Benedict Nivakoff and fellow Benedictine monks seek to rebuild Norcia after earthquake

When a 6.6-magnitude earthquake struck Norcia, Italy, Benedict Nivakoff and the other Benedictine monks who live there escaped injury.

But their historic basilica and monas­tery, built above the birthplace of St. Bene­dict, collapsed on October 30.

“Is this the end of the book or the beginning of a new chapter?” asked Niva­koff, an American monk from Connecti­cut who has lived in Norcia for 15 years and is the subprior of the community. “We want to make this a new chapter.”