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The Medieval Mourners in the Cathedral

The event is epochal: the two beautiful "Mourners" will be unveiled on the sides of the Crucifix of the Cathedral of Cividale del Friuli on Friday 17 January 2025 at 6:00 pm.

The Madonna and St. John the Evangelist, very refined wooden sculptures from the beginning of the 13th century, owned by the Municipality of Cividale del Friuli, will be placed on the sides of the majestic wooden Crucifix, also from the 13th century, to recompose a single sculptural group of incredible beauty.

The ceremony will be attended by Archbishop Mons. Riccardo Lamba, the Archpriest of Cividale Mons. Livio Carlino, the mayor Daniela Bernardi and many other religious and civil authorities.

Prof. Luca Mor will illustrate the historical-artistic characteristics of the three works and the exceptional recomposition of the triptych.

“The two sculptures belong to the Municipality of Cividale del Friuli and come from the Lombard Temple, where they were placed on the high beam supported by the columns that separate the hall from the presbytery – explains the Heritage Councilor Flavio Pesante who followed the practice – Preserved for many years at the National Archaeological Museum, they were restored by the Polo Museale FVG and the work was concluded in 2017. Since several scholars and restorers had long highlighted the strong stylistic and technical analogies between the two sculptures and the Dying Christ, the long and difficult administrative process had already begun with Mayor Balloch which in November 2024 allowed us to obtain authorization to install the two works in the Cathedral in order to recompose a medieval triptych of great importance. The Municipality has in fact granted the Grieving Persons on free loan to the Parish of Santa Maria Assunta (and will continue to pay the insurance costs) precisely so that they can be exhibited in the Cathedral as proposed by various scholars of medieval sacred sculpture”.

The ceremony is organized by the Municipality of Cividale del Friuli with the Parish of Santa Maria Assunta of Cividale del Friuli with the patronage of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Region, the University of Udine, the Superintendency of Archaeology, Fine Arts and Landscape - Friuli Venezia Giulia, the Cividale National Archaeological Museum, the Archdiocese of Udine, the Pio Paschini Institute for the History of the Church in Friuli, and Friuli Venezia Giulia Tourism. Admission to the ceremony is free and all citizens are invited to participate.