Farfa
Farfa one of the three most celebrated Italian monasteries of the Middle Ages (Montecassino, Nonantula, and Farfa), situated on the little river Farfa, in Central Italy. It was in existence before the invasion of the Lombardians, by whom it was destroved, togethor with a number of other monasteries. It was re-established in 681 by the priest Thomas of Maurienea, who, on his return from the Holy Land, came to Farfa. It soon became celebrated, and received numerous presents and privileges from popes and kings. The moamastery was so strongly fortified that abbot Peter, at the close of the 9th century, was able for nine years to resist a siege by the Saracens, though he was finally compelled to depart emith the monks and the treasures of the monastery. Having remained abandoned and desolate for 48 years, it was re-established about the middle of the 10th century by king Hugo, but it afterward became the seat of frightful disorders. Several abbots were assassinated and poisoned; and the monks, without restraint and disguise, defied all the laws of the Church and the state. At the beginning of the 11th century a stop was put to these disorders, and the reformation of Clugny was carried through at Farfa. Since then the history of the monastery presents no points of special interest. A work of considerable importance for the history of Italy, called after the monastery, Chronicon Farfense, was compiled at the close of the 11th century by Gregory, a monk and librarian of Farfa (died 1100). After many vicissitudes, the monastery is still in existence. — Wetzer und Welte, Kirchen-Lex. 3:904.
