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Historian, Bret Clesi writes: This unity of
the Arbreshe has proved to be one of their strong points. This unity plus
their fierce religiosity has helped to preserve the Arbreshe, both in
Contessa and here in New Orleans. This religious fervor is attested to by the
ample number of churches in Contessa. There are four churches within
Contessa, these being; the Church of
the Annunciation and San Nicolo di Mira, the Church of "Shen Mena e
Favars", the Church of San Rocco and the Church of the Purgatory.
Up until the year 1624, the religion of
Contessa was strictly Byzantine Catholic. It was around this year (1624), due
to the large influx of Latins or Roman Catholics, that the Latin
rites were introduced to Contessa.
The
Byzantine
Catholic Church is the
descendent of the Church of the primitive Christians in the Middle East. The
Byzantine, or Greek Catholic Church was the Church in Jerusalem. The Church
spread to Antioch where Saint Peter founded the See of Antioch before moving
to Rome. The Patriarch of the Byzantine Catholic Church is the successor of
Saint Peter in Antioch. In the tenth century, when the Moslems were occupying
the Middle East but not as of yet in Constantinople, the Byzantine Church
looked over to Rome, rather than the Eastern Church of Constantinople. In
1453, the Ottoman Turks occupied Constantinople. The Sultan gave all the
rights to the Orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople. It was at that time that
the Byzantine Church looked to him and the Orthodox Church, although they had
remained Catholic in past centuries. In 1724 the Church divided again. The Byzantine
Church choose the Roman Catholic section. The Byzantine Church has thus
remained Catholic since 1724.
Although the
Byzantine
Church (the Church of Contessa) has been
Catholic for over two hundred and fifty years, it has retained its own
traditions, vestments, liturgies, brevity and canon law. In relation to the
Pope and the Roman Catholic Church, the Byzantine Catholics
remain autonomous but obedient.The priests of the Byzantine Rite are called
"Papas", as opposed to "Padre" or
"Father". In Contessa, the "Papas" are held
in high esteem, just as the "Contessioti" hold their religion.
During the early years of Contessa Entellina, the "Papas" were the
teachers in the elementary schools. The "Papas" have always been
the scholars and men of learning. This
tradition of scholarly priests is carried on even today.
Possibly the greatest author of Contessa
was a priest or "Papas" of the Byzantine Church. Born in 1740 in
Contessa Entellina, Papas Nicolo Chetta was the rector of the Greek-Albanian
Seminary of Palermo. He is considered to be the only author who has been able
to amply illustrate the dialect of Contessa. Among his other works he wrote
an Albanian-Italian dictionary, a history of Epirus and Macedonia, accounts
of the Albanian colonies
of Sicily and an autobiography. He died on November 15, 1803.
The "Contessioti", being as
religious as they are, have always held their patron saint, San Nicolo di
Mira in high esteem. San Nocolo di Mira, or "Shen Nikolli" as he is
known in Arbreshe, was the patron saint of the Reres family. As Giorgio Reres
was the leader of the "Bisirioti", it was only natural they would
choose to worship San Nicolo as their patron
saint. |
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The
following was reprinted from the History review by Bret Clesi, Historian of
the Contessa Entellina Society. It illustrates the sincere and devoted faith
in Christ as part of our heritage and culture. We focus on the Faith of the
Contessioti and provide further resource studies to growing spiritually in a
closer loving relationship with God. |
