The Crypt of Montecassino Abbey

For the feast of St Benedict, here are some pictures of the crypt of the abbey of Montecassino, the site where he ended his days. The crypt was built in the early 16th century, and originally decorated with frescoes, but by the end of the 19th century, these had deteriorated so badly from the humidity that they were deemed unsalvageable. The decision was therefore made to replace them with mosaics designed and executed by monks of the famous artistic school of the German abbey of Beuron; this project was completed after 12 years of work. When the abbey was bombed in February of 1944, part of the central vault was destroyed (subsequently repaired), but the rest of it remained almost completely intact.

The relics of Ss Benedict and Scholastica are not in this chapel, but behind it, under the altar of the main church. (I will share some pictures of the latter tomorrow.)

The monuments to either side of the chapel which show them lying in effigy are cenotaphs, i.e., monuments made to look something like sarcophagi, but empty. 

On the proscenium arch just outside the sanctuary, an Angel stands in front of the kneeling figures of the titular abbot, and actual abbot, and Fr Desiderius Lenz, the monk of Beauron who led the project. I am not quite sure which scene is represented in the relief image below it.

On the opposite side, Popes Leo XIII and St Pius X, during whose reigns the project was executed.

The vault just outside the crypt, reconstructed after it was damaged by the bombing of the abbey during World War II.

To the left of the main sanctuary (as one faces it) is a chapel dedicated to St Maurus; this is the vault of the vestibule, decorated with a colorful representation of the medal of St Benedict.

These shields represent the many abbeys, episcopal sees, individual cardinals etc., whose donations financed the project.  

On the right side as one faces the main sanctuary is a chapel dedicated to St Placid, and behind it, the staircase by which one descends to the crypt.