To the Sanctuary of Oropa
The Sanctuary of Oropa is located in the city of Biella (Piedmont) and is one of the most important places of Marian worship in northern Italy. It stands at 1159 metres above sea level, along the mountain itinerary that connects the Biellese with the Valle d'Aosta, and from there one can admire the splendid panorama of Biella and, on clear days, the wide expanse of the Piedmont and Lombardy plains. The grandiose complex comprises two churches, the chapels of Sacro Monte and the buildings used to welcome pilgrims. The Sanctuary dates back to the mid 4th century and one cannot fail to make reference to the distinguished figure of the bishop and martyr Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, at the time when he was condemned to exile by the Roman Emperor Constantius II in Scythopolis, Israel, because he was a strenuous defender of Catholic orthodoxy against the Arian heresy. When Emperor Constantius died, his successor was Julian the Apostate, who made a decree that Eusebius should return to h...