Alferius

Saint Alferius (Alpherius, Adalfericus), born in 930 at Salerno, of the noble Pappacarbone family, and died in 1050, is the founder of the monastery of La Trinità della Cava near Salerno. He served for a long time Prince Guaimar of Salerno. In 1002 he was put at the head of an embassy to King Robert II of France; on the journey he fell ill and rested at the monastery of San Michele della Chiusa, where he met Odilo of Cluny and vowed to become a monk if he recovered. He spent some time at Cluny, then returned to Salerno.

Around 1020 he withdrew to the foot of Monte Finestra, near Cava, and lived there in prayer and contemplation. A nucleus of hermits, drawn by his holiness, gathered around him, and he founded the monastery of La Trinità della Cava, following the Benedictine rule, which became very influential. The first four abbots of Cava (Alferius, Leo I, Peter of Pappacarbone and Constabilis) were officially recognized as saints on 21 December 1893 by Pope Leo XIII. He is a saint of the undivided Church, commemorated on 12 April (new style; 25 April in the old style).