Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Diocletianic Persecution

A legend tells, that where the abbey is, about 2 kms north of Giano dell'Umbria, Saint Felix (= San Felice), first bishop of Massa, had a small oratory built in the early 4th century. After he became a martyr during the Diocletianic Persecution, his followers buried the saint here. Probably already during the 8th century a convent existed around the tomb. The church dates to the 12th century, erected when this was a Benedictinian abbey. Today the abbey is used by the "Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue" ("Missionaries of the Precious Blood"). This society was founded here by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo in 1815. The crypt, below the choir, has a nave and two aisles. A crypt existed here probably already under the preceding church. This sarcophag may have been already in the center of the early oratory, containing the remains of Saint Felix. I had seen the same symbols carved onto the sarcophag of Saint Giovenale in the crypt of the Concattedrale in Narni..

A legend tells, that where the abbey is, about 2 kms north of Giano dell'Umbria, Saint Felix (= San Felice), first bishop of Massa, had a small oratory built in the early 4th century. After he became a martyr during the Diocletianic Persecution, his followers buried the saint here. Probably already during the 8th century a convent existed around the tomb. The church dates to the 12th century, erected when this was a Benedictinian abbey. Today the abbey is used by the "Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue" ("Missionaries of the Precious Blood"). This society was founded here by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo in 1815. The crypt, below the choir, has a nave and two aisles. A crypt existed here probably already, when the preceding church got replaced by the current one within the 12th century. The capitals here are roughly carved and it looks like some of them got reused. Seen on the capital in the center is a pretty clumsy bird.

A legend tells, that where the abbey is, about 2 kms north of Giano dell'Umbria, Saint Felix (= San Felice), first bishop of Massa, had a small oratory built in the early 4th century. After he became a martyr during the Diocletianic Persecution, his followers buried the saint here. Probably already during the 8th century a convent existed around the tomb. The church dates to the 12th century, erected when this was a Benedictinian abbey. Today the abbey is used by the "Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue" ("Missionaries of the Precious Blood"). This society was founded here by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo in 1815. The crypt, below the choir, has a nave and two aisles. A crypt existed here probably already, when the preceding church got replaced by the current one within the 12th century. The capitals here are roughly carved and it looks like some of them got reused.

A legend tells, that where the abbey is, about 2 kms north of Giano dell'Umbria, Saint Felix (= San Felice), first bishop of Massa, had a small oratory built in the early 4th century. After he became a martyr during the Diocletianic Persecution, his followers buried the saint here. Probably already during the 8th century a convent existed around the tomb. The church dates to the 12th century, erected when this was a Benedictinian abbey. Today the abbey is used by the "Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue" ("Missionaries of the Precious Blood"). This society was founded here by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo in 1815. The sober interior of the abbey church is typical for a Romanesque church in Umbria. Steep steps lead up to the risen choir, where this shot was taken. The capitals seen here are pretty rough for a 12th century church.

A legend tells, that where the abbey is, about 2 kms north of Giano dell'Umbria, Saint Felix (= San Felice), first bishop of Massa, had a small oratory built in the early 4th century. After he became a martyr during the Diocletianic Persecution, his followers buried the saint here. Probably already during the 8th century a convent existed around the tomb. The church dates to the 12th century, erected when this was a Benedictinian abbey. Today the abbey is used by the "Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue" ("Missionaries of the Precious Blood"). This society was founded here by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo in 1815. The sober interior of the abbey church is typical for a 12th century church in Umbria. Steep steps lead up to the risen choir, while the aisles end in stairs, that run down to the crypt.

A legend tells, that where the abbey is, about 2 kms north of Giano dell'Umbria, Saint Felix (= San Felice), first bishop of Massa, had a small oratory built in the early 4th century. After he became a martyr during the Diocletianic Persecution, his followers buried the saint here. Probably already during the 8th century a convent existed around the tomb. The church dates to the 12th century, erected when this was a Benedictinian abbey. Most other existing buildings were erected within the 16th century. These buildings seem to squeeze the apses of the Romanesque church, seen in the center. Today the abbey is used by the "Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue" ("Missionaries of the Precious Blood").

A legend tells, that where the abbey is, about 2 kms north of Giano dell'Umbria, Saint Felix (= San Felice), first bishop of Massa, had a small oratory built in the early 4th century. After he became a martyr during the Diocletianic Persecution, his followers buried the saint here. Probably already during the 8th century a convent existed around the tomb. The church dates to the 12th century, erected when this was a Benedictinian abbey. Most other existing buildings were built within the 16th century. Today they are used by the "Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue" ("Missionaries of the Precious Blood"), a community founded in Umbria by Saint Gaspar del Bufalo in 1815.

A legend tells, that where the abbey is, about 2 kms north of Giano dell'Umbria, Saint Felix (= San Felice), first bishop of Massa, had a small oratory built in the early 4th century. After he became a martyr during the Diocletianic Persecution, his followers buried the saint here. Probably already during the 8th century a convent existed around the tomb. The church seen today dates to the 12th century. It got altered and enlarged during the 16th. The cross section of the original design, a basilica , can still be traced on the facade. The statue in front honors Saint Gaspar del Bufalo, who in 1815 founded right here the society "Missionari del Preziosissimo Sangue" ("Missionaries of the Precious Blood").