In Acquaformosa, in the province of Cosenza, in the heart of the Eparchy of Lungro, stands the extraordinary Greek-Byzantine Rite Church dedicated to Saint John the Baptist.
Built at the beginning of the 16th century by refugees from Epirus, fleeing Albania after the death of the patriot Giorgio Castriota Scanderbeg when the territory fell to the Turkish-Ottomans, the Church stands on the remains of a previous Romanesque building whose style is perfectly harmonized with the Byzantine one. Composed of three naves almost entirely covered with gold mosaics, the part reserved for the officiant is called the Vima, inaccessible to the faithful, it is the place that remains unknowable as unknowable is the divine mystery. The Altar, accessed through the Royal Door, is separated from the rest of the nave by the iconostasis, the wall decorated with Byzantine icons. The Albanians have never renounced the Greek-Byzantine liturgical ritual, and it is practiced in all the Arbëreshë towns of Italy.
The Church of Saint John the Baptist is the only one in the eparchy covered with mosaics recently created by the artist Biagio Capparelli at the behest of papàs Vincenzo Matrangolo. The mosaics represent the icons and the most important episodes for the Byzantine religion: the Archangel Michael and the Archangel Gabriel to the right and left of the central door; the Transfiguration of Christ, Saint Blaise, and Saint Vincent. On the vault, Christ Pantokrator is flanked by the symbols of the Four Evangelists. On the central vault, the six feasts of the Byzantine Liturgical Calendar: the Annunciation, the Nativity of Jesus, the Baptism of Christ, the Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection of Christ.
Acquaformosa is a small Calabrian village that has experienced depopulation over the years towards other centers. The Parish of Saint John the Baptist is an Ecclesiastical Entity with legal personality. It carries out numerous activities in service of the resident community through social, religious, and cultural projects.
It cares for the elderly in the nursing home, manages the Library, the nursery, and the parish restaurant, and accompanies children with special educational needs to recreational activities.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM Saturday and Sunday 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM
Other places to see:
- Museum of Icons and Byzantine Tradition - Frascineto
- Arbëreshë Culture Museum - San Paolo Albanese
- Arbëreshë Ethnic Museum - Civita
