The Venerable P. Innocenzo Marcinò

THE LIFE OF
THE VENERABLE

Historical Summary (1589-1655)

Giuseppe Marcinò (later known as Innocenzo da Caltagirone) was born at Caltagirone on October 24, 1589, to Pietro Marcinò and Laura Barone. Having attended local Jesuit schools, he received a good humanistic education, which played a significant role in shaping his intellectual and spiritual development. On September 7, 1607, he entered the Cappuccini convent at Agira, an age-old hill-top town, as a novice, changing his given name, Giuseppe, to the religious name, Innocenzo.
He completed his philosophical and theological studies in the monasteries of Vizzini, Syracuse and Malta, where, in 1613, he was ordained a priest. After spending two years in Rome (1615-17) to study theology and learn Hebrew, he returned to Sicily and taught Hebrew in the local high school at Syracuse (1617) and ...

THE HOLY SHROUD

Father Innocenzo Marcinò gave the faithful of Caltagirone a copy of the Holy Shroud in painted silk that is now kept at the Cappuccini Convent.
He had received this as a gift from the Italian nobleman, politician and cardinal, Prince Maurice of Savoy in 1649.
The precious replica can be admired inside the sacristy next to the shrine, near the tomb that holds the Venerable′s mortal remains, a favoured destination of devotees and pilgrims.

THE CONVENT

A landmark for pilgrims

The foundation of the first convent bears the date 1550, and was built in the "Semini" district. However, the friars soon had to leave the place. In fact, at the Provincial Chapter held at Vizzini in Sicily on June 28, 1585, they requested and obtained permission to build a new convent closer to the city, much better suited to its needs. The new building, located next to the small church of Our Lady of Odigitria, was completed in September 1598. Here, in 1606 the vocation and sanctity of the Venerable Father Innocenzo Marcinò of Caltagirone blossomed. In 1866, following the suppression laws, t...

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THE CHURCH

Dedicated to Santa Maria dell′Odigitria

The church attached to the convent is dedicated to St. Mary of the Odigitria. In the apse, a large wooden altarpiece frames a 17th-century painting by Florentine painter Filippo Paladini depicting Our Lady Odigitria, according to Western iconography: seated on a chest carried on the shoulders of two Greek Catholic Basilian monks, a reminder of the iconoclastic crisis that affected the churches of the East. The church survived the terrible earthquake that struck the area in 1693, claiming many victims. It houses a much-visited monumental nativity scene with terracotta statues. Also numerous tabernacles with precious inlays of cypress wood, walnut, tortoiseshell and ivory.

MUSEUM

Inside the Cappuccini convent is a small museum housing 17th and 18th century silverware, alabaster, wood and wax figurines, as well as sacred vestments in brocade, damask, in silk and gold embroidery.

ART GALLERY

There is also a rich picture gallery with works from the 17th and 18th centuries by various local and non-local artists: Filippo Paladini (1604), Semplice da Verona (1649), Mario Minniti (1608), Pietro Novelli (17th century), Salvatore Mangano (18th century) and others.

MONUMENTAL NATIVITY SCENE

Our Monumental Nativity Scene, a jewel-like combination of art and faith, depicts the birth of Jesus through evocative scenes and unique handcrafted sculptures. We invite you to rediscover the beauty of the Christmas tradition immersed in Cappuccini spirituality.