Rocc3

ROCCAMORICE

(Pg. 3)

La Rocca Pg. 13 (San Donato Church)
La Rocca Pg. 14 (people / places)
La Rocca Pg. 15 (people / places)
La Rocca Pg. 16 (people / places)
La Rocca Pg. 17 (places to stay / eat)
La Rocca Pg. 18 (Asphalt Mines)
La Rocca Pg. 19 (Asphalt Mines)
La Rocca Pg. 20 (Churches)
La Rocca Pg. 21 (Churches)
La Rocca Pg. 22 (people / places)
La Rocca Pg. 23 (people / places)
La Rocca Pg. 24 (people / places)

La Rocca Pg. 1 (history / photos)
La Rocca Pg. 2 (Santo Spirito)
La Rocca Pg. 3 (San Bartolomeo)
La Rocca Pg. 4 (photos)
La Rocca Pg. 5 (photos)
La Rocca Pg. 6 (photos)
La Rocca Pg. 7 (festa)
La Rocca Pg. 8 (the old ways)
La Rocca Pg. 9 (the old ways)
La Rocca Pg. 10 ("Lu Sand'Andune")
La Rocca Pg. 11 (La Rocca's Sand'Andune)
La Rocca Pg. 12 (Don Donato Bianco)

SAN BARTOLOMEO

Roccamorice is known for its two eremi, or hermitages, which are not far from the town. They are the Eremo di San Bartolomeo and the Eremo di Santo Spirito a Majella , and they are wonderful examples of the many hermitages that were built around 800-1000 A.D. in the caves that dot the cliffs of the Majella mountains. The builders of these eremi were monks who belonged to the "culto ripestri." They believed that isolation and solitude were a means to spiritual growth, and here in the Majella they certainly found both.

The Eremo di San Bartolomeo, about 4 kilometres from Roccamorice, is built into a shallow cave in the cliff that borders the Lanello river bed or vallone di Santo Spirito. In the 500's there was a cult following San Bartolomeo, brought there by people who had left Sicily and who had been influenced by the Arabs and Saracens who had brought knowledge of the cult from the Orient. It was eventually affiliated with Santo Spirito and in the 13th century was rebuilt by Pietro da Morrone (Pope Celestino V).

There is a festival for San Bartolomeo on the 25th of August each year in Roccamorice.

Statue of San Bartolomeo

Eremo di San Bartolomeo

St. Bartholomew, Apostle (1st Century)

All that is known of him with certainty is that he is mentioned in the first gospels and Acts as one of the twelve apostles. His name means "son of Tolomai" and scholars believe he is the same as Nathaniel mentioned in John, who says he is from Cana and that Jesus called him an "Israelite...incapable of deceit." The Roman Martyrology says he preached in India and Greater Armenia, where he was flayed and beheaded by King Astyages.
His death is said to have occurred at Albanopolis in Armenia and according to some, he was beheaded; according to others, flayed alive and crucified, head downward, by order of Astyages, for having converted his brother, Polymius, King of Armenia.
A tradition that he was flayed alive lies behind the knife and the skin which have been adopted as his symbols. His body is reputed to have been later taken to Benevento. It remains disputed whether it was these alleged relics or others which were transported to Rome in the tenth century of the Emperor Otto III and which now lie in the church of 'St. Bartholomew-on-Tiber'.

The path that descends to the Eremo di San Bartolomeo.

The road at LaRocca from which you access the sentiero (footpath) to the Eremo di San Bartolomeo.

Looking back at the steps at which you first enter and see the church.

First view of the entrance

Steps leading down to the ravine.

Old prayer card featuring San Bartolomeo and the prayer which is on the back.

Interior of the Eremo di San Bartolomeo. The statue is in its niche behind the altar. The monks' cell is behind the altar.

Looking down from the church you can see the large rock which has blocked the ravine for many years.

Villagers and paesani down in the ravine in the early morning having their breakfast before the procession back to LaRocca.

Excellent view of the rocks carved by centuries of water and the big rock creating a natural bridge across the ravine

Collecting water from the natural spring which appears to come out of the rock itself down in the ravine.

The festival begins with a procession of the villagers to the hermitage early in the morning. They have their breakfast on the rocky river bed below the hermitage, and then the ancient wooden statue of San Bartolomeo is removed from its niche in the eremo and carried back to the church in Roccamorice, each villager in turn carrying the statue for a short distance and then passing it on to someone else. Once the statue has been brought to the church in Roccamorice for the festival, it remains there until September 9th, when it is returned to its niche in the hermitage in another procession. There it remains until the following year.

Villagers taking turns carrying the statue to Roccamorice for the festa.

Ladies carrying the "conca" decorated with flowers and followed by the band for the procession.

**To read more about the Festa in August and see more pictures click here for LaRocca Page 7.

La Rocca Pg. 2

La Rocca Pg. 4