RELIC IN DANGER

Greymouth Evening Star, 9 May 1931, Page 4

RELIC IN DANGER

SAINT BENEDICT TREASURE. The Sacro Speco (Holy Cave) of St. Benedict at Subiaco, near Rome, was recently reported to be in great danger owing to a tendency of the cliff to split and crumble away. Pieces of rock sometimes fall close to pilgrims while at prayer in the chapels. Infiltration of water is believed to cause the trouble; and it is estimated that some £6OOO is needed for the necessary engineering work of restoration. The Italian Government is expected to contribute perhaps a third of the sum, and the Benedictines are doing their utmost to raise the rest. Not only has the Sacro Speco a claim to fame through its connection with history, legend, art, and culture, hut it is also a religious centre and place of pilgrimage-of great natural beauty and of. unique interest. Only a footpath leads to it up the steep gorge of the torrent-river Anio, where 12 little monasteries once sheltered 12 disciples of the young Benedict. On the opposite side can be seen to this day the remains of a brick villa built by Nero where he used to fish with a golden net 400 years before the coming of the Benedictines.

All these monasteries have disappeared; only the Holy Cave of the Saint remains, which is reached higher up the gorge through a dark wood of gnarled and twisted ilexis belonging to the time of Benedict. A monastery, tin upper and lower church, a labyrinth of chapels supported on arches against the cliff, cluster round it, forming altogether what is known as the Sacro Speco.