Oratorio dei Rossi

The Oratory of the Holy Blessed Trinity and of St. John the Baptist is the seat of the homonymous Confraternity. It was founded on 24 June 1532 and is commonly known as the oratory of “Dei Rossi” (Of the Reds). The name comes from the colour of the garment worn by the brothers during religious functions, the red symbolised the kingship of Christ and the fire of charity, with which the Confraternity assists pilgrims and prisoners. The current Oratory of the Trinity dates to 1727 (this date is written in the open book, held in the hands of St. John the Evangelist, whose statue is found inside the Oratory). The Oratory dei Rossi is a unique example of Genoese Baroque. Curiosity: Doric columns originating from the nearby archaeological site of Libarna were used for the entrance portal. To see inside the Oratory: the polychrome wooden processional sculpture of the Trinity and St. John the Baptist, datable to the 18th century, work of the sculptor Luigi Fasce; the Holy Family with St. John, oil painting by the Genoese School, datable between 1660 and the early 18th century, which is believed to be by the Genoese painter Valerio Castello or his students; the high altar canopy, in wood and polychrome canvas, on which is affixed the coat of arms of the Confraternity, dates back to the 17th century; the right-side altar piece depicting St. Carlo Borromeo and St. Francis of Paola from the 18th century, the first is the reformer of the Confraternity in general, the second is the saint whose devotion spread precisely among the Confraternities of the Trinity; the left-side altar piece depicting Our Lady of Good Remedy and the Saints Giovanni De Matha and Felice di Valois, founders of the religious Order of the Holy Trinity for the ransom of the slaves, to which our Confraternity is institutionally bound; the painting to the right of the entrance, depicting the Baptism of Jesus, work by the school of the same Valerio Castello; the painting on the left of the entrance, depicting the beheading of the Baptist, of Lombard School. Several objects, visible only during processions, are also worth mentioning: the cloaks of the capes of the Confraternity, the brocades and the silvers for liturgical use, which escaped the Napoleonic suppressions of 1811. The solemnity of the Holy Trinity (Sunday after Pentecost) is celebrated with the Procession through the streets of the village (from the historic centre to the entrance of Viale Martiri and back). The Confraternity participates in the parish processions for Corpus Domini, the Sunday after that of the Holy Trinity, and of Our Lady of Sorrows (Patron of Serravalle), the third Sunday of September. During official ceremonies, the brothers wear the red garment (cape and cloak) and carry the signs (crucifixes and/or banner). The festivities experienced by the Confraternity include that of Saint Francis of Paola, on the first Sunday after the liturgical recurrence of this saint (2 April on the calendar), as well as the Marian feast of our fellowship, namely Our Lady of “remedy” (vulgarisation from the Latin “redemo” meaning ransom of those who are slaves) the Second Sunday of October (the relative liturgical recurrence is on 8 October).