Chiesa di San Pancrazio (Church of Saint Pancras), Taormina

The Chiesa di San Pancrazio (Church of Saint Pancras) is a place of worship of the Catholic rite. Belonging to the archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela, vicariate of Taormina under the patronage of San Pancrazio Vescovo, archpriesthood of Taormina, parish of San Nicola di Bari.

The Temple of Zeus Serapis is attested by the findings of marbles with epigraphs, respectively in 1861 and 1867, the statue of the Priestess of Isis, a gold ring of the Priest of the temple of Jupiter Serapis found in 1742 bearing an engraving.

The place of worship survived the three Saracen sieges unscathed.

In the Arab era the temple is documented as having a cross plan, and according to Byzantine usage it had the apses facing east and the prospectus facing west. Inside it had only one altar and kept the remains of San Pancrazio.

In the 1600c . the building of the Baroque structures is documented.

The Baroque -style part dates back to the second half of the 1600s, following the restructuring and enlargement of the facility.

On the right side above the sacristy in a set back position rises the bell tower, the middle part is built with squared blocks of stone from Taormina. the upper order has four round arches , one on each side with jambs , arches and keystones in Taormina stone delimited by convex pilasters , which form the open-air openings of the belfry.

On the gallery rises an octagonal lantern with arched openings on alternating facets, in turn surmounted by a small dome with a lantern surmounted by a stone sphere bearing a wrought iron cross with weather vane.

At the four corners of the balcony cornice there is a crenellation with double volute motifs, which recalls the top decoration of the pillars of the wrought iron gate which leads into the sacred area.

The Baroque structure of the altar recalls the external portal and occupies the cell of the Greek age temple, with the restructuring the north-west wall was partially demolished to obtain the presbytery. Lateral Ionic style columns delimit a prospectively advanced pair whose Corinthian capitals support an elaborate cornice rich in articulated moldings . In the center the aedicule hosting the vara with the simulacrum of San Pancrazio . In the upper order, an intermediate marble canopy with drapery supported by cherubs houses the bas-relief depicting a Madonna with child , the tympanumwith volutes it is decorated with cheering angels on each side bearing the episcopal symbols (pastoral staff, processional cross, palm of martyrdom, Gospel, staff), and amphorae. The upper stele surmounted by a cross bears a bust of God the Father Almighty in the act of blessing.