Vision of the Madonna dei Bambini by Giuseppe Sciuti
An aedicule recalling the site where Agatha of Sicily fa, was erected by bishop St Everio some 13 years after her death in 264. A church at this site was putatively established by bishop San Severino between 380 and 436, making it among the oldest churches in the city. Enlarged circa 777, the church served as Catania's cathedral for eight centuries, until replaced by the new Sant'Agata Cathedral at the eastern edge of the city, thus the suffix la vetere given to this church.[1]
It is putatively sited at the site where Saint Agatha was placed on trial. Her relics were supposed brought here in the 8th century, when the area was used for burials. It is said the Byzantine general George Maniakes brought her relics to Constantinople in 1040, during his raid to reconquer what was then the Emirate of Sicily. Putatively they were returned in 1026,[2] though as typical for many saint relics, multiple pieces of her body are claimed by various churches in Europe.[3]
Since the start of the 17th-century the church was assigned to the Franciscan order, who built an adjacent convent. It stood surrounded on three sides by the 16th-century city walls. In 1818, an earthquake caused the roof to collapse. The small church present now was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake, with traces of the ancient Roman substructures in the crypt. The church houses the putative sarcophagus of Saint Agatha with Roman marble and Byzantine stone additions. Now used as an altar, it once housed the relics of the saint.[4]
The exterior is sparse and sober, with a broken pediment over the portal. The interior contains an altarapiece by Giuseppe Sciuti.
^Agata: la martire dalla tradizione greca manoscritta, by Maria Stelladoro, page 72-80.
^Sant'Agata la Patrona di Catania, by Oriana Abate.
^Visit Catania website, entry on Sant'Agata la Vetere
February 06, 2023
sant, agata, vetere, catania, coordinates, 507000, 083472, 507000, 083472, sant, agata, vetere, roman, catholic, church, located, piazza, same, name, along, santa, maddalena, catania, sicily, southern, italy, east, church, nearby, facing, other, direction, oth. Coordinates 37 30 25 2 N 15 5 00 5 E 37 507000 N 15 083472 E 37 507000 15 083472 Sant Agata la Vetere is a Roman Catholic church located in the piazza of the same name along via Santa Maddalena in Catania Sicily southern Italy East of church and nearby but facing in the other direction are two other churches venerating St Agatha of Sicily the church of Sant Agata al Carcere and two blocks east on Piazza Stesicoro is Sant Agata alla Fornace now known San Biagio Facade of churchHistory and description Edit Vision of the Madonna dei Bambini by Giuseppe Sciuti An aedicule recalling the site where Agatha of Sicily fa was erected by bishop St Everio some 13 years after her death in 264 A church at this site was putatively established by bishop San Severino between 380 and 436 making it among the oldest churches in the city Enlarged circa 777 the church served as Catania s cathedral for eight centuries until replaced by the new Sant Agata Cathedral at the eastern edge of the city thus the suffix la vetere given to this church 1 It is putatively sited at the site where Saint Agatha was placed on trial Her relics were supposed brought here in the 8th century when the area was used for burials It is said the Byzantine general George Maniakes brought her relics to Constantinople in 1040 during his raid to reconquer what was then the Emirate of Sicily Putatively they were returned in 1026 2 though as typical for many saint relics multiple pieces of her body are claimed by various churches in Europe 3 Since the start of the 17th century the church was assigned to the Franciscan order who built an adjacent convent It stood surrounded on three sides by the 16th century city walls In 1818 an earthquake caused the roof to collapse The small church present now was rebuilt after the 1693 earthquake with traces of the ancient Roman substructures in the crypt The church houses the putative sarcophagus of Saint Agatha with Roman marble and Byzantine stone additions Now used as an altar it once housed the relics of the saint 4 The exterior is sparse and sober with a broken pediment over the portal The interior contains an altarapiece by Giuseppe Sciuti References Edit Comune of Catania entry on church Agata la martire dalla tradizione greca manoscritta by Maria Stelladoro page 72 80 Sant Agata la Patrona di Catania by Oriana Abate Visit Catania website entry on Sant Agata la Vetere Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Sant 27Agata la Vetere Catania amp oldid 1036986948, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
