This small and very rare volume The Madonna Odigitria by Father Francesco Fazio, represents the fruit of a happy meeting between four minds enlightened and inspired by Odigitria.
The volume was printed in 1921 by the will of Sister Nicolina Carnesi, superior of the Collegio di Maria who took on the responsibility of the press and Papas Zefi Petta chaplain of the Odigitria church. The translations into Albanian were made by professor Giuseppe Schirò.
A very rare volume because only five original copies remain. The volume was written by the hand of the well-known preacher Father Fazio who in May 1920 was in Piana dei Greci (as it was then called Piana degli Albanesi) to preach the glories of Mary.
To deepen his studies, Father Fazio attended the Sanctuary of the Madonna Odigitria where he met Papas Petta who was admired by the figure of this preacher and his meticulous research on the cult and devotion of Maria SS. Odigitria which under the title of Itria is still revered in almost all of Sicily. A relationship based on mutual admiration was established immediately between the two and Papas Petta provided every news, every pious legend, every photo and every possible source to the learned Father Fazio who wanted to leave his living testimony of the deep cult of the Madonna Odigitria in Piana Greek gods. The scholar immediately understood that the Madonna Odigitria since the foundation of this community has represented the sacred Palladio for his people and for this reason he intended to publish a volume that would always keep this cult alive for the population who still lived there and for the many who in those years began to emigrate to the United States.
At this point in history, the Most Reverend Sister Maria Nicolina Carnesi Superior of the College of Maria intervened, who with the funds of the College decided to give to the press the booklet written by Father Fazio with the collaboration of Papas Zefi Petta and the translations into Albanian made by hand. by the illustrious professor Giuseppe Schiò, whose volume Sacred Songs of the Albanian Colonies of Sicily had already been published and again thanks to the Collegio di Maria.
The volume of Father Fazio is a very topical and unmissable concentrate of history, news, photographs and curiosities about the cult of the Madonna Odigitria of Piana degli Albanesi.
A little treasure that cannot be missing in your library.
 
By purchasing this volume you can concretely support the protection of the heritage of the Collegio di Maria di Piana degli Albanesi.
 
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE TEXT OF THE VOLUME IS WRITTEN IN ITALIAN AND SOME TEXTS ARE TRANSLATED IN ALBANESE AND GREEK