The parish church of Roccascalegna is dedicated to the Saint protectors Cosma e Damiano. Built “outside the walls” in 1568 for over 4 centuries it has always been the heart of the religious life of the citizens. The devotion for the two brother Saints, both doctors from Asia Minor, martyrs in 303 A.D during Emperor Diocletian’s persecutions against Cristians, made Roccascalegna a hub for local pilgrims who come here to implore their thaumaturgical favours. The names of the Saints Cosma e Damiano were engraved in 1773 on the gate of this religious building with a simple yet elegant façade.

Inside, the walls of the three naves have been pained with baroque writings and frames. There are some small pieces of art, like a canvass painting of the Virgin and Baby dated 1863. A niche on the right nave hosts the two wood half-bust statues of the Saints Cosma and Damiano with the palm of the martyrdom, on two wood carved golden stands dating back to the XVIII century. Have a look to the two eighteenth century Processional Crosses with mother-of-pearl inlay works and reliquary of the XIX century. The main altar is decorated with columns and a central painting of the “Holy Trinity” by Francesco Maria De Benedictis da Guardiagrele. The Easter Candle is kept in the presbytery in its stone holder dating 1732.

This church being the payers place par excellence in Roccascalegna, as written in the title block at the centre of the church ceiling, “Domus mea domus orationis est”, it is also the place where to pray the Mother of God, as according to the ancient tradition of the Abruzzo region, where each town has “its own Madonna”: the one of Roccascalegna is the eighteenth century Madonna del Rosario con Bambino with her crown and white mantle.

[Credits | Text: Ottavio Di Renzo De Laurentis | Translation: Mirella Rapa | Voice and music: Studio Qreate | Photo: Laura Di Biase]