St. Nicholas of Myra Cathedral

Historical News XVIII - XXI (whole story well) When Pope Benedict XV wanted to establish the Eparchy of Lungro (February 13, 1919), elevating the Church of S. Nicola di Mira to the "Cathedral" of the Byzantine cult, for the Arbëreshë communities and for the sacred building itself, a phase of profound "internal" transformation. Thus with the constitution Catholici Fideles the structural and cultural integrity of a Byzantine community within the Italian Church was recognized which, in addition to marking a historical turning point for the Italian-Albanian countries, concretely put a stop to the centuries-old disputes between Latin bishops and Greek bishops . Imposing in its Romanesque-Baroque Latin cross basilica plan with a large apse and central dome, the Cathedral of San Nicola di Mira is today considered the most important basilica of Arbëreshe Byzantine Catholicism in Italy. From 1721, the year in which the first stone was laid, to today, it is evident that the cathedral has undergone some architectural and artistic changes. Description The Cathedral of San Nicola di Mira is the main church of the Eparchy of Lungro, the Italian-Albanian seat for Calabria and mainland Italy since 1919. The church, as it appears in the current structure, was built in 1721, after that the earthquake of the late seventeenth century had destroyed the pre-existing one, also dedicated to S. Nicola di Mira. The building, with a basilica plan with three naves, with a large apse and central dome, was built according to the canons of post-Tridentine ecclesiastical construction, and enriched with Baroque decorations. The structure of the church, with the completion of the decorations, was completed around 1829 as attested by the inscription placed on the triumphal arch. The square-plan bell tower with gross dimensions of 6.00 m x 6.00 m and a height of approximately 29.00 m with a spire covered with polychrome majolica shingles is impressive.

Beautiful Catholic Cathedral of the Byzantine rite. What can I say I went to see something beautiful and particular, instead I saw an extraordinary cathedral that left me speechless. Rich in details and mosaics and icons and ... fullness of faith and art in a small arbëresh country (Albanian minority in Italy) rich in history and culture. Not to be missed

A wonderful church in its interior. However, adequate street signs are lacking (and this must be blamed on the municipality) of the place of artistic interest / churches. Even the external square is poorly lit. .. It is a scandal that certain beauties are so little valued

Splendid Byzantine Rite Cathedral rich in mosaics and paintings. It is worth visiting only for the spectacular mosaic of the dome.

The iconoclastic art exalted in an excellent way