Parish Church of Cogne
Edited by:
redazione
Introduction
Description
Description
According to an ancient tradition, the first inhabitants of the Cogne Valley came from the Soana Valley, across the Colle de la Nouva (2949m). They first settled in the upper Urtier valley where, at the Cret (2020m), they built their first church, only later descending to the central basin, where they built the main town. The cult of Saint Besso, common to the populations of Val Soana and Cogne, seems to be linked to the Valsoanina migration. In fact, on 10 August each year, pilgrims flock from their respective parishes to celebrate the feast of this Theban martyr at the sanctuary located above Campiglia in Valsoana.
In the Middle Ages, the territory of Cogne was inhabited by the people of the valley.
In the Middle Ages, the territory of Cogne was under the jurisdiction of the bishop of Aosta, who in 1191 obtained from the Count of Savoy the authority to erect a castle there, the nucleus of today's Royal Castle. The community, which over the centuries had developed its solidaristic and administrative structures, was freed from feudal duties in the second half of the 18th century, but the bishop retained the title of 'Count of Cogne' until 1951.
In 1630, during the terrible plague epidemic that struck the Aosta Valley, the population of Cogne was more than halved: over seven hundred adults and an indefinite number of children died. Confidence in the future did not fail, however, and already the following year, 41 marriages were registered in the parish. And about ten years later, a new church, larger than the previous one, was being built.
The traditional agricultural-pastoral and mining activities were joined, after the Second World War, by an economy linked to tourism. The presence of the Gran Paradiso National Park, established in 1922, has favoured a balanced development of the locality, which has sacrificed nothing of its exceptional natural beauty. Similarly, the population has been able to preserve its particular traditions (think of the typical costumes and lace-making or bobbin lace), which are still an interesting attraction for tourists.
The parish of Cogne is under the protection of Saint Ursus, a priest from Valle d'Aosta who lived in an uncertain period between the 7th and 8th centuries and was famous for his thaumaturgic powers. He is the first local saint to be worshipped in the diocese of Aosta, before the year 1000. Figurative testimonies generally present him clad in a chasuble, with a priestly staff in his right hand and a bird on his left shoulder; the latter, in particular, represents his specific iconographic motif. Popular tradition claims that it was the saint who reclaimed the central valley basin (still known today as 'St Bear's Meadow'), which was originally inhospitable. Rather, the canons of the Aostan Collegiate Church of Sant'Orso, to whose dependency the parish already appeared in 1184, may have played an important role in this regard. The canons held the parish until 1820, when all rights passed to the bishop.
The church
Tradition, as we have said, places the first church in Cogne at Crêt. Historically, we know that in 1202 the entire community provided for the construction of its church, probably already on the site where it stands today. In the first half of the 17th century, the building took on its current appearance, following reconstruction and extension work. It was consecrated by the Bishop of Aosta Monsignor Vercellin on 10 June 1642. The church has a rattangular plan, with an octagonal dome presbytery. The single-nave interior, redecorated by the painter Pirlato in 1960, preserves precious 18th-century carved and gilded wooden altars with twisted columns. The high altar, embellished with a rich Baroque decoration, has a painting in the centre depicting the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, welcomed into heaven by the Holy Trinity, and Saints Bear and Blaise. The statues of St Ansclmo and St Nicholas (on either side of the canvas) and a high relief representation of the Assumption (at the top of the altar), as well as a magnificent tabernacle entirely gilded and itself embellished with statuettes of saints (some of which have unfortunately been stolen), complete the exceptional artistic composition. The side altars, from left to right, are dedicated respectively to St. Michael (statues of St. German, St. John the Evangelist, St. Anselm, St. Grato, St. Michael the Archangel and St. Jocund); to the Holy Rosary (high relief with the Annunciation, statues of St. Catherine of Siena, Madonna and Child, St. Dominic and bas-reliefs with the mysteries of the Rosary); to Our Lady of Mount Carmel (statues of St. Andrew, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Peter, St. Sebastian, Pieta and St. Roch); to St. Anthony Abbot (statues of St. Teresa of Avila, St. Anthony Abbot, St. Agatha, St. Lucia, St. Carlo Borromeo and St. Apollonia).Near the side entrance, an aluminium statue of St. Barbara that has been in the Colonna chapel, at the entrance to the mine, for thirty years, and a memorial stone in memory of Abbé Chamonin, parish priest of Cogne for 57 years, from 1832 to 1889. The organ, dating back to 1772, was rebuilt in 1872 with the contribution of the King of Italy Vittorio Emanuele ll, who was present every year in Cogne for the ibex hunting expeditions; it was further enlarged, as it is now, in 1969. It has 1636 barrels. The bell tower was raised in 1828, for stability reasons, and was demolished and rebuilt in 1840. An interesting architectural element that deserves mention is the portico in front of the entrance. In the past, it was not a simple embellishment but had a precise liturgical function. It was known in Valle d'Aosta churches under the name of 'porche de mariage' because the rites preceding the marriage took place in its shelter. We know from the documentation that has reached us that it was also sometimes used for teaching catechesis.
Chapels and other signs of Christian presence
The faith of the inhabitants of Cogne led to the foundation of numerous chapels, mostly dating back to the 17th century, in the villages of Epinel (dedicated to Saints Fabian and Sebastian, re-founded in 1619); Cretaz (dedicated to the Conversion of Saint Paul, founded in 1667); La Tina (chapel of Saint Anthony of Padua, existing in 1617); Montroz (dedicated to the Pieta, refounded in 1712); Gimillan (Saint Pantaleon, existing in the 17th century); Terrabouc (Saint Bernard of Aosta, founded in 1657); Champlong (St. Barbara, existing in the 17th century, destroyed by the flood of 1863 and rebuilt a little further away from the stream); Lillaz (chapel of St. Clement, formerly of St. Anne, destroyed by the flood of 1863 and rebuilt in 1875, away from the stream, on the opposite side of the village) Goilles (St James the Greater, 17th century); Cret (dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows); Sonvilla (chapel of St Blaise, formerly of St Margaret, existing in the 17th century); Valnontey (St Leonard, refounded in 1715). Lastly, as splendid testimonies of faith, we would like to point out the crosses and statues of the Madonna erected on many of the highest peaks of our mountains, such as Gran Paradiso, Punta Tersiva, Grivola and Pousset, to recall a goal and an achievement and to guarantee divine protection.