Church of S

Church of S. Nicola di Bari, Fallascoso, Province of Chieti, Abruzzo, Italy

S. Nicola was born in 271 AD in Patara, Turkey. His family was Christian and moderately wealthy. When he was only 9 years old, his parents died in an epidemic. Since the church took him in, he later gave all his wealth to the poor and became a priest. Eventually he was made Bishop of Myra, Turkey. There are many legends about his good works. The people loved him and he was regarded as a saint. Around 1087 the Muslims captured Myra. Christian sailors, financed by the local Christian merchants, took the bones of S Nicola to Bari, a seaport in southern Italy. Here they built a mausoleum for him. Bari then became the center for worship of S Nicola. Around the world and here in Fallascoso this church was erected in his honor.



		Bones of S Rinaldo


		Madonna of Miracles


	photos courtesy of Ennio Di Pietrantonio

Reconstruction of church bell tower after World War II.