The Church of Sant’Agostino will be closed for three months. The news comes after several inspections of the now old and non-compliant electrical and lighting system. The faithful were notified with a sign placed on the entrance portal announcing the closure and the consequent relocation of the celebrations to the beautiful church of Sant’Omobono.
“The Parish of Sant’Agostino, now part of the Cittanova Pastoral Unit, aware that the electrical and lighting system of the parish church is old and absolutely not compliant with current and past regulations on electrical safety, as well as lacking any certification and declaration of conformity, for some years it had mandated professionals and specialized companies in the sector to study a project to renovate the electrical and lighting system. – we read in the bulletin of the Cittanova Pastoral Unit – The Economic Affairs Commission of the Parish, after having evaluated various studies and projects and having discussed them with the competent Superintendency, chose the lighting project of the Melloncelli company of Sermide (MN). Preferred both for the executive choices proposed and for the overall cost-effectiveness, the project obtained the definitive approval from the Superintendence for Architectural Heritage in recent days.”
Specifically, it is then explained that it will not just be a job of replacing the electrical panels, but rather “of the backbones and power lines of power sockets, lights and spotlights, which are particularly energy intensive today“as well as”a new lighting system for the church which takes into account primarily the needs connected with liturgical celebrations, as suggested by the guidelines drawn up in this regard by the Italian Episcopal Conference.”
“In fact, the lighting designers are asked to contribute to the creation of a unitary assembly, such as to be a whole celebrating reality: the entire space of the celebration will therefore be illuminated in a uniform way, except for small accentuations intended for the fundamental places, such as thealtarL’ambo from which the Word is proclaimed and the baptistery. The lighting of the various surfaces therefore qualifies the communication of the assembly during the celebration, as well as allowing the faithful and visitors to fully appreciate the architecture and furnishings of the church. It will therefore be possible to define appropriate lighting scenarios for the church both as a function of the different liturgical celebrations and for the valorization of the countless works of art that characterize the naves and chapels of the church.” reads the statement.
For the intervention described, a total cost of 270,000 euros has been estimated. “The Economic Affairs Council has drawn up an economic-financial plan to cover the expense, which involves the use of a bequest from one of our parishioners and relies on the donation of contributions by the community. The methods for contributing to the execution of the work will soon be communicated, also taking advantage of the tax deductions provided for by current legislation.
Appealing to everyone’s generosity, we remember that for liberal donations, the parish IBAN at Banca BCC is IT62A0845411401000000125927.”
The celebrations, in the meantime, have all been moved to the Church of Sant’Omobono and will remain there until the end of the works scheduled for September.
The Church of Sant’Agostino is one of the most fascinating religious buildings in Cremona, second in size only to the Cathedral. Built in the 14th century, it represents a fine example of Gothic architecture, although it has undergone several changes over the centuries. The facade is characterized by a large rose window and a series of pointed arches which give the church an elegant and majestic appearance.
The interior of the church is equally impressive, with tall columns and cross vaults that create a sense of verticality and spaciousness. There are many works of art kept inside, including frescoes and paintings by artists of the caliber of Boccaccio Boccaccino and other masters of the Lombard Renaissance.
In addition to its architectural and artistic beauty, the church has a rich history linked to the religious and cultural life of Cremona. It was an important center for the Augustinian order and played a significant role in the spiritual life of the city.
