| The miraculous Oak |
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The ligneous crucifix of the SS. Salvatore, actually conserved in the parochial Church of Arquata, has a complex and long history... In an ancient time its place was in the S. Salvatore di Sotto’s Church, in Ascoli Piceno. During a war between Ascoli and Arquata in 1680, the Arquatans won the fight and started to pursue the fugitive Ascolani. Having arrived in Ascoli, the Arquatans had the time to remove from its Church this precious Crucifix (a famous object of veneration for the town of Ascoli) considering it a war trophy. Once the Ascolani noticed the larceny, they started to follow the Arquatans and met them in a place between the hamlets of Favalanciata and Trisungo. There followed a furious fight between the Arquatans and the Ascolani and the crucifix was put under a giant Oak. From this moment, history becomes Legend: the Oak’s branches miraculously bent forward to protect the Arquatans. All the soldiers interpreted the sign as a miracle understanding that the crucifix should stay in Arquata. The Ascolani left the battle and went back to their town... As a result to this bloody battle, this area is called “Pié di Sanguinaia”: in fact the waters of the Tronto River remained coloured in red for many days... From that day, the crucifix entered in the Arquatan tradition as one of the most important icons. Even today, the SS. Salvatore’s sacred processions are between the most crowded by the population.
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