Rito della Nivola
Encyclopedia
The Rite of the Nivola is a Catholic lithurgic rite (part of the Ambrosian Rite
) as well as a historical reenactment
that is celebrated yearly in the Duomo (Cathedral) of Milan, Italy
; the tradition dates back to the 16th century and was initiated by Carlo Borromeo. It is a celebration of the "Santo Chiodo" (Holy Nail), purportedly a nail
from the True Cross
, which is regarded as the most important relic owned by the Archdiocese of Milan
. The relic is also known as the "Santo Morso" (Holy Bridle), as it is in fact shaped in a way that may resemble a part of a bridle
. It is preserved in the apse
of the Cathedral, in a case inside a tabernacle, about 45 m above the ground.
By chance, the rite is not named after the relic; rather, it owes its name to the Nivola (Milanese for nuvola, i.e., "cloud"), a sort of lift shaped like a cloud, that is used during the rite by the Archbishop
to reach the tabernacle of the Holy Nail. This Nivola itself dates back at least to the 16th century, and its design or realization are sometimes credited to Leonardo da Vinci
. It is composed of a large basket, 3m long and about as wide, weighing about 800 kgs, and lifted by hoists
. The decorations of the lift, comprising drapes and paintings of angel
s and cherub
s, were added over time; the paintings, in particular, were reportedly created in 1612 by the Milanese painter Paolo Camillo Landriani
. In origin, the Nivola was operated by two dozens of men from the roof of the Duomo; nowadays, it has been mechanized.
The Rite of the Nivola is traditionally celebrated once a year. The tradition was established by Carlo Borromeo, who chose to celebrate the rite on May 3 (feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross), a date that was kept until the mid 20th century; it was later changed to September 14 after Pope John XXIII
abolished the May 3 holiday.
The rite is open to the public but a reservation is needed, to be acquired from the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo
offices. There are two days a year when the Nivola can be seen in action; when the Holy Nail is retrieved from its case, on September 14, and when it is put back, about two weeks later.
Ambrosian Rite
Ambrosian Rite, also called the Milanese Rite, is a Catholic liturgical Western Rite. The rite is named after Saint Ambrose, a bishop of Milan in the fourth century...
) as well as a historical reenactment
Historical reenactment
Historical reenactment is an educational activity in which participants attempt torecreate some aspects of a historical event or period. This may be as narrow as a specific moment from a battle, such as the reenactment of Pickett's Charge at the Great Reunion of 1913, or as broad as an entire...
that is celebrated yearly in the Duomo (Cathedral) of Milan, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
; the tradition dates back to the 16th century and was initiated by Carlo Borromeo. It is a celebration of the "Santo Chiodo" (Holy Nail), purportedly a nail
Nail (relic)
Relics that are claimed to be the Holy Nails with which Christ was crucified are objects of veneration among some Christians, i.e., among Catholics and the Eastern Orthodox. In Christian symbolism and art they figure among the Instruments of the Passion or Arma Christi, the objects associated with...
from the True Cross
True Cross
The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a Christian tradition, are believed to be from the cross upon which Jesus was crucified.According to post-Nicene historians, Socrates Scholasticus and others, the Empress Helena The True Cross is the name for physical remnants which, by a...
, which is regarded as the most important relic owned by the Archdiocese of Milan
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milan
The Archdiocese of Milan is a metropolitan see of the Catholic Church in Italy. It has long maintained its own rite: the Ambrosian rite. It is led by the Archbishop of Milan who serves as metropolitan to the dioceses of Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Crema, Cremona, Lodi, Mantova, Pavia, and Vigevano.The...
. The relic is also known as the "Santo Morso" (Holy Bridle), as it is in fact shaped in a way that may resemble a part of a bridle
Bridle
A bridle is a piece of equipment used to direct a horse. As defined in the Oxford English Dictionary, the "bridle" includes both the headstall that holds a bit that goes in the mouth of a horse, and the reins that are attached to the bit....
. It is preserved in the apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
of the Cathedral, in a case inside a tabernacle, about 45 m above the ground.
By chance, the rite is not named after the relic; rather, it owes its name to the Nivola (Milanese for nuvola, i.e., "cloud"), a sort of lift shaped like a cloud, that is used during the rite by the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
to reach the tabernacle of the Holy Nail. This Nivola itself dates back at least to the 16th century, and its design or realization are sometimes credited to Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo da Vinci
Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci was an Italian Renaissance polymath: painter, sculptor, architect, musician, scientist, mathematician, engineer, inventor, anatomist, geologist, cartographer, botanist and writer whose genius, perhaps more than that of any other figure, epitomized the Renaissance...
. It is composed of a large basket, 3m long and about as wide, weighing about 800 kgs, and lifted by hoists
Hoist (device)
A hoist is a device used for lifting or lowering a load by means of a drum or lift-wheel around which rope or chain wraps. It may be manually operated, electrically or pneumatically driven and may use chain, fiber or wire rope as its lifting medium. The load is attached to the hoist by means of a...
. The decorations of the lift, comprising drapes and paintings of angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
s and cherub
Cherub
A cherub is a type of spiritual being mentioned in the Hebrew Bible and cited later on in the Christian biblical canons, usually associated with the presence of God...
s, were added over time; the paintings, in particular, were reportedly created in 1612 by the Milanese painter Paolo Camillo Landriani
Paolo Camillo Landriani
Paolo Camillo Landriani , also known as il Duchino, was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance period, active mainly in Milan. He was a pupil of the painter Ottavio Semini...
. In origin, the Nivola was operated by two dozens of men from the roof of the Duomo; nowadays, it has been mechanized.
The Rite of the Nivola is traditionally celebrated once a year. The tradition was established by Carlo Borromeo, who chose to celebrate the rite on May 3 (feast of the Invention of the Holy Cross), a date that was kept until the mid 20th century; it was later changed to September 14 after Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
abolished the May 3 holiday.
The rite is open to the public but a reservation is needed, to be acquired from the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo
Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano
The Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo di Milano is a 600 years old organization that was established to supervise the construction of the Cathedral of Milan . The organization is still active and involved with the maintenance, preservation, and restoration of the cathedral...
offices. There are two days a year when the Nivola can be seen in action; when the Holy Nail is retrieved from its case, on September 14, and when it is put back, about two weeks later.