Vallepietra, Sanctuary of the Most Holy Trinity of

VALLEPIETRA, SANCTUARY OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY OF. - It lies in the valley of the Simbrivio, near the hill of the Tagliata which leans against the southern flank of Monte Autore (diocese of Anagni). Here, on a small ledge, a grotto penetrates into the bowels of the mountain, in which the Shrine is situated (the Most Holy Trinity is represented there under the likeness of three human persons).

The most important pilgrimages of the year take place on the feast of the Most Holy Trinity and on that of St. Anne. Their origin is very ancient; the graffiti of visitors go back as far as the 15th century. In 1850 the attendance of pilgrims was around ten thousand; today around one hundred thousand, 70,000 on the feast of the Most Holy Trinity and 30,000 on the feast of St. Anne. On this occasion the pilgrims sing of the miracle worked by St. Anne for the three orphans. A representation of the Passion of the Lord, called the "lament of the maidens," is performed, on the occasion of the feast of the Most Holy Trinity, on the loggia of the Shrine by some women of V.

The origins and the most ancient vicissitudes of this Shrine are not known. It is probable that the grotto was a pagan sanctuary dedicated to nymphs or to river divinities: near the grotto figuli ex-votos have been found. Christian worship, after having fought the pagan cult, replaced it with its own rites. When this happened is not known. It is held by some that the replacement was the work of pre-Benedictine Greek monks. An Eastern influence is supported by the Eastern names of some surrounding localities and by the cult of St. Anne. Another hypothesis may be that the Basilian monks of Grottaferrata, who took refuge at Subiaco in 1183, built a monastery near the grotto, whose existence is attested by ruins and various indications. The church of the Most Holy Trinity of V. is mentioned for the first time in a document of 1119 in which there is talk of a donation made by a trebanus to the said church. In 1294 Peter, bishop of Anagni, united the church of the Trinity to the Chapter of the cathedral of Anagni in order to increase the revenues of the canons. In 1658 Orazio Caetani, lord of Vallepicea, elevated the said church to an abbey, reserving for himself the right of appointing the abbot. At present the Shrine is administered by the episcopal curia of Anagni.

Filippo Caraffa