MONTEVERGINE, ABBAZIA di. — Historic sanctuary on Monte Partenio, at 1,270 m above sea level, near Avellino. It was founded by s. Guglielmo da Vercelli between 1114 and 1126 at the place called «Acqua delle colombe», on the ruins of a pagan temple of the goddess Cybele, where, already during the period of the persecutions, s. Felice, bishop of Nola, s. Modestino, bishop of Antioch, together with the ss. Fiorentino and Flaviano, s. Ippolito, and, in 685, s. Vitaliano, bishop of Capua, had found temporary refuge. The latter erected there the first chapel in honour of «Sancta Maria de Monte Virgine». The first church was consecrated at Pentecost in 1124 and dedicated to Maria S.ma. Giovanni, bishop of Avellino, by a bull of May 1126, granted the coenobium exemption from episcopal jurisdiction.
The holy founder saw other monasteries arise throughout the Norman kingdom, and their number increased further after his death, which occurred at S. Salvatore del Goletto, near S. Angelo dei Lombardi, in 1142. Abbot Giovanni obtained from Alessandro III (1181) approval for the new Institute, following the Rule of s. Benedetto. The same abbot, as the number of monks and pilgrims continued to grow, had a new church built, consecrated on 11 November 1182 in the presence of 13 bishops.
M. soon acquired great political importance as well, through the gift made by Enrico VI in 1195 to Abbot Daniele of the Castle and barony of Mercogliano, and through the properties and privileges bestowed by the supreme pontiffs and reigning dynasties. In 1310, Caterina di Valois, by donating to the abbey the precious Byzantine icon that Baldovino II had removed from Constantinople during the troubled fortunes of the Latin Empire of the East, increased the fame of a pilgrimage that was already flourishing.
The life of the abbey of M. remained vigorous and splendid for more than two centuries, until in 1430 it was granted in commendam and, in 1515, sold by the last commendatory abbot, the cardinal d'Aragona, to the Ospedale dell'A.G.P. of Naples. Pio V, by a bull of August 1588, returned it to the Verginiani. Two centuries of prosperity followed, during which the abbey, having almost come to new life, gradually regained its original vigour through works of virtue and intellect, until the French suppression first, and then that of 1860, dealt it the fatal blow, dispersing its religious and confiscating its properties. The last Verginian abbot, D. G. De Cesare, obtained from Leone XIII in 1879 the recall of the Benedictine Cassinesi of the P. O.
The present appearance of the Basilica is the result of a rebuilding in the 17th century. The interior has three naves, with the chapel of the Madonna in the first half of the right-hand nave. It was begun by Abbot Danuscio and completed (1640) by Abbot Giordano, according to a design by Gian Giacomo Conforti. Notable historical and artistic features include: the high altar, a precious Florentine mosaic work of the 17th century; a wooden chair (12th century), recalling the abbots’ civil jurisdiction; the choir (1573); canopies in Cosmatesque mosaic; Lombard sarcophagi; the mausoleum of Caterina Filangieri; a wooden Crucifix from the 13th century; a Roman sarcophagus; and a panel of the Madonna of s. Guglielmo. In addition to the body of the holy founder, 19 bodies of saints and other distinguished relics are venerated. More than 500,000 faithful and visitors travel there each year on devout pilgrimage. The extremely rich Archive is kept in the Palazzo abbaziale of Mercogliano, divided into two sections (parchment and paper).