Incipit of Book I, Ch. 2 of the Regula Pastoralis by St Gregory the Great (8th cent.)
Ivrea, Capitular Library, ms. I, f. 56.
(Laura Sandri, Ott.)
Lateran Council of 1059; Ogerius (1074–95), a kinsman of Henry IV for Italy (Jan 1088–Feb 1093), supporter of the antipope Clement III; Guido (1122–62), outstanding benefactor of the Church of Ivrea; Peter (1206–08), abbot of Luedio, took part in the Fourth Crusade with Boniface of Montferrat (1202), was one of the twelve electors of the Latin Emperor at Constantinople (1204), abbot of La Ferté (1205), highly esteemed by Innocent III who appointed him archbishop of Thessalonica (1208) and then patriarch of Antioch (1209); Obert (1209–50?), able restorer of the temporal goods of the episcopal see, first to bear the title of count, claimed the rights of the commune of Ivrea against Vercelli and acted as mediator between the two communes; Frederick of Front (1264–89), leader of the resistance against William VII, marquis of Montferrat, who sought to become lord of Ivrea, rector of the March of Ancona, archbishop of Ferrara (1289–1303). Under Bishop Peter Condé (1373–99) Ivrea passed under obedience to Avignon. Throughout the 16th cent. the see was occupied by bishops of the Ferrero family (v.). Giuseppe Ottavio Pochettini (1769–1803) had a troubled episcopate because of political events, yet he was a secret Jansenist, known in the sect by the epithet “the Elder” (cf. P. Savio, La devozione di mons. Adeodato Turchi alla S. Sede, Rome 1938, p. 434). Luigi Moreno (1838–78) was the most illustrious pastor of the past century for learning and zeal.
1. Notable persons – Among the many persons born within the diocese of Ivrea are: St Gaudentius (v.), first bishop of Novara; Arduin (v.), St William of Volpiano (v.), Bl. Angelo of Chivasso (v.), Bl. Bartholomew Carletti, Poor Clare, co-founder of the monastery of St Clare in Chivasso (d. 1412); FERRARIENSIS (v.); G. Bosio of Chivasso (1545–1627), historian of the Order of St John of Jerusalem, BOSONE (v.); Ven. Rubino of Strambino (1578–1643), Jesuit missionary and martyr in Japan; C. Botta (v.); G. B. De Rossi (v.); G. Flechia of Piverone (1811–92), Sanskritist and philologist; C. Nigra of Castelnuovo (1828–1907), diplomat and philologist; G. Giacosa (v.); P. A. Yon of Settimo Vittone (1886–1943), composer and organist of the cathedral of New York.
2. Episcopal school – Monuments – The episcopal school of Ivrea was already renowned at the beginning of the 9th cent., as is expressly recorded in the celebrated Capitulare Olonense of Lothar I (May 825) concerning public schools in Italy (cf. MGH, Capitularia, ed. A. Boretius, I [1883], p. 237). The fragment of a mosaic pavement (reproduced under the heading PHILOSOPHY) depicting the triumph of philosophy appears to have been the floor of the schoolroom in the time of Bishop Warmund (c. 996–1015). Although details of this school and its scriptorium are sparse, their activity is reflected in the rich collection of manuscripts in the Cathedral, later enriched by a substantial number of incunabula. Among the codices are the Regula Pastoralis of St Gregory the Great in Merovingian script (8th cent.), the Sacramentarium varminatum executed under the direction of Bishop Warmund, and a group of liturgical books likewise produced for him (cf. L. Magnani, Le miniature del Sacramentario di Ivrea e di altri codici Warmondiani, Vatican City 1934, p. 11, where the earlier scholars of the Ivrea capitular manuscripts are listed). Also preserved is an interesting musical codex from the late 14th cent. (cf. G. Borghezio, Un prezioso codice musicale ignorato della Biblioteca capitolare di Ivrea, in Bollettino storico bibliografico subalpino, 24 [1922], pp. 190–98). The archives are exceptionally rich: the Capitular Archive, inventoried and containing documents from 1007 and a series of chapter protocols in 84 volumes (1258–1729); the Episcopal Archive, uninventoried but with documents from 1000; the municipal, judicial and administrative archives are also ordered. Of lesser importance are the libraries of the Seminary and the town hall.
Among the monuments should first be mentioned the Cathedral, built toward the end of the 10th cent. by Bishop Warmund and repeatedly restored in questionable fashion; it still preserves its crypt and an external dome flanked by two bell-towers. In the sacristy is kept a precious carved ivory casket (9th–10th cent.) and two magnificent paintings by Defendente Ferrari (1521). The ancient St Lawrence in Castello at Settimo Vittone may date from the 7th cent. Notable Romanesque churches include St Stephen at Candia and St Peter at Pessano (11th–12th cent.), together with several Romanesque bell-towers such as those of St Stephen in Ivrea and of Fruttuaria (11th cent.). The parish church of Chivasso, an important medieval centre of religious and political life, seat of the government of Montferrat until 1435 and of one of the oldest Piedmontese printing-houses (1486), directed by G. Sviago, has preserved its Gothic façade with terracotta reliefs. The parish church of Strambino is a notable Baroque structure (1781–1799). Historic castles include Montalto (14th cent.), the Conte Verde at Ivrea (1358) and Masino (rebuilt in the 17th–18th cent.), where the ashes of Arduin are preserved.
IVREA, diocese of – Romanesque bell-tower of St Mary (11th–12th cent.) – Andrate.
(Photo G. Ravera)
IVREA, diocese of – Romanesque bell-tower of St Stephen (11th cent.)
The abbey of St Stephen, founded in 1044 by Bishop Henry, flourished for many centuries; after falling into commendatory status (15th cent.) it was suppressed in 1800 and its property sold. Only the bell-tower remains. The same bishop founded the monastery of St Michael for nuns, now since 1940 the property of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of Ivrea. Also notable are the convents of the Franciscans, Dominicans (13th cent.) and Observant Friars Minor (1456). The most celebrated abbey in the territory of Ivrea is St Benignus of Fruttuaria, a centre of Cluniac reform affiliated to the abbey of St-Bénigne in Dijon, founded in 1003 by St William of Volpiano (v.) with the support of Arduin, his kinsman. The abbey church, of which only the bell-tower survives (the church itself was rebuilt in Neoclassical style by Cardinal Vittorio Amedeo delle Lanze between 1770 and 1776), was consecrated in 1006 by four bishops delegated by John XVIII. Popes from John XVIII and emperors from Henry II (31 Aug 1006) placed it under their protection and repeatedly confirmed its vast patrimony. Bishops Warmund (before 3 Jan 1015) and Henry (12 Mar 1029) granted the abbey exemption from episcopal jurisdiction. Indeed Cencio Camerarius lists the abbey “Sancti Benigni de Fructerii” (cf. Liber Censuum, ed. G. Fabre–L. Duchesne, I, Paris 1889–1910, p. 245) among the abbeys nullius diocesis. The abbey exercised great religious, cultural and political influence not only in the subalpine regions but throughout Italy, and several monasteries followed its Rule; commendatory status, begun in 1450 with the former antipope Felix V, led to its decline; in 1617 Cardinal Maurice of Savoy transformed it into a collegiate church with secular canons; it was first suppressed on 19 June 1803 and definitively on 15 Aug 1869. Arduin retired to Fruttuaria on 10 Sept 1014, died there and was buried there on 14 Dec 1015. The first abbot was John the Hermit (v. JOHN OF FRUTTUARIA). Part of the rich archive is now in the State Archive of Turin. In 1879 the abbey palace was ceded to St John Bosco, and today it houses a flourishing Salesian technical school. – See plate XXXV.
- Literature: G. Benvenuti, *Istoria dell'antica città d'I. dalla sua fondazione fino alla fine del sec. XVIII*, (important ms., property of the heirs of lawyer Mario Rossi); G. Soraglia, *Memorie storiche sulla chiesa d'I.*, Ivrea 1881 (scant criticism); [id.], *Eporedia Sacra. Serie cronologica dei parrochi, santi titolari e patroni*, ibid. 1887 (useful); A. Manno, *Bibliografia storica degli Stati della Monarchia di Savoia*, III, Turin 1891, pp. 91-98; IV, ibid. 1892, pp. 430-37 (S. Benigno di Fruttuaria, Chivasso); VIII, ibid. 1907, pp. 290-323 (s. V. I.); F. Savio, *I vescovi d'Italia dalle origini al 1100. Il Piemonte*, Turin 1898, pp. 175-220; *Eporediensia* (Biblioteca Soc. st. subalpina, 4), Pincolo 1900; *Studi Eporediesi* (ibid., 7), ibid. 1900 (the two volumes contain a collection of studies by various authors for the bimillennium of I.); C. Borgio, *Le chiese del Canavese*, Ivrea 1910; F. Carandini, *Vecchia I.*, ibid. 1914 (2nd ed., ibid. 1927); G. Corradi, *Eporedia*, in E. De Ruggiero, *Dizionario epigrafico di antichità romane*, II, Rome 1922, pp. 2136-39; G. Borgio, *Il duomo di I.*, Ivrea 1926 (with notes on art in the Canavese); E. Pinchia, *Itinerario canavesano*, ibid. 1927; H. Delehaye, *Les origines du culte des martyrs*, 2nd ed., Brussels 1933.
IVREA, diocese of — Cathedral built by Bishop Warmondo (late 10th century). The dome and bell tower belong to the original construction; the façade is from the 19th century.
pp. 133, 340; C. Benedetto, *I vescovi d'I.*, Turin 1942 (this essay, thoroughly revised, could become an excellent aid for scholars). For Fruttuaria see in particular: J. Cosset-Mouchet, *Histoire de St Guillaume d'Irène*, Turin 1890; G. Calligaris, *Un'antica cronaca piemontese*, ibid. 1889; E. Oliviero, *Architettura religiosa preromana e romana nell'arcidiocesi di Torino*, ibid. 1940, pp. 341-51; Cottineau, *I.* cols. 1227-28 (with extensive bibliography); E. Ceria, *Annali della Società salernina*, I, Turin 1941, p. 333.