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| Excavation Site |
The Abbey of San Vincenzo was founded in 703 A.D. by three Beneventan monks, Paldo, Taso and Tato. They built on the ruins of a 5th century Roman oratory dedicated to St. Vincent, a Spanish martyr. Within a century, the monastery became one of the largest abbeys in Europe, a center of spiritual and intellectual culture. The art works included glass making, ceramics, metal work, enameling, sculpture, calligraphy, manuscript illumination and fresco. Many frescoes are still visible in the national treasures of the crypt of Abbot Epifanio and the basilica of San Vincenzo Maggiore which was built by Abbot Joshue with the support of members of the Carolingian dynasty.
This intensely creative life was violently interrupted by a Saracen attack on October 10, 881. The monastery was put to the torch and between 500-900 monks were massacred. The survivors fled to Capua. In 914 the community returned, restored the ancient buildings and renewed the monastic life of the founders. In the 12th century, the monastery was moved across the Volturno River stone by stone, leaving the foundations of the old buildings to become filled terraces for farming. The original manuscript of the Chronicon Vulturnese, written by Abbot John during this period, is now preserved in the Vatican Library at Rome.
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| Entrance to Abbatial Palace |
The Abbey of Montecassino took possession of the ruined monastery in 1699, but the restoration was abruptly terminated with the Napoleonic suppression. Finally the property passed into the hands of Enrico Catemario Quadri of the Abruzzi region. He ceded the monastery to the Abbey of Montecassino in 1942 with the intent that monastic life be restored to San Vincenzo. The restoration was begun under the inspired direction of Abbot Ildefonso Rea.
In 1980, The British School at Rome began an extensive archaeological survey of the Upper Volturno region. The results of this field work initiated over 20 years of intensive excavation by the British School primarily under the direction of Dr. Richard Hodges in collaboration with Dr. John Mitchell of the University of Norwich in East Anglia in the United Kingdom and subsequently under Dr. Frederico Marrazzi.
On May 12, 1990, at the invitation of Abbot Bernardo D'Onorio, two nuns, R.M. Miriam Benedict, O.S.B., prioress and R.M. Agnes Shaw, O.S.B. co-foundress, arrived from the United States to undertake the pioneer work of renewing traditional monastic life with its mission of peace in the modern world through a community life dedicated to work and prayer.