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The Chapel
of the Cross or of the relics
On the left of the altar of the Most Blessed Sacrament, behind a bronze
door that dates back to the year 1705, arises the Chapel of the Relics,
also called Chapel of the Holy Cross.
Originally the chapel was used as a sacristy, but at the beginning
of 1700 Archbishop Tiberio Muscettola, (1680-1708) was responsible for
transforming it into its present form, destined to receive the relics.
The chapel was definitely completed in 1791. Besides the various reliquaries
of martyrs and saints, on the marble altar is to be found a silver cross
in filigree which substitutes the one given by Frederick II (which is presently
kept in the museum) and which contains a most precious fragment of the
Cross of Christ. In former times this most venerated relic was solemnly
exposed on the altar of Saint Michael on some particular days of the liturgical
year (Good Friday, 3th May, 14th September) and during times of public calamity.
A great number of relics present in this chapel were brought from Rome
in 1615 by Mgr Annibale Serughi dei Gimnasi. Amongst the very many relics
of martyrs and saints worth mentioning are the relics of three martyr popes of the first centuries: Pope Alessandro I, martyred in 117, Pope Cornelio Romano martyred in 253 and finally Pope Felice I who was martyred in 274.
For every Christian this most precious chapel is a living testimony
of faith in Christ who, through the wood of the Cross, brought redemption
to humanity with the example of those who gave their lives for the same
faith: martyr in fact signifies testimony. |
