A few minutes drive from the archaeological town of Oderzo (the ancient Opitergium) there’s a jewel with historical-religious value: the Templar church of Ormelle, lapped by the river Lia and surrounded by the peaceful countryside. Built in the middle ages, in the 12th century, by the monastic-military order of the Knights of the Temple, it is today the best preserved templar church in Italy.
It was originally made up of a walled village located in the center of an extensive land (with houses and mills) and the village: this complex was called Masón (from Latin: Mansionis Templi) and it was a place of rest for pilgrims and the knights who would then embark in Venice to participate in the crusades in the Holy Land.
The choice of location was not random: the temple was located along the Via Opitergium – Tridentum (Oderzo – Trento) and a short distance from the Via Postumia (which connected Genoa to Aquileia), two Roman roads that were fundamental in the Middle Ages. The care of the parish was entrusted to a priest of the Templars, but when, in 1312, the Order was suppressed by Philip the Fair, with false accusations and persecutions, the complex passed to the Giovanniti (better known as the Knights of Malta) who stayed there for 400 years. Under their management, the Masón evolved from a hospice to an agricultural farm, consisting of extensive lands, including houses and mills. Since 1777 the church is dedicated to San Giovanni Battista.
The church is in Romanesque style, with a porch outside that presents a cycle of frescoes made in three phases, from the 12th-13th century to the 16th century: if you look well over the porch, on the right side of the church, you can still see the red Templar crosses that remind of a sword, evidence of the original medieval decoration. On the north side you can still see the traces of the door that led to the adjacent cemetery.
The interior, consisting of a single nave, has typically sober, severe Romanesque lines and here you can also admire the frescoes from the Templar period, although the centuries have erased most of it, and the church has been subsequently enlarged and redecorated. The presbytery was originally made up of three apsidies; the current central apse is from 1923, while the two smaller ones that are next to it are from 1955. The bell tower probably dates from a later time than the church. The rectory, which previously was the residence of the agent or procurator of the Knights, deserves a mention too.
Today the Templar church in Ormelle is also known abroad, being a destination for many tourists, especially Europeans. In addition to having a great historical and religious value, the complex exudes visitors from time to bring them back with the mind to the time of the crusades, in a place of peace and tranquility.
© Marcadoc editorial team | 31/07/2024
