"There are several hypotheses about the origins of the Sanctuary. The problem is difficult to solve, and even today there are many obscure points, despite numerous researches carried out by eminent scholars. It is appropriate, however, to report on the most accredited hypotheses and on the popular legends that pilgrims have passed down orally. There are two legends: one of popular origin and the other of literary origin. "The first tells of a farmer who, while he was ploughing the land at the top of the Tagliata hill, saw his oxen and plough fall into the precipice below. Having gone to the shelf at the base of the great rock face, he saw, with great amazement, the oxen kneeling before a mysterious painting of the Trinity, which appeared inside a small cave" (Caraffa). The plough had remained caught up high on a ledge of the rock. "The second legend, of a literary nature, was transmitted by a parchment that was later destroyed, but of which a copy has survived. Here is the story: Two people from Ravenna, resident in Rome, went to Monte Autore to escape Nero's persecution. Here they were visited by the apostles Peter and John who, having landed in Francavilla, had crossed the Kingdom of Naples. An angel appeared to the four and brought them food from heaven and made the spring flow from the earth. The following day the Holy Trinity appeared and blessed Mount Autore as well as Sinai and the holy places of Palestine." Beyond the legends, various hypotheses have been formulated on the origins of the Sanctuary. Some scholars trace the possibility of the origin of the place of worship dedicated to the Holy Trinity on Mount Autore immediately above the sources of the Simbrivio back to oriental monks or hermits. The blessing attitude in the Greek style of the "Three Persons", venerated in the Sanctuary and the particular toponymy of the surrounding places could support this hypothesis. In fact, the mountain in front of the Sanctuary was called Sion until the last century and finally the closest town, on the Abruzzo side, is Cappadocia (like the eastern region). Another hypothesis attributes the foundation of the Sanctuary of the Holy Trinity to San Domenico di Sora".