 The original cathedral was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, Mother of God, and was in existence by 598.In that year, a deacon of the church wrote to Pope Gregory I, requesting that he order the relics of Ss.Hermas, Hyacinth and Maximus be enshrined in the cathedral, a task which the Pope entrusted to Bishop Chrysanthus of Spoleto, presumably because the See of Rieti was vacant.