THE HISTORY OF THE MONASTERY

DESTRUCTION

	BIRTH CONSTRUCTION REBUILDING		In 1656 a serious plague struck the city of Naples decimating the population. Always lavish with their time, all but five of the Pious Workers died from the plague. And to make matters worse a powerful earthquake damaged both monastery and church in 1688. Restoration began immediately but dragged on for many years. Eventually, on the 21st of October, 1724, with Cardinal Francesco Pignatelli's approval, Monsignor Antonio Sanfelice, Bishop of Nardò, solemnly consecrated the church and assigned the 20th of October as the day for celebrating this dedication. Unfortunatly, another earthquake in 1732 again caused serious damage to the church and the job of restoration was given to an engineer, Giovan Baptist Anaclerio. The cost of 3,166 ducats being paid for by a Father Aniello De Rosa.The 23rd of July, 1923, saw another eruption of the volcano, again causing major damage to the whole structure. The last earthquake was in 1980 and the damage was so great that the church has been closed for the past 20 years.