SAN SALVATORE DI MESSINA. — It is the most important monastery among the Greek foundations of southern Italy. It was founded “in lingua Phari” by the Norman king Roger II, who entrusted the SUMERI (v.). After laying its foundations around 1122, Bartholomew sent his disciple Luke from the Patirion of Rossano, with 12 monks, half of the codices and relics, and a substantial sum of money. The construction of the monastery was completed in 1132; but King Roger II had already issued its Constitution in May 1131, enriching it with privileges and donations, elevating it to the dignity of an archimandritate and placing 40 Greek monasteries, 14 of them in Calabria, under its jurisdiction. In 1134 the archimandrite Luke compiled its statutory norms in his Typikon. Its power grew enormously through subsequent donations, and the archimandrite repeatedly clashed with the archbishop of Messina over jurisdictional matters. It shared the fortunes of Greek monasticism in Italy.
The Bessiore attempted in vain to restore its fortunes. Charles V transformed it into a castle, moving it to the shore of the Peloro. The library, rich in precious Greek codices, was plundered during the viceregal period; only 70 codices survive, now housed in the University Library.