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Priscus of Nocera

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Priscus of Nocera
Born3rd century
Died3rd century
Honored in
Feast9 May
Patronage

Priscus of Nocera (Nuceria Alfaterna, 3rd century – Nuceria Alfaterna, 3rd century) was the first bishop of Nocera, patron saint of the city of Nocera Inferiore and of the diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno.

In the liturgical year its religious anniversary is 9 May, celebrated in Nocera Inferiore great celebrations, being his birthday a city holiday.

References in literature

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Christian literature

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The first author to write about San Priscus was the Italian bishop Saint Pontius Anicius Meropius Paolinus in his book Carme or Carmen, vol. XIX, who recalls how his cult was practiced in 405 in Nola, as well as in Nuceria Alfaterna. The testimony of the saint from Nolan is precious because it represents an ante quem term to date the life of Priscus.

Ponzio Anicio Meropio Paolino, "Fonte sacrata dies illuxerat illa beati
natalem Prisci referens, quem te Nola celebrat
quamvis ille alia nucerinus Episcopus
Urbe sederit."
[Carme XIX], Carme XIX (in Italian), vol. 515–518

Another author who mentioned the life of Saint Prisco was saint Adonis of Vienne in one of his volumes, called the Martyrology.

Other authors

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Giovanni Antonio Remondini also took up a very brief description of the holy bishop in one of his texts.

Giovanni Antonio Remondini (1751), "Della nolana Ecclesiastica storia" [Of the Nolan Ecclesiastical History], Splendea quel dì nella città di Nola
festivo a Prisco che pastor già resse
là dei pagani e picentin Nocera.
(in Italian), vol. II, book III, Naples (Italy), p. 674

Finally we have a quote about San Prisco by the author Gennaro Orlando, in his book History of Nocera de' Pagani, where the figure of the holy bishop is also described.[1]

Critical authors

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Vincenzo D'Avino in his book the Ecclesiastic's Encyclopedia, volume 3, even if he cites two authors who speak of the exploits of San Priscus, the first Saint Pontius Anicius Meropius Paolinus and the second, more recent Ludovico Antonio Muratori famous presbyter, Italin historian, expressly states that there is no certain prood of his life.[2][3][4]

Miracles

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The Roman fountain, believed to be a gift from the pontiff to the bishop.

Popular tradition ascribes many miracles to the saint.

Accused of heresy[5] for having celebrated mass at dawn in solitude, he was taken while still wearing cassocks and forced to go to Rome to clear his name in front of the Pope. Having nothing to offer as a gift to the pontiff, he convinced some geese to follow him to Lazio to make a gift to Peter's successor.

Angels appeared in front of the Pope who totally exonerated him. Impressed by this miracle, the pontiff gave Priscus a large marble fountain which the saint transported to Nocera with the sole aid of two vaccarelle (cows).[6] Furthermore, to satisfy the needs of his thirsty companions, the saint made a doe appear out of nowhere who quenched their thirst with her own milk, heating them with burning embers that she had kept under her tunic.

Close to death, he decided to lie down in the same tomb that welcomed his sisters, asking their skeletons to move to make room for him, a wish which was granted.[7]

Finally, the miracle of the separation of the split mountain, a pass (probably Roman work) located on the border between the municipalities of Nocera Inferiore and Castel San Giorgio, as reported in the first volume of the historical novel by Andrea Calenda di Tavani, entitled: Ramondello Orsino, storia napoletana del Trecento.[8][9]

Facade of the Cathedral Basilica of San Prisco, Cathedral of Nocera Inferiore (SA).

Cult

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He was initially buried in a tuff tomb in one of the necropolises of Nuceria Alfaterna; his body, the object of growing popular attention, which later became devotion, was moved just west of the ancient city, to an area that would take the name of vescovado, initially to a Benedictine abbey. With the restoration of the diocese in 1386 the abbey church was elevated to the rank of cathedral.

The archaeological research that has taken place inside the Cathedral of Nocera Inferiore has once again made entirely visible the place in which the saint's remains were buried together with those of his two sisters Marzia and Marina, also venerated as saints. The strigilated sarcophagus refers to examples from the 3rd-4th century. The osteological data are pertinent to an elderly and large man.

In addition to the diocese of Nocerina, the cult of San Prisco is also reserved for Sant'Agnello, a municipality on the Sorrento coast where in 1827 a church dedicated to Saints Prisco and Agnello of Naples was consecrated.

Some relics of the sisters of San Prisco are also preserved in a chapel in the crypt of the Salerno Cathedral. They were placed there in the Middle Ages by Bishop Alfano I.

The patronal feast is on 9 May.[10][11]

Bubbetella

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Bubbetella is a bean soup that is eaten during the celebration of the patron saint of Nocera Inferiore.[12][13]

Roman marble basin or basin, believed to be a gift from the Pope to Bishop Priscus (1st century AD).

Cathedral Basilica San Prisco

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History of the religious complex

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The Cathedral Basilica of San Prisco is a cathedral that stands in the current city of Nocera Inferiore, (formerly Nocera de' Pagani).

Before the construction of the cathedral, there was a church, where the faithful of Nocera gathered for functions. It was built following the disappearance of San Prisco, who died near the church of San Filippo alle Macerie (formerly located outside the city walls).

In the 12th century, the Benedictine monks had the modern monastery and the adjoining church dedicated to the saint built there.[14]

The monastery was elevated to a cathedral by Pope Urban VI in 1385, so the entire religious complex was transformed into a bishopric.[15]

At the end of May 2024, several million euros were obtained directly from the Italian Ministry of Culture for the adaptation of the entire religious complex, as the building needed major redevelopments after the 1980 Irpinia earthquake.[16]

Strigilated sarcophagus of San Prisco (2nd- 3rd century AD).

Chapel dedicated to San Prisco

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Inside the cathedral there is a chapel dedicated to the patron saint, furthermore there is a stone sarcophagus containing his remains.

Martyrium of San Prisco

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The Martyrium of San Prisco was discovered in recent times, under the main apse of the cathedral. The Martyrium of Saint Priscus is in the shape of a semi-annular crypt.[17]

Museum of San Prisco in Nocera Inferiore

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The opening of the diocesan museum dedicated to the saint

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The diocesan museum dedicated to San Prisco di Nocera was opened on the initiative of the then bishop of Agro-Nocerino-Sarnese Gioacchino Illiano in 2008, to enhance and preserve the works of art of the area.

The museum is located in a wing of the Diocesan Seminary of Nocera, a structure that is part of the current offices of the Curia.

In the museum there are various finds from the countryside of valuable artistic and cultural value and also the famous silver bust, with gilded parts and containing precious stones of San Prisco, created around 1771 by the artist Savero Manzone at the behest of the then bishop of Nocera de' Pagani Benedetto dei Monti Sanfelice (in ancient times Nocera was a single municipality until the definitive division of the two cities occurred in 1851).[18][19]

The restoration of the silver bust of San Prisco

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After several months of restoration of three works: the bust of San Prisco, the canvas of the Coronation of Santa Rosa da Lima and the wooden statue of the Virgin of Sorrows, they return to the diocesan museum to be exhibited to the public again,[20] during the evening of 13 September 2019, the restorations were presented at the museum during an evening event.[21][22][23]

On 8 May 2021, a new miter for the silver statue of San Prisco was presented.[24]

Bibliography

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Archival sources

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Historical sources

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Historical novels

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Officials sites

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  • Staff of DIOCESI DI NOCERA INFERIORE-SARNO; Don Roberto Farruggio (2007). "San Prisco" [Saint Prisco]. DIOCESI DI NOCERA INFERIORE-SARNO (in Italian). Retrieved 27 February 2024. Saint Prisco-Bishop and Confessor-Main patron of the Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno.
  • Staff of DIOCESE OF NOCERA INFERIORE-SARNO (2 July 2019). "Visita il Museo San Prisco. Scopri i sui tesori" [Visit the Museum San Prisco. Discover its treasures]. DIOCESE OF NOCERA INFERIORE-SARNO (in Italian). Retrieved 3 April 2024. In the heart of the Vescovado quarter in Nocera Inferiore, on the ground floor of diocesan curia, stands the MUSEUM SAN PRISCO, a treasure trove of ART works of art of exceptional value: canvases, silvers, sacred vestments and historical relics.
  • Salvatore D'Angelo (8 May 2021). "Una nuova mitria per san Prisco. Festa in Cattedrale" [A new miter for Saint Priscus. Feast in the Cathedral]. insieme, ATTUALITA' E CULTURA DELL'AGRO (in Italian). Retrieved 3 June 2024.
  • Staff of storienapoli.it; Roberto Iossa (22 October 2022). "SAN PRISCO-PATRONO DI NOCERA INFERIORE" [SAINT PRISCO-PATRON OF NOCERA INFERIORE]. storienapoli.it (in Italian). Retrieved 1 March 2024. The life of San Prisco, between doubts, faith and miracles.
  • Staff of SANPRISCO.NET; Domenico Palmiero. "SAN PRISCO VESCOVO E MARTIRE" [SAINT PRISCO BISHOP AND MARTYR]. SANPRISCO.NET (in Italian). Retrieved 1 March 2024. The tradition in Nocera Inferiore and the history of San Prisco.
  • Staff of Comune di Nocera Inferiore. "Luoghi di culto" [Places of worship]. Comune di Nocera Inferiore (in Italian). Retrieved 21 April 2024.
  • Staff of ASSOCIAZIONE MUSEI ECCLESIASTICI ITALIANI. "Museo diocesano "San Prisco" di Nocera Inferiore" ["San Prisco" diocesan museum of Nocera Inferiore]. ASSOCIAZIONE MUSEI ECCLESIASTICI ITALIANI. Retrieved 24 April 2024.

Others sites and news

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ Gennaro Orlando (1884). Storia di Nocera de' Pagani [History of Nocera de' Pagani] (in Italian). Vol. 1. Naples (NA): Tocco. p. 210.
  2. ^ Bonaventura of Sorrento (1877). "9.━S.Prisco Vesc." [9.━S.Prisco Bishop]. In Tipografia all'insegna di S. Francesco d'Assisi (ed.). Sorrento, Sorrento sacra e Sorrento illustre. Epitome della storia sorrentina pel p. Bonaventura da Sorrento ... [Sorrento, sacred Sorrento and illustrious Sorrento. Epitome of Sorrento history for p. Bonaventure of Sorrento ...] (in Italian). Sorrento (SA). p. 67. Everything about this Saint is obscure, except two things. 1st that he was bishop of Nocera; 2nd that his cult was admirably expanded in the 4th and 5th centuries. All this can be gleaned from St. Paulinus, Bishop of Nola, who sings thus in the Carm. IX. And Muratori (Anecdot V.I.), commenting on this poem, says that St. Priscus can be happy with such a solid document in favor of his cult. Furthermore, the era of his Bishopric is unknown, which Ughelli reports as up to the 1st century; others then make him a martyr, according to Ughelli and some other moderns.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  3. ^ Vincenzio Davino (1878). Cav. Pietro Marietti (ed.). Enciclopedia dell'ecclesiastico [Ecclesiastic's Encyclopedia] (in Italian). Vol. 3. pp. 433 and 434. The first bishop of Nocera de' Pagani was San Prisco. If he were truly sent there by the prince of the apostles or by some of his disciples; to have placed its primacy in the first century of the Christian era or somewhat later; what things his written life had to do, lacking authenticity, we cannot say with certainty: but that San Prisco was bishop of Nocera, the most indisputable monument comes from San Paolino I, bishop of Nola, who at the beginning of fifth century had the singing of San Prisco: Forte sacrata dies illuvera! illa blessed Natalem Prisci referens, here Nolam celebrated; Quatuvis ille alia nucerinus episcopus urbe Sederit. Which verses glossing the very clear Muratori wrote: Ego nucerinis gratulor, quod illustrem ante tot saneti episcopi memoriam e tenebris primus eruerim. Quam enim celebris illem fuit, euius suatalilius dies non nucerinae modo, sed in aliis urbibus Paulini tempore celebatur.
  4. ^ Staff of SANPRISCO.NET; Domenico Palmiero (22 October 2022). "SAN PRISCO VESCOVO E MARTIRE" [SAINT PRISCO BISHOP AND MARTYR]. SANPRISCO.NET (in Italian). Retrieved 1 March 2024. As there is no certain proof of the existence of a Capuan Prisco. some scholars have identified the saint celebrated on September 1st with San Prisco of Nocera, expressly described by San Paolino in one of his poems. This interpretation is considered certain by eminent scholars such as Hippolyte Delehaye, Francesco Lanzoni, Louis Jadin and Stephen Alan Bourque: an interpretation which is based on the canon according to which the existence of no martyr saint can be accepted if it is not based on certain documents.
  5. ^ Bonaventura da Sorrento (1877). "9.━S.Prisco Vesc.━" [9.━S.Prisco Vesc.━]. In Tipografia all'insegna di S. Francesco d'Assisi (ed.). Sorrento Sorrento sacra e Sorrento illustre. Epitome della storia sorrentina pel p. Bonaventura da Sorrento [Sorrento Sacred Sorrento and illustrious Sorrento. Epitome of Sorrento history for p. Bonaventure of Sorrento] (in Italian). Sorrento (SA). p. 67. There is a legend around him from Paolo Regio Vesc. Di Vico, (Vol. 2. of the Lives of the Saints of Naples), which narrates many sensational events that occurred on his journey to and from Rome, where he was accused by malicious people.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  6. ^ Raffaele Ferrentino (3 July 2003). "San Prisco di Nocera Vescovo-16 settembre" [San Prisco di Nocera Bishop-16 September]. SANTI, BEATI E TESTIMONI (in Italian). Retrieved 28 February 2024. The miracle of San Prisco in front of the pontiff.
  7. ^ Bishop Paolo Regio da Vico Equense; et al. (Giuseppe Cacchi) (1587). At Giuseppe Cacchi (ed.). Libro secondo delle vite de i santi. Descritte da monsig. Paolo Regio, vescouo di Vico Equense. Nel quale si contengono i gloriosi gesti de i beati apostoli, S. Andrea, S. Matteo, S. Bartolomeo, et S. Tommaso. Con le inuentioni, et traslationi delle loro sacre reliquie, fatte in diuersi tempi et luoghi. Et co' i loro miracoli continuamente operati .. · Volume 2 [Second book of the lives of the saints. Described by Monsignor Paolo Regio, bishop of Vico Equense. In which are contained the glorious gestures of the blessed apostles, St. Andrew, St. Matthew, St. Bartholomew, and St. Thomas. With the donations and translations of their sacred relics, made in different times and places. And with their miracles continually worked .. · Volume 2] (in Italian). Vol. 2. appresso Gioseppe Cacchi.
  8. ^ Andrea Calenda di Tavani (1886). Valdemaro Vecchi (ed.). Ramondello Orsino, storia napoletana del Trecento [Ramondello Orsino, Neapolitan history of the fourteenth century]. Vol. I. Trani (BT).{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  9. ^ Gennaro Zurolo (2013). "Al Reverendo e Nobile Signore Giovanni Leonardo da Airola da Nocera, Vicario del Reverendissimo Signore D. Giulio Iovij Comenis, Degnissimo Vescovo di Nocera e di tutto il Clero Nocerino. Frate Lucio Baldini Nocerino Teologo Francescano S.D." [To the Reverend and Noble Lord Giovanni Leonardo da Airola da Nocera, Vicar of the Most Reverend Lord D. Giulio Iovij Comenis, Most Worthy Bishop of Nocera and of all the Nocerino Clergy. Friar Lucio Baldini Nocerino Franciscan Theologian S.D.]. Vita di San Prisco. Primo Vescovo della città di Nocera (alla luce di documenti inediti del XVI secolo) [Life of Saint Priscus. First Bishop of the city of Nocera (in light of unpublished documents from the 16th century)]. Angri (SA): Onlus PanacèA. pp. 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35 and 36. The life, works, death and cult of San Prisco of Nocera.
  10. ^ Staff of Comune di Nocera Inferiore. "Luoghi di culto" [Places of worship]. Comune di Nocera Inferiore (in Italian). Retrieved 21 April 2024. Although the Roman martyrology proposes the celebration of San Prisco as the date of 16 September, the celebrations for the patron saint of Nocera Inferiore take place on 9 May.
  11. ^ Staff of ITALIA — ITALY. "Festa di San Prisco – Santo Patrono Nocera Inferiore — Eventi, feste e sagre in Campania" [Feast of San Prisco – Patron Saint Nocera Inferiore – Events, parties and festivals in Campania]. ITALIA – ITALY. "Festa di San Prisco" is one of the events scheduled in the Municipality of Nocera Inferiore. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  12. ^ Maria Onesta. "ZUPPA DI SAN PRISCO, LA RICETTA DELLA BUBBETELLA" [SAN PRISCO SOUP, THE BUBBETELLA RECIPE]. 2 Amiche in cucina (in Italian). The description of the preparation of the soup is named after San Prisco, called Bubbetella and prepared by the Nocerini during the week of the anniversary of the patron saint's feast. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  13. ^ Luciano Pignataro (3 May 2017). "La ricetta tradizionale. Bubbetella di San Prisco della Cantina del Vescovo" [The traditional recipe. Bubbetella di San Prisco from the Cantina del Vescovo]. LucianoPignataro-WINE&FOOD BLOOG (in Italian). Retrieved 5 July 2024. In Nocera Inferiore, in the province of Salerno, the feast of the patron saint, San Prisco, the first bishop of the city, is celebrated these days. This traditional recipe is still prepared in homes today: a soup of fresh seasonal legumes, based on broad beans, potatoes and peas, called "bubbetella" in Nocerino dialect, a true hymn to spring.
  14. ^ Staff of GIUBILE DELLA MISERICORDIA. "Cathedral Basilica San Prisco-Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno" [Cathedral Basilica San Prisco-Diocese of Nocera Inferiore-Sarno]. GIUBILE DELLA MISERICORDIA-MISERICORDIOSI COME IL PADRE-PONTIFICIO CONSIGLIO PER LA PROMOZIONE DELLA NUOVA EVANGELIZZAZIONE (in Italian). Retrieved 22 April 2024. The Vescovado complex stands on the site of the ancient church of San Prisco because, even before the construction of the cathedral church, the memory of the first bishop of the Nocerina diocese existed in that place, certainly linked to the presence of the saint's burial in the nearby necropolis of the extramoenia church of San Filippo alle Macerie; in fact, when the Benedictine monks settled in this place to build their home, they dedicated the monastery to the bishop of Nocerino.
  15. ^ Silvana. Filippo Massimo (ed.). "Cattedrale di San Prisco a Nocera Inferiore – Monumenti ed edifici storici a Nocera Inferiore – Cattedrale di San Prisco" [Cathedral of San Prisco in Nocera Inferiore – Monuments and historical buildings in Nocera Inferiore – Cathedral of San Prisco]. Paesionline.it (in Italian). Velletri (RM): Valica Spa. Retrieved 5 July 2024. Although the first religious building in the area dates back to around the end of the 10th century, and the presence of a Benedictine abbey in the same place is ascertained, the actual Cathedral was consecrated in 1386, two years after Pope Urban VI raised the city to the dignity of diocese.
  16. ^ Staff of INPRIMANEWS-direttore nello ferrigno (23 May 2024). "Nocera, Sangiuliano per San Prisco – Il ministro Sangiuliano ha concesso un finanziamento per l'adeguamento sismico della cattedrale di San Prisco, patrono di Nocera Inferiore" [Nocera, Sangiuliano for San Prisco – Minister Sangiuliano has granted funding for the seismic adaptation of the cathedral of San Prisco, patron saint of Nocera Inferiore]. INPRIMANEWS-direttore nello ferrigno (in Italian). Retrieved 5 July 2024. The funding comes directly from the Ministry of Culture and bears the signature of Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano. The amount is 695 thousand euros, money that will be used by the Diocese of Nocera Sarno to complete redevelopment works of the cathedral of San Prisco al Vescovado. In particular, there will be interventions for seismic adaptation and safety measures. The planned intervention is part of a project of the Ministry of Culture financed by the Pnrr which involves the adaptation and seismic safety of 167 places of worship, towers and bell towers. The total amount is approximately 130 million euros.
  17. ^ Antonio Braca; Vincenzo Piccolo (2023). A&M, Franco Alfano (ed.). La Cattedrale di San Prisco in Nocera Inferiore [The Cathedral of San Prisco in Nocera Inferiore] (in Italian). ISBN 9788894503616.
  18. ^ Licia Crispini (8 May 2021). "Nocera – San Prisco e il Museo Diocesano: il connubio perfetto tra arte e religione" [Nocera – San Prisco and the Diocesan Museum: the perfect combination of art and religion]. Il Quotidiano online (in Italian). The opening of the diocesan museum dedicated to the figure of the patron saint of Nocera Inferiore, which took place in 2008, by Msgr. Gioacchino Illiano. The museum was dedicated to San Prisco and inside there are various religious treasures from the Agro-Nocerino-Sarnese valley.
  19. ^ Staff of ASSOCIAZIONE MUSEI ECCLESIASTICI ITALIANI. "Museo diocesano "San Prisco" di Nocera Inferiore" ["San Prisco" diocesan museum of Nocera Inferiore]. ASSOCIAZIONE MUSEI ECCLESIASTICI ITALIANI. Retrieved 24 April 2024. The San Prisco Museum was founded in 2008 in Nocera Inferiore, in a wing of the bishop's residence, containing various artefacts from the early Christian era.
  20. ^ Staff of INPRIMANEWS-direttore nello ferrigno (14 September 2022). "Arte, bellezza e fede. Svelati i tesori del museo diocesano San Prisco a Nocera Inferiore – Un meticoloso restauro ha ridato luce e colori al busto settecentesco del santo patrono, una tela del Solimena e una scultura lignea della Vergine Addolorata" [Art, beauty and faith. The treasures of the San Prisco diocesan museum in Nocera Inferiore have been revealed – a meticulous restoration has restored light and color to the eighteenth-century bust of the patron saint, a canvas by Solimena and a wooden sculpture of the Virgin of Sorrows]. INPRIMANEWS-direttore nello ferrigno (in Italian). Retrieved 2 April 2024. After several months of restoration of three works: the bust of San Prisco, the canvas of the Coronation of Santa Rosa da Lima and the wooden statue of the Virgin of Sorrows, they return to the diocesan museum to be exhibited to the public again.
  21. ^ Agostino Russo; Egidio Valcaccia; Alessandra Cacace; Franco Gargiulo (May 2012). Franco Gargiulo (ed.). Il restauro della statua di San Prisco Vescovo. Cenni storici sulla vita del Santo [The restoration of the statue of San Prisco Bishop. Historical notes on the life of the Saint] (in Italian). N. Longobardi. ISBN 9788880903994.
  22. ^ Staff of storienapoli.it; Roberto Iossa (22 October 2022). "SAN PRISCO-PATRONO DI NOCERA INFERIORE" [SAINT PRISCO-PATRON OF NOCERA INFERIORE]. storienapoli.it (in Italian). Retrieved 1 March 2024. The life of San Prisco, between doubts, faith and miracles.
  23. ^ Staff of the TVCITY (10 September 2019). "Restaurato il busto d'argento di San Prisco e una tela di Solimena. La consegna al Museo diocesano di Nocera Inferiore" [The silver bust of San Prisco and a canvas by Solimena have been restored. Delivery to the Diocesan Museum of Nocera Inferiore]. TVCITY (in Italian). Retrieved 3 April 2024. During the evening of 13 September 2019 the restorations of the silver bust depicting San Prisco, the canvas "Coronation of Santa Rosa da Lima" by Angelo Solimena and the wooden sculpture of La Vergine Addolorata.
  24. ^ Salvatore D'Angelo (8 May 2021). "Una nuova mitria per san Prisco. Festa in Cattedrale" [A new miter for Saint Priscus. Feast in the Cathedral]. insieme, ATTUALITA' E CULTURA DELL'AGRO (in Italian). Retrieved 3 June 2024. The miter was made with votive offerings. The sacred vestment was made with the votive offerings that devotees have given to the patron saint over the years as a sign of gratitude for the graces received. These are precious stones, pearls, corals, gold and silver threads. An object with very high symbolic value.