A rare religious fresco painted 63 years ago by an Italian immigrant known as "the Michelangelo of Cleveland" is in danger of being lost as the Roman Catholic diocese of Cleveland downsizes. Romeo Celleghin, who settled in Cleveland in the early 1920s, painted dozens of churches in northeast Ohio.
He said his greatest work was a fresco at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Lorain, a 103-year-old parish scheduled to close Dec. 13.
Cleveland Bishop Richard Lennon announced a plan in March to reduce the number of parishes in the diocese by 52.
Many old, inner-city parishes have shrunk as the population of Cleveland has decreased through flight to the suburbs.
The diocese has said that 42 per cent of parishes are operating in the red.
Celleghin's 1946 piece features God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost flanked by ornately cloaked saints and angels in a field of clouds and stars.
Removal of the fresco from the Lorain church would be costly and complex, said diocese spokesman Robert Tayek.
But he said the diocese hopes to find a new owner for the building who will preserve the fresco.
"Our intent for a closed building is to further its use by finding a purpose that will serve the community, not to raze the structure," he said.
A fresco is painted on wet or dry plaster, and is a dying art because it's costly and time-consuming.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to us or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that we agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
SIC: CNE