the restoration of the diocese in 1386 the abbey church was elevated to the rank of cathedral.

The archaeological research that has taken place inside the Cathedral of Nocera Inferiore has once again made entirely visible the place in which the saint's remains were buried together with those of his two sisters Marzia and Marina, also venerated as saints. The strigilated sarcophagus refers to examples from the 3rd-4th century. The osteological data are pertinent to an elderly and large man.

In addition to the diocese of Nocerina, the cult of San Prisco is also reserved for Sant'Agnello, a municipality on the Sorrento coast where in 1827 a church dedicated to Saints Prisco and Agnello of Naples was consecrated.

Some relics of the sisters of San Prisco are also preserved in a chapel in the crypt of the Salerno cathedral. They were placed there in the Middle Ages by Bishop Alfano I.

The patronal feast is on May 9th.[10]

Facade of the Cathedral Basilica of San Prisco, Cathedral of Nocera Inferiore (SA).

Cathedral Basilica San Prisco[edit]

History of the religious complex[edit]

The Cathedral Basilica of San Prisco is a cathedral that stands in the current city of Nocera Inferiore, (formerly Nocera de' Pagani).

Before the construction of the cathedral, there was a church, where the faithful of Nocera gathered for functions. It was built following the disappearance of San Prisco, who died near the church of San Filippo alle Macerie (formerly located outside the city walls).

In the 12th century, the Benedictine monks had the modern monastery and the adjoining church dedicated to the saint built there.[11]

The monastery was elevated to a cathedral by Pope Urban VI in 1385, so the entire religious complex was transformed into a bishopric.

Strigilated sarcophagus of San Prisco (2nd-3rd century AD).

Chapel dedicated to San Prisco[edit]

Inside the cathedral there is a chapel dedicated to the patron saint, furthermore there is a stone sarcophagus containing his remains.

Martyrium of San Prisco[edit]

The Martyrium of San Prisco was discovered in recent times, under the main apse of the cathedral. The Martyrium of Saint Priscus is in the shape of a semi-annular crypt.[12]

Museum of San Prisco In Nocera Inferiore[edit]

The opening of the diocesan museum dedicated to the saint[edit]

The diocesan museum dedicated to San Prisco di Nocera was opened on the initiative of the then bishop of Agro-Nocerino-Sarnese Gioacchino Illiano in 2008, to enhance and preserve the works of art of the area.

The museum is located in a wing of the Diocesan Seminary of Nocera, a structure that is part of the current offices of the Curia.

In the museum there are various finds from the countryside of valuable artistic and cultural value and also the famous silver bust, with gilded parts and containing precious stones of San Prisco, created around 1771 by the artist Savero Manzone at the behest of the then bishop of Nocera de' Pagani Benedetto dei Monti Sanfelice (in ancient times Nocera was a single municipality until the definitive division of the two cities occurred in 1851).[13][14]

The restoration of the silver bust of San Prisco[edit]

After several months of restoration of three works: the bust of San Prisco, the canvas of the Coronation of Santa Rosa da Lima and the wooden statue of the Virgin of Sorrows, they return to the diocesan museum to be exhibited to the public again,[15] during the evening of 13 September 2019 the restorations were presented at the museum during an evening event.[16][17][18]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Prisco di Nocera.

Bibliography[edit]

Archival sources[edit]

Historical sources[edit]

  • Adonis from Vienna. Le martyrologe d'Adon ses deux familles, ses trois recensions: texte et commentaire [The martyrology of Adon, his two families, his three recensions: text and commentary] (in Latin).
  • Lucio Baldini (1562). Vita Sancti Prisci Episcopi [Life of Saint Priscius, Bishop] (in Latin). Naples (NA).
  • Paolo Regio (1593). Dell'opere spirituali [Of spiritual works] (in Italian). Vico Equense (SA).
  • Paolo Regio (1883). Vita di san Prisco — vescovo e confessore [Life of Saint Priscus — bishop and confessor] (in Italian) (2nd ed.). Naples (NA).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Vincenzio Davino (1878). Cav. Pietro Marietti (ed.). Enciclopedia dell 'ecclesiastico [Ecclesiastic's Encyclopedia] (in Italian). Vol. 3. pp. 433 and 434. San Prisco was the first bishop of the city of Nocera dè Pagani but, there is no certain and reliable information on his life and his origins, the only historian to talk about it is San Paolino da Nola.
  • Gennaro Orlando (1884). Storia di Nocera de' Pagani [History of Nocera de' Pagani] (in Italian). Vol. 1. Naples (NA): Tocco.
  • Mario Vassalluzzo (1994). In Cammino (ed.). S. Prisco e successori nella plurimillenaria Chiesa Nocerina [S. Prisco and successors in the thousand-year-old Nocerina Church] (in Italian). In Cammino.
  • Roberto Farruggio (2007). Editrice Gaia (ed.). Sulle orme dello spirito santo. Nel bimillenariocammino della chiesa priscana [In the footsteps of the holy spirit. In the two thousand year journey of the Priscan church] (in Italian). Editrice Gaia. ISBN 9788889821121.
  • Carmine Citarella; Mario Vassalluzzo (2011). Priscana — raccolta delle conferenze per le giornate priscane 2000-2011, Diocesi di Nocera Inferiore-Sarno [Priscana — collection of conferences for the Priscana days 2000-2011, Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno] (in Italian) (Bollettino Diocesano ed.). Nocera Inferiore (SA).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  • Il restauro della statua di San Prisco Vescovo. Cenni storici sulla vita del Santo (May 2012). Franco Gargiulo (ed.). Il restauro della statua di San Prisco vescovo. Cenni storici sulla vita del santo [The restoration of the statue of San Prisco Bishop. Historical notes on the life of the Saint] (in Italian). N. Longobardi. ISBN 9788880903994.
  • Agostino Russo; Egidio Valcaccia; Alessandra Cacace; Franco Gargiulo (May 2012). Franco Gargiulo (ed.). Il restauro della statua di San Prisco vescovo cenni storici sulla vita del santo [The restoration of the statue of San Prisco bishop historical notes on the life of the saint] (in Italian). N. Longobardi. ISBN 9788880903994.
  • Gennaro Zurolo (2013). Vita di San Prisco. Primo Vescovo della città di Nocera (alla luce di documenti inediti del XVI secolo) [Life of Saint Priscus. First Bishop of the city of Nocera (in light of unpublished documents from the 16th century)] (in Italian). Angri (SA): Onlus PanacèA.
  • Antonio Braca; Vincenzo Piccolo (2023). La Cattedrale di San Prisco in Nocera Inferiore [The Cathedral of San Prisco in Nocera Inferiore] (in Italian). ISBN 9788894503616.

Historical novels[edit]

Exernals links[edit]

Officials sites[edit]

  • Staff of DIOCESI DI NOCERA INFERIORE-SARNO; Don Roberto Farruggio (2007). "San Prisco" [Saint Prisco]. DIOCESI DI NOCERA INFERIORE-SARNO (in Italian). Retrieved February 27, 2024. Saint Prisco-Bishop and Confessor-Main patron of the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno.
  • Staff of storienapoli.it; Roberto Iossa (October 22, 2022). "SAN PRISCO-PATRONO DI NOCERA INFERIORE" [SAINT PRISCO-PATRON OF NOCERA INFERIORE]. storienapoli.it (in Italian). Retrieved March 1, 2024. The life of San Prisco, between doubts, faith and miracles.
  • Staff of SANPRISCO.NET; Domenico Palmiero. "SAN PRISCO VESCOVO E MARTIRE" [SAINT PRISCO BISHOP AND MARTYR]. SANPRISCO.NET (in Italian). Retrieved March 1, 2024. The tradition in Nocera Inferiore and the history of San Prisco.
  • Staff of DIOCESE OF NOCERA INFERIORE-SARNO (2 July 2019). "Visita il Museo San Prisco. Scopri i sui tesori" [Visit the Museum San Prisco. Discover its treasures]. DIOCESE OF NOCERA INFERIORE-SARNO (in Italian). Retrieved April 3, 2024. In the heart of the Vescovado quarter in Nocera Inferiore, on the ground floor of diocesan curia, stands the MUSEUM SAN PRISCO, a treasure trove of ART works of art of exceptional value: canvases, silvers, sacred vestments and historical relics.
  • Staff of Comune di Nocera Inferiore. "Luoghi di culto" [Places of worship]. Comune di Nocera Inferiore (in Italian). Retrieved April 21, 2024.
  • Staff of ASSOCIAZIONE MUSEI ECCLESIASTICI ITALIANI. "Museo diocesano "San Prisco" di Nocera Inferiore" [“San Prisco” diocesan museum of Nocera Inferiore]. ASSOCIAZIONE MUSEI ECCLESIASTICI ITALIANI. Retrieved April 24, 2024.

Others sites and news[edit]

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ Gennaro Orlando (1884). Storia di Nocera de' Pagani [History of Nocera de' Pagani] (in Italian). Vol. 1. Naples (NA): Tocco. p. 210.
  2. ^ Bonaventura of Sorrento (1877). "9.━S.Prisco Vesc.━" [9.━S.Prisco Vesc.━]. In Tipografia all'insegna di S. Francesco d'Assisi (ed.). Sorrento Sorrento sacra e Sorrento illustre. Epitome della storia sorrentina pel p. Bonaventura da Sorrento [Sorrento Sacred Sorrento and illustrious Sorrento. Epitome of Sorrento history for p. Bonaventure of Sorrento] (in Italian). Sorrento (SA). p. 67. Everything about this Saint is obscure, except two things. 1st that he was bishop of Nocera; 2nd that his cult was admirably expanded in the 4th and 5th centuries. All this can be gleaned from St. Paulinus, Bishop of Nola, who sings thus in the Carm. IX. And Muratori (Anecdot V.I.), commenting on this poem, says that St. Priscus can be happy with such a solid document in favor of his cult. Furthermore, the era of his Bishopric is unknown, which Ughelli reports as up to the 1st century; others then make him a martyr, according to Ughelli and some other moderns. {{cite book}}: line feed character in |quote= at position 256 (help)CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Vincenzio Davino (1878). Cav. Pietro Marietti (ed.). Enciclopedia dell'ecclesiastico [Ecclesiastic's Encyclopedia] (in Italian). Vol. 3. pp. 433 and 434. The first bishop of Nocera de' Pagani was San Prisco. If he were truly sent there by the prince of the apostles or by some of his disciples; to have placed its primacy in the first century of the Christian era or somewhat later; what things his written life had to do, lacking authenticity, we cannot say with certainty: but that San Prisco was bishop of Nocera, the most indisputable monument comes from San Paolino I, bishop of Nola, who at the beginning of fifth century had the singing of San Prisco: Forte sacrata dies illuvera! illa blessed Natalem Prisci referens, here Nolam celebrated; Quatuvis ille alia nucerinus episcopus urbe Sederit. Which verses glossing the very clear Muratori wrote: Ego nucerinis gratulor, quod illustrem ante tot saneti episcopi memoriam e tenebris primus eruerim. Quam enim celebris illem fuit, euius suatalilius dies non nucerinae modo, sed in aliis urbibus Paulini tempore celebatur.
  4. ^ Staff of SANPRISCO.NET; Domenico Palmiero (October 22, 2022). "SAN PRISCO VESCOVO E MARTIRE" [SAINT PRISCO BISHOP AND MARTYR]. SANPRISCO.NET (in Italian). Retrieved March 1, 2024. As there is no certain proof of the existence of a Capuan Prisco. some scholars have identified the saint celebrated on September 1st with San Prisco of Nocera, expressly described by San Paolino in one of his poems. This interpretation is considered certain by eminent scholars such as Hippolyte Delehaye, Francesco Lanzoni, Louis Jadin and Stephen Alan Bourque: an interpretation which is based on the canon according to which the existence of no martyr saint can be accepted if it is not based on certain documents.
  5. ^ Bonaventura da Sorrento (1877). "9.━S.Prisco Vesc.━" [9.━S.Prisco Vesc.━]. In Tipografia all'insegna di S. Francesco d'Assisi (ed.). Sorrento Sorrento sacra e Sorrento illustre. Epitome della storia sorrentina pel p. Bonaventura da Sorrento [Sorrento Sacred Sorrento and illustrious Sorrento. Epitome of Sorrento history for p. Bonaventure of Sorrento] (in Italian). Sorrento (SA). p. 67. There is a legend around him from Paolo Regio Vesc. Di Vico, (Vol. 2. of the Lives of the Saints of Naples), which narrates many sensational events that occurred on his journey to and from Rome, where he was accused by malicious people.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Raffaele Ferrentino (July 3, 2003). "San Prisco di Nocera Vescovo-16 settembre" [San Prisco di Nocera Bishop-16 September]. SANTI, BEATI E TESTIMONI (in Italian). Retrieved February 28, 2024. The miracle of San Prisco in front of the pontiff.
  7. ^ Bishop Paolo Regio da Vico Equense; et al. (Giuseppe Cacchi) (1587). At Giuseppe Cacchi (ed.). Libro secondo delle vite de i santi. Descritte da monsig. Paolo Regio, vescouo di Vico Equense. Nel quale si contengono i gloriosi gesti de i beati apostoli, S. Andrea, S. Matteo, S. Bartolomeo, et S. Tommaso. Con le inuentioni, et traslationi delle loro sacre reliquie, fatte in diuersi tempi et luoghi. Et co' i loro miracoli continuamente operati .. · Volume 2 [Second book of the lives of the saints. Described by Monsignor Paolo Regio, bishop of Vico Equense. In which are contained the glorious gestures of the blessed apostles, St. Andrew, St. Matthew, St. Bartholomew, and St. Thomas. With the donations and translations of their sacred relics, made in different times and places. And with their miracles continually worked .. · Volume 2] (in Italian). Vol. 2. appresso Gioseppe Cacchi.
  8. ^ Andrea Calenda di Tavani (1886). Valdemaro Vecchi (ed.). Ramondello Orsino, storia napoletana del Trecento [Ramondello Orsino, Neapolitan history of the fourteenth century]. Vol. I. Trani (BT).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ Gennaro Zurolo (2013). "Al Reverendo e Nobile Signore Giovanni Leonardo da Airola da Nocera, Vicario del Reverendissimo Signore D. Giulio Iovij Comenis, Degnissimo Vescovo di Nocera e di tutto il Clero Nocerino. Frate Lucio Baldini Nocerino Teologo Francescano S.D." [To the Reverend and Noble Lord Giovanni Leonardo da Airola da Nocera, Vicar of the Most Reverend Lord D. Giulio Iovij Comenis, Most Worthy Bishop of Nocera and of all the Nocerino Clergy. Friar Lucio Baldini Nocerino Franciscan Theologian S.D.]. Vita di San Prisco. Primo Vescovo della città di Nocera (alla luce di documenti inediti del XVI secolo) [Life of Saint Priscus. First Bishop of the city of Nocera (in light of unpublished documents from the 16th century)]. Angri (SA): Onlus PanacèA. pp. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. The life, works, death and cult of San Prisco of Nocera.
  10. ^ Staff of Comune di Nocera Inferiore. "Luoghi di culto" [Places of worship]. Comune di Nocera Inferiore (in Italian). Retrieved April 21, 2024. Although the Roman martyrology proposes the celebration of San Prisco as the date of 16 September, the celebrations for the patron saint of Nocera Inferiore take place on 9 May.
  11. ^ Staff of GIUBILE DELLA MISERICORDIA. "Cathedral Basilica San Prisco-Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno" [Cathedral Basilica San Prisco-Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno]. GIUBILE DELLA MISERICORDIA-MISERICORDIOSI COME IL PADRE-PONTIFICIO CONSIGLIO PER LA PROMOZIONE DELLA NUOVA EVANGELIZZAZIONE (in Italian). Retrieved April 22, 2024. The Vescovado complex stands on the site of the ancient church of San Prisco because, even before the construction of the cathedral church, the memory of the first bishop of the Nocerina diocese existed in that place, certainly linked to the presence of the saint's burial in the nearby necropolis of the extramoenia church of San Filippo alle Macerie; in fact, when the Benedictine monks settled in this place to build their home, they dedicated the monastery to the bishop of Nocerino.
  12. ^ Antonio Braca; Vincenzo Piccolo (2023). A&M, Franco Alfano (ed.). La Cattedrale di San Prisco in Nocera Inferiore [The Cathedral of San Prisco in Nocera Inferiore] (in Italian). ISBN 9788894503616.
  13. ^ Licia Crispini (May 8, 2021). "Nocera - San Prisco e il Museo Diocesano: il connubio perfetto tra arte e religione" [Nocera - San Prisco and the Diocesan Museum: the perfect combination of art and religion]. Il Quotidiano online (in Italian). The opening of the diocesan museum dedicated to the figure of the patron saint of Nocera Inferiore, which took place in 2008, by Msgr. Gioacchino Illiano. The museum was dedicated to San Prisco and inside there are various religious treasures from the Agro-Nocerino-Sarnese valley.
  14. ^ Staff of ASSOCIAZIONE MUSEI ECCLESIASTICI ITALIANI. "Museo diocesano "San Prisco" di Nocera Inferiore" [“San Prisco” diocesan museum of Nocera Inferiore]. ASSOCIAZIONE MUSEI ECCLESIASTICI ITALIANI. Retrieved April 24, 2024. The San Prisco Museum was founded in 2008 in Nocera Inferiore, in a wing of the bishop's residence, containing various artefacts from the early Christian era.
  15. ^ Staff of INPRIMANEWS-direttore nello ferrigno (September 14, 2022). "Arte, bellezza e fede. Svelati i tesori del museo diocesano San Prisco a Nocera Inferiore-Un meticoloso restauro ha ridato luce e colori al busto settecentesco del santo patrono, una tela del Solimena e una scultura lignea della Vergine Addolorata" [Art, beauty and faith. The treasures of the San Prisco diocesan museum in Nocera Inferiore have been revealed - a meticulous restoration has restored light and color to the eighteenth-century bust of the patron saint, a canvas by Solimena and a wooden sculpture of the Virgin of Sorrows]. INPRIMANEWS-direttore nello ferrigno (in Italian). Retrieved April 2, 2024. After several months of restoration of three works: the bust of San Prisco, the canvas of the Coronation of Santa Rosa da Lima and the wooden statue of the Virgin of Sorrows, they return to the diocesan museum to be exhibited to the public again.
  16. ^ Agostino Russo; Egidio Valcaccia; Alessandra Cacace; Franco Gargiulo (May 2012). Franco Gargiulo (ed.). Il restauro della statua di San Prisco Vescovo. Cenni storici sulla vita del Santo [The restoration of the statue of San Prisco Bishop. Historical notes on the life of the Saint] (in Italian). N. Longobardi. ISBN 9788880903994.
  17. ^ Staff of storienapoli.it; Roberto Iossa (October 22, 2022). "SAN PRISCO-PATRONO DI NOCERA INFERIORE" [SAINT PRISCO-PATRON OF NOCERA INFERIORE]. storienapoli.it (in Italian). Retrieved March 1, 2024. The life of San Prisco, between doubts, faith and miracles.
  18. ^ Staff of the TVCITY (September 10, 2019). "Restaurato il busto d'argento di San Prisco e una tela di Solimena. La consegna al Museo diocesano di Nocera Inferiore" [The silver bust of San Prisco and a canvas by Solimena have been restored. Delivery to the Diocesan Museum of Nocera Inferiore]. TVCITY (in Italian). Retrieved April 3, 2024. During the evening of 13 September 2019 the restorations of the silver bust depicting San Prisco, the canvas "Coronation of Santa Rosa da Lima" by Angelo Solimena and the wooden sculpture of La Vergine Addolorata.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Draft:Priscus_of_Nocera&oldid=1226361256"