The village church of Saint-Antoine-Abbé has an orange bell tower with three floors and a clock. The façade is pink with white stripes. The church dates from the 18th century. The pulpit, dated 1714, is made of waxed wood and was classified in 1995.
Eglise paroissiale Saint Antoine Abbé
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L'église paroissiale Saint-Antoine-Abbé est située en contrebas de l'église de la Trinité et de San Giovanni, à 252 m d'altitude, au cœur du village auquel on accède par une route en cul-de-sac. De style baroque corse, récemment restaurée, elle est dotée d'un haut clocher ocre à trois étages d'arcades.
Sa façade antérieure, rose avec bandeaux blancs, est inspirée de l'église du Gesù (Rome) dont les plans ont été retravaillés en 1564 par Vignole. Plate, dépouillée, flanquée de portes latérales sculptées, la façade est divisée en deux étages, scandés de pilastres et séparés par des corniches. Elle est surmontée d'un fronton, qui au lieu d'être triangulaire comme sur de nombreuses églises baroques de l'île, est ici fait de courbes ourlées de corniches moulurées. Fronton et façade sont également séparés par une corniche.
Sur une pierre d'angle en granit est sculptée la date 1818. Des peintures murales représentant Les quatre Docteurs de l'Église, saint Michel terrassant le dragon, datant de 1449 et 1458, sont classées MH par arrêté du 11 août 1883.
L'église renferme des œuvres propriétés de la commune et classées MH par arrêté du 9 février 1995 :
des peintures sur toile : « la mort de saint François-Xavier » et « la Vierge au Rosaire avec saint Dominique et sainte Catherine de Sienne » ;
des menuiseries (chaire à prier de 1714 et des stalles de confrérie en bois teinté et ciré comportant quatre sièges du xviiie siècle) dans la chapelle Saint-Antoine.
Parish Church of Saint Anthony the Abbot
The parish church of Saint-Antoine-Abbé is located below the church of the Trinity and of San Giovanni, at an altitude of 252 m, in the heart of the village, which is reached by a dead-end road. It is in Corsican baroque style and has been recently restored. It has a high ochre bell tower with three floors of arcades.
Its front facade, pink with white bands, is inspired by the church of the Gesù (Rome) whose plans were reworked in 1564 by Vignole. Flat, uncluttered, flanked by sculpted side doors, the facade is divided into two floors, punctuated by pilasters and separated by cornices. It is surmounted by a pediment, which instead of being triangular as on many baroque churches on the island, is made of curves hemmed with molded cornices. The pediment and façade are also separated by a cornice.
On a granite corner stone is carved the date 1818. Wall paintings representing The Four Doctors of the Church, Saint Michael slaying the dragon, dating from 1449 and 1458, are classified as MH by order of August 11, 1883.
The church contains works owned by the commune and classified as MH by decree of February 9, 1995:
paintings on canvas: "the death of St. Francis Xavier" and "the Virgin at the Rosary with St. Dominic and St. Catherine of Siena" ;
woodwork (pulpit from 1714 and stained and waxed wood stalls for the confraternity with four seats from the 18th century) in the chapel of Saint-Antoine.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Saint Antoine : Aregno reste fidèle à ses oranges
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Despite the health context and the absence of a procession, many inhabitants celebrated Saint Anthony Abbot, patron saint of shepherds and farmers. At the end of the mass, Father Olivier Marie proceeded to the blessing of oranges, a symbol for the village.
Masked faces, social distancing and a somewhat modified celebration. The crisis of the Covid-19 will not have spared the various religious events in this beginning of the year 2021. In Aregno, in the heart of the Balagne region, the municipality has nevertheless insisted on maintaining the traditional blessing of the oranges that has made the reputation of the town.
Indeed, every year, hundreds of people from all over Corsica come to attend the procession of St. Anthony Abbot with their baskets full of oranges. A symbol that the inhabitants of Aregno have been perpetuating for many years.
It is an unmissable event that promotes social cohesion," explains David Calassa, mayor of the town. We have remained very attentive to the latest government measures in the hope of being able to maintain the event. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers and Danielle Fondacci, the celebration of St. Anthony was able to proceed almost normally while enforcing a number of health rules."
Inside the religious building, bunches of oranges line the walls, a significant smell tickles the nostrils of the faithful who came in great numbers for the occasion. On the village square, same decor, the precious citrus fruits are implanted in the communal landscape under the eyes of the smallest. But where does this craze for blessed oranges come from?
According to village legend, a blacksmith was repairing the church bell when the oven caught fire," says Louis Andreani, prior of the Saint-Antoine-Abbé brotherhood. One of the men ran into the church and got a holy orange which he then threw into the flames. It was then that the fire miraculously went out. Since that day, the faithful crowd around the parish priest to bless their oranges that they will leave at home away from the light."
During the ceremony, in front of the faithful and the sisters of the Rosary of the Annunciation, Father Olivier Marie recounted the different stages of the life of St. Anthony Abbot, also known as St. Anthony the hermit.
"Coming from a rather well-to-do family, Saint Anthony decided to bequeath his parents' fortune to the poorest of the poor before retiring to the Egyptian desert to pray and escape the world. In Balagne, the celebration of this saint is very widespread. Many buildings and brotherhoods bear the name of Saint Anthony. It was therefore important for the Church to maintain this tradition which is closely followed in a village like Aregno."
At the end of the religious ceremony, the statue of St. Anthony was transported to the church square as a procession and directed to the four cardinal points so as to bless the whole of Balagne. A very important moment for the faithful who were also able to bless their citrus.
"Generally, each person must put his or her oranges in the house, on top of a cupboard or in his car to protect himself from fire and disease, explains a resident of the village. Blessing them protects them from mold. After a year, the citrus trees are thrown into the fire to wait for the next ones."
Every year, the end of the mass is marked by the gathering of the different families who eat together in a convivial atmosphere. This year, this was not possible. Nevertheless, the different generations were able to exchange a few minutes behind their masks while waiting for better days.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Saint Anthony: Aregno remains faithful to its oranges
Despite the health context and the absence of a procession, many inhabitants celebrated Saint Anthony Abbot, patron saint of shepherds and farmers. At the end of the mass, Father Olivier Marie proceeded to the blessing of oranges, a symbol for the village.
Masked faces, social distancing and a somewhat modified celebration. The crisis of the Covid-19 will not have spared the various religious events in this beginning of the year 2021. In Aregno, in the heart of the Balagne region, the municipality has nevertheless insisted on maintaining the traditional blessing of the oranges that has made the reputation of the town.
Indeed, every year, hundreds of people from all over Corsica come to attend the procession of St. Anthony Abbot with their baskets full of oranges. A symbol that the inhabitants of Aregno have been perpetuating for many years.
It is an unmissable event that promotes social cohesion," explains David Calassa, mayor of the town. We have remained very attentive to the latest government measures in the hope of being able to maintain the event. Thanks to the dedication of volunteers and Danielle Fondacci, the celebration of St. Anthony was able to proceed almost normally while enforcing a number of health rules."
Inside the religious building, bunches of oranges line the walls, a significant smell tickles the nostrils of the faithful who came in great numbers for the occasion. On the village square, same decor, the precious citrus fruits are implanted in the communal landscape under the eyes of the smallest. But where does this craze for blessed oranges come from?
According to village legend, a blacksmith was repairing the church bell when the oven caught fire," says Louis Andreani, prior of the Saint-Antoine-Abbé brotherhood. One of the men ran into the church and got a holy orange which he then threw into the flames. It was then that the fire miraculously went out. Since that day, the faithful crowd around the parish priest to bless their oranges that they will leave at home away from the light."
During the ceremony, in front of the faithful and the sisters of the Rosary of the Annunciation, Father Olivier Marie recounted the different stages of the life of St. Anthony Abbot, also known as St. Anthony the hermit.
"Coming from a rather well-to-do family, Saint Anthony decided to bequeath his parents' fortune to the poorest of the poor before retiring to the Egyptian desert to pray and escape the world. In Balagne, the celebration of this saint is very widespread. Many buildings and brotherhoods bear the name of Saint Anthony. It was therefore important for the Church to maintain this tradition which is closely followed in a village like Aregno."
At the end of the religious ceremony, the statue of St. Anthony was transported to the church square as a procession and directed to the four cardinal points so as to bless the whole of Balagne. A very important moment for the faithful who were also able to bless their citrus.
"Generally, each person must put his or her oranges in the house, on top of a cupboard or in his car to protect himself from fire and disease, explains a resident of the village. Blessing them protects them from mold. After a year, the citrus trees are thrown into the fire to wait for the next ones."
Every year, the end of the mass is marked by the gathering of the different families who eat together in a convivial atmosphere. This year, this was not possible. Nevertheless, the different generations were able to exchange a few minutes behind their masks while waiting for better days.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)