Lett9

LETTOMANOPPELLO

(Pg. 9)

MARIA SS DI COSTANTINOPOLI

Page 13 (Marcinelle)
Page 14 (Marcinelle)
Page 15 (people/places 2001)
Page 16 (people/places 2001)
Page 17 (people/places 2001)
Page 18 (people/places 2001)
Page 19 (people/places 2001)
Page 20 (sculpting school)
Page 21 (fonte)
Page 22 (old photos)
Page 23 (history)
Page 24 (street map)

Page 25 (people/places 2003)
Page 26 (new hotel - La Noce)
Page 27 (people/places 2003)
Page 28 (people/places 2003)
Page 29 (Nino Di Pietrantonio)
Page 30 (people/places 2003)
Page 31 (Anagrafe / Stato Civile)
Page 32 (people/places 2004)
Page 33 (people/places 2004)
Page 34 (people/places 2004)
Page 35 (Church of S. Nicola 2005)
Page 36 for future construction

Page 1 (history/photos)
Page 2 (history/photos)
Page 3 (history/photos)
Page 4 (photos)
Page 5 (photos)
Page 6 (photos)
Page 7 (photos: festa)
Page 8 (stone-sculpting)
Page 9 (Iconicella)
Page 10 (people/places)
Page 11 (people/places)
Page 12 (festa 2000)

The Sanctuary of the Little Icon--Santuario dell'Iconicella--just above Lettomanoppello on via Passolanciano, ascending the mountain. This is where the statue of Maria SS. di Costantinopoli is kept. According to tradition, centuries ago a group of Lettesi stonecutters was sent to Constantinople to help in the restoration of several buildings, including the Santa Sofia. In recognition of their work, they were given a small byzantine icon of the Virgin Mary, which they took home with them, and which was venerated by the Lettese people ever after.

In 1799 the icon, which did in fact exist, was destroyed by French troops during fighting in the area. The name of the santuary still carries the memory of the little icon, and the Neapolitan-school statue of Maria SS. di Costantinopoli, known locally as "the Madonna of la Cunicelle," has continued to be an object of much veneration. She has traditionally been very special to the Lettesi, as can be seen in the dialect verse on Stories Pg. 3 of this website.

Above left is the interior of the Santuario dell'Iconicella and above right is the statue of Maria SS. di Costantinopoli as they appeared in the 1940's, just after World War II. In 1947 a committee was formed in Lettomanoppello to organize a special festa for Maria SS. di Costantinopoli, in gratitude for the protection she had provided the town during the war. In a notice sent out to emigrant Lettesi abroad, the committee described a little of what the war had meant for the people of Lettomanoppello and the vicinity:

"During the long and terrible storm of war and the occupation of our native land by the Germans, Lettomanoppello could not be saved from the painful fate of evacuation, pillage and destruction that befell many towns in Abruzzo. From October 1943 to June 1944 we were forced to live in the midst of serious danger, with the enemy in our house, but we never lost our faith. The Germans requisitioned houses and food, driving families out of their homes with threats of death; soldiers raided farmhouses in the coutryside; families were intimidated to turn over all their cattle in order to provide banquets for German officials. The sky was furrowed with airplanes carrying loads of bombs that rained down, often without exploding, almost in the center of the town. But the Sanctuary of Maria SS. di Costantinopoli was there on the hill, protecting from much of the danger our families, who are the relatives of you Lettesi who are so far away. After the Germans retreated, there were many pilgrims who came from all parts of Abruzzo to give thanks to Maria SS. di Costantinopoli. And now the committee, with the help of all the citizens of Lettomanoppello at home and abroad, has decided to offer to Maria SS. di Costantinopoli in the Santuario dell'Iconicella, during a solemn religious festa, a silver crown, as a sign of gratitude for her protection during the war that raged so furiously in our paese."

The parents of Costantino Conte, who is a frequent contributor to this website, were among the emigrant Lettesi in the U.S. who received this notice. His mother, Loreta Di Pietrantonio, sent fabric to Lettomanoppello, for a new dress for the Madonna. Her sister-in-law in Lettomanoppello, Arcangiolina Conte, and Arcangiolina's daughter Nunziatina, made the Madonna's new dress from this fabric--yet another illustration of the strong bond between the emigrants and their paese and the relatives and traditions they had been forced to leave behind.

The interior of the sanctuary and the statue of Maria SS. di Costantinopoli in 1999.

The statue being brought out of the sanctuary for a procession. Maria SS. di Costantinopoli's feast day is Easter Monday, but there are processions for her during the October festa di quatro giorni.

Below are the lyrics of a song about the Madonna di Costantinopoli, taken from an old recording provided by Costantino Conte. The song takes the form of a two part prayer to the Madonna. Each part can stand alone as a separate song. It is interesting that in the second part there is a verse remembering the emigranti, those who left for foreign lands.

If you would like to download complete MP3 versions of both parts of the song, CLICK HERE.

MADONNA DI COSTANTINOPOLI

Part 1

Madona bella di Costantinopoli,
Sono venuto a ti trova,
Sono venuto a ti trova.
Se son en casa o della via,
Sempre Maria, volio prega,
Sempre Maria, volio prega.

Sono venuto di lunga via,
Madonna mia, prega per me,
Madonna mia, prega per me.
E son entrata nel la capella,
Virgine bella, prega per me,
Virgine bella, prega per me.

Madonna bella di Costantinopoli,
Sono venuto a ti prega,
Sono venuto a ti prega.
Se son en casa o della via,
Sempre Maria, volio prega,
Sempre Maria, volio prega.

Chiedo una grazzia, madre Maria,
Il filio mio fammi sanar,
Il filio mio fammi sanar.
Coprici tutti col tuo mantello,
Vergine bella, prega per me,
Vergine bella, prega per me.

Madonna bella di Costantinopoli,
sono venuto a ti trova.
Sono venuto a ti trova.
Se son in casa o per la via,
Madonna mia, prega per me.
Madonna mia, prega per me.
Madonna mia, prega per me.

Beautiful Madonna of Costantinople,
I come to visit you,
I come to visit you.
Whether at home or on the way,
Always Maria I want to pray,
Always Maria I want to pray.

I come a long way,
My Madonna pray for me,
My Madonna pray for me.
I have entered into the chapel,
Beautiful virgin pray for me,
Beautiful virgin pray for me.

Beautiful Madonna of Costantinople,
I come to pray to you,
I come to pray to you.
Whether at home or on the way,
Always Maria I want to pray,
Always Maria I want to pray.

I ask a favor, Mother Maria,
To help my son get well,
To help my son get well.
Cover him with your cloak,
Beautiful virgin, pray for me,
Beautiful virgin, pray for me.

Beautiful Madonna of Constantinople,
I come to visit you,
I come to visit you.
Whether at home or on the way,
My Madonna, pray for me,
My Madonna, pray for me,
My Madonna, pray for me.

Part 2

Madonna bella di Costantinopoli,
Sono venuto a ti prega,
Sono venuto a ti prega.
Io sono venuto e menne vada via,
Madonna mia, nu mi lassa,
Madonna mia, nu mi lassa.

Al'emigranti che son luntani,
Daci na mano, pensarci tu,
Daci na mano, pensarci tu.
A casa loro fali tornare,
Ed abbracciare chi gli e lontan,
Ed abbracciare chi gli e lontan.

Madonna bella di Costantinopoli,
Sono venuto a ti prega,
Sono venuto a ti prega.
Io sono venuto e menne vada via,
Madonna mia, nu mi lassa.
Madonna mia, nu mi lassa.

E stati buona Madonna mia,
E lunga via vai lassa,
E lunga via vai lassa.
Tu ma compagni per questa via,
Madonna mia, prega per me,
Madonna mia, prega per me.

Madonna bella di Costantinopoli,
Sono venuto a ti prega,
Sono venuto a ti prega.
Io son venuto e menne andava via,
Madonna mia, nu mi lassa,
Madonna mia, nu mi lassa,
Madonna mia, nu mi lassa.

Beautiful Madonna of Costantinople,
I come to pray to you,
I come to pray to you.
I am coming, lead the way,
My Madonna never leave me,
My Madonna never leave me.

To the emigrants who are so far away
Give them your hand, think of them,
Give them your hand, think of them.
To their home help them return,
And embrace those who are far away,
And embrace those who are far away.

Beautiful Madonna of Costantinople,
I come to pray to you,
I come to pray to you.
I am coming, lead the way.
My Madonna, never leave me,
My Madonna, never leave me.

Be well my Madonna,
It is a long way I must go,
It is a long way I must go.
Accompany me on this way,
My Madonna, pray for me,
My Madonna, pray for me.

Beautiful Madonna of Constantinople,
I come to pray to you,
I come to pray to you.
I am coming, lead the way,
My Madonna, never leave me,
My Madonna, never leave me,
My Madonna, never leave me.

Lu Lette Pg. 8

Lu Lette Pg. 10