Since the Church of St Stephen had been renamed Holy Cross, the inhabitants of Atina built another one in honour of the saint, situated within the first set of walls surrounding the town’s fortress. I believe it was on the very spot where, following the collapse of the original building, Erminia Mancini had a small church built out of devotion, again dedicated to Saint Stephen. Today, this church is venerated with particular devotion by the people of Atina and is known by the name of San Stefano della Rocca, confers the title on one of the city’s ten canons.
Marc’Antonio Palombo, too, when speaking of Bishop Gaudenzio, describes this church in the following words:
“Today, the Church of Santo Stefano stands on Monte San Giovanni Vecchio and, although it lies in ruins, it is still visited with great devotion by the local people. Furthermore, it confers a title upon a canon of Atina. As it stands near the fortress, in papal diplomas, including those of Honorius, it is referred to as San Stefano della Rocca.”
Since the Church of St Stephen was given the name of Santa Croce, the people of Atina erected another building in honour of this saint within the first enclosure of the fortress of this town, and I believe on the very spot where, after that building had fallen, Erminia Mancini, out of her devotion, rebuilt a small church in honour of St Stephen himself. It is venerated there today with particular devotion by the people of Atina, and under the name of St Stephen of the Rock, ...gives its name to one of their ten canons.
Palombo also discusses this Church in his account of Bishop Gaudentius.
The Church of St Stephen is situated on the hill of Old St John, and although it lies in ruins, it is visited by the townspeople with great reverence. It also gives its name to another of the Atinates, and as it is situated near the fortress, it is referred to in the Diplomatica and Honorii as St Stephen’s of the Rock.
