Cantius Web Store

Praesepio Nativity Ornaments



King Caspar
King Melchior
King Balthasar
Three Kings
St. Joseph
Angel Yellow-Blue
Angel Pink-Blue
Angel Red
Three Angels
Virgin with Child

St. John Cantius Church in Chicago houses an elaborate 250 year-old Neapolitan “praesepio” from Rome. A presepio is the Italian version of the traditional Nativity Scene or Creche, only much larger. It includes not only the Nativity scene of the Christ Child with the Blessed Virgin, Joseph, shepherds and animals, but also a multitude of village scenes depicting Italian peasant life with villagers dressed in traditional folk costumes.

Originally, this presepio was to be donated to the Vatican but the donor chose rather to bequeath it to St. John Cantius where it is on permanent display in the church’s museum room. In order to generate funds to preserve and maintain our historic praesepio we have created these Praesepio Nativity Ornaments for your purchase. Now you can decorate your home at Christmas with these glass ornaments, painted in Poland.