Our historian, Canon Giovanni Minasi, echoing the warning of Pliny, observed that it is shameful to live in one’s homeland and remain ignorant of it: «Turpe est vivere in patria et patriam ignorare».
It was precisely in order not to remain ignorant of its events and destiny that he became an active researcher in the archives of Naples, Rome, Palermo and Messina, seeking every document that concerned, directly or indirectly, our Town.
His intention was to reconstruct the history of Scilla from the most remote times, convinced that «the principal aim that every honest citizen should pursue is to make himself useful to his Homeland by employing every means to promote its moral and civil well-being».
From the conviction that history, after religion, is the guide and teacher of peoples — «powerfully contributing to the improvement of social life» — his work as an intelligent and prudent researcher drew its strength. This made him deserving of recognition in the world of culture, especially among his Town and fellow citizens, whom he hoped would take example from the diligence, courage, active commitment in every field, religiosity and fortitude with which our ancestors fought against their overbearing feudal lords, dedicating themselves to the struggle until victory from one century to the next and leaving the clear testimony that «with civilised peoples, oppression struggles in vain». His Historical Notices of the City of Scilla lead us step by step through the unfolding of the events that involved our Town, which at times became a protagonist itself.
It is a historical reconstruction divided into twenty-four chapters — in addition to the biographies — based on evidence drawn from authentic documents. Another of his great works concerning our Town is “The Basilian Monastery of San Pancrazio on the Rock of Scilla”.
It is therefore thanks to him that the dormant memories of the greatness of Scilla and the worth of the people of Scilla have been revived, as well as the precise confirmation of the presence of the Monastery of the Eastern Fathers on the Rock of Scilla.
Giovanni Minasi was born in Scilla on 27 December 1835 to Giacomo and Nicolina Colloridi. Initially educated at home under the guidance of a priest, he later attended the Jesuit college and the Seminary of Reggio Calabria, at a time when a true revival in studies and priestly vocations was taking place thanks to the learned and energetic Monsignor Riccardi.
In this fervent atmosphere of religiosity, the young Minasi also devoted himself to the priesthood, obtaining, upon completion of his training, ordination in Rome from his beloved Bishop, who in the meantime had been removed from Reggio.
He therefore remained in Rome, where he pursued intensive studies, before returning to his native town, where he was appointed canon of the Collegiate Church of the Mother Church and later honorary canon of the Metropolitan Cathedral of Reggio Calabria. However, the life of study and research, to which he felt deeply drawn, made him realise that a small town far removed from the major cultural centres, such as ours, could not provide him with the material necessary for his work. He therefore decided to move to Naples, where he was hosted by the Jesuits, an order to which two of his brothers, Pasquale and Antonio, belonged. He remained there until 1897, carrying out important research in the historical archives and discovering very ancient documents concerning our Scilla.
His activity began with a monograph on the Patron Saint of the town, Saint Roch, and then continued with studies of greater scope and historical significance. In addition to the two works already mentioned, which are of particular interest to Scilla, during his stay in Naples Minasi wrote and published the following works:

* Lo Speleota, or Saint Elias of Reggio Calabria, Basilian monk in the 9th and 10th centuries..
* Saint Nilus of Calabria, Basilian monk in the 10th century, with historical annotations..
* Churches of Calabria from the 5th to the 12th century. Historical notes..
* Cassiodorus Senator. Historical-critical research.

These works earned him great admiration and numerous praises from learned and authoritative figures.
Among his closest friends were the celebrated German man of letters and historian Ferdinand Gregorovius and distinguished librarians such as Don Giuseppe Cappaluzzi, a Basilian monk of the Vatican Library.
He was even offered a lectureship in the Faculty of Letters at the University of Naples, but his modesty, equal to the profound expertise he had acquired in the field of historical and archaeological sciences, advised him to decline the appointment.
He soon left the Neapolitan city and returned to Scilla, to live peacefully in his home, surrounded by a garden fragrant with orange blossoms, from which one could enjoy a delightful spectacle offered by the natural and historical beauties of Scilla.
There, making use of the rich material already collected, he continued his preferred studies.
For eight years — from 1900 to 1908 — he collaborated with the Rivista Storica Calabrese and compiled other works such as:

* Don Annibale d’Afflitto, Palermitan patrician, Archbishop of Reggio Calabria.
* Monsignor Don Giovanni Andrea Monreale, Archbishop of Reggio Calabria. A biographical study.
* Don Domenico Garofalo, Governor of Calabria Ultra. Events and struggles.
* Father Antonio Minasi of Scilla of the Order of Preachers. A biographical-literary study.
* Life of Saint Nilus the Abbot translated into the vernacular by Don Antonio Rocchi, Basilian monk. Critical observations.
* The Norman Abbey in Bagnara Calabra. Historical-critical notes.
* The alleged foundation of the ancient cities on the Mediterranean coast before the fifteenth century of the Common Era. Dissertation.
* Colonel Francesco Carbone of Scilla. Biographical notes.

Our Canon, educated in the school of Monsignor Riccardi, never ceased to encourage his fellow citizens toward goodness, urging them not to let their religious faith weaken, since the material and moral crisis affecting the society of the time was caused — in his view — by the lack of faith and by the fall of temporal power.
Honouring religion and the human sciences, he lived in Scilla until 8 February 1911, when he died. Three years earlier he had suffered serious damage as a result of the earthquake of 28 December 1908.
He himself was caught in, though escaped unharmed from, the ruinous collapse of his house.

«I honourably conclude, as I hope, my historical and literary life, withdrawing from the undertaken arena because of the somewhat advanced age of seventy-five years, the loss of not a few manuscript notes, the fruit of my previous studies, as well as of selected works that I had formerly collected».

Thus the historian Minasi took leave of his studies, of mortal life, of the scholars who had been his friends and of his fellow citizens, to whom he left a fine legacy of exemplary memories, of moral imperatives, as well as the hope for a better future in faith and civil dignity.

Giuseppe Ribuffo