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Catania’s Saint Agata Festival Canceled due to Pandemic
By Dr. Alberto Lunetta, NAS Sigonella Public Affairs
There are some things in life that even saints can’t make happen; at least, this is what disappointed devotees of Saint Agatha have been repeating to themselves since the cancellation of Festa di Sant’Agata (Saint Agatha Festival), Catania’s most important religious event of the year.
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For the first time since the 16th century, the third largest Catholic festival in the world will only feature religious celebrations behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions which ban street gatherings.
Many aspects of the annual three-day religious festival, which is also a major tourist attraction, have been canceled. There will be no procession comprised of thousands of devout Catania citizens swarming the streets to pay homage to their beloved “Santuzza.” Santuzza or young saint is a nickname given to the Saint because of her young age. The streets of Catania will stay relatively quiet this year since festival revilers will not be screaming “Semu divoti tutti? Cettu, Cettu, Citatini, viva Sant’Aita!” Which means “are we all devotees? Yes, of course, sure, Townspeople, long live St. Agata!” The traditional processions of the Cannalori, the tall wax candles surrounded by heavy decorated wooden structures, and the fireworks in the Piazza Duomo will be noticeably absent this year.
So, what how have Sicilians celebrated this year? Catania Archbishop Salvatore Gristina, celebrated a Holy Mass today at 10 a.m. at the cathedral that can be watched via Facebook. He encouraged heartbroken devotees to gather with their families and pray at home after lighting a red wax candle in front of an image of Saint Agatha. As for today’s religious celebrations, Gristina also suggested that devotees could attend the holy masses celebrated in the churches near their homes at reduced capacities and abide to the safety restrictions.
“We will continue to turn to St. Agatha so that she will be our traveling companion in this difficult test that life offers us,” said Gristina. “To her, our beloved patroness, we will once again entrust the sick, healthcare personnel, volunteers and those responsible for the common good. With confidence, we dare to hope that we will once again experience the strength of her patronage.”
Other festival virtual highlights will include the following religious events:
Feb. 6-11, Holy Masses at the Altar of St. Agatha at 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. and on
Feb. 11 at 4:30 p.m. Archbishop Gristina will preside over Holy Mass on International Day of the Sick, behind closed doors without the faithful. Devotees will have the chance to worship the saint through live streaming on Facebook and YouTube channels of the Archdiocese. Only hospital chaplains will be present. At the end of the celebration, the Archbishop will impart the traditional blessing with the Veil of St. Agatha.
Friday, February 12 - Closing of Celebrations: from 8 am to noon the Cathedral will remain open for the personal prayer of the faithful and devotees. At 7 p.m., the Archbishop will preside over the Holy Mass at the conclusion of the annual celebrations behind closed doors and without the faithful.
Life of Sant’Agata
According to tradition, Agata was born to a rich family in the year 231. As she grew up, her beauty and virtuous life drew the attention of Quintianus, a local Roman governor who actively and brutally persecuted Christians.
Agata, who had already consecrated herself to God, refused his advances. Therefore, Quintianus decided to punish her by locking her in a brothel where Aphrodisia, a wicked woman, tried to corrupt Agata’s virtue and faith but Agata never wavered. Quintianus, miffed by Agata’s resistance, had her tortured and at one point ordered to cut off her breast. This detail was often depicted in the Christian medieval paintings as a peculiar characteristic of Saint Agata.
Eventually after repeated tortures, Quintianus condemned Agata to death at the stake. While she was burning alive, a violent earthquake struck Catania. This natural disaster was welcomed by the Catanians as a sign from God who wanted the tortures inflicted upon Agata to end. A riot broke out in the city, forcing Quintianus to stop the execution. Agata was then brought back to her prison, but she died soon after her return on Feb. 5, 251 AD.
The evil Quintianus drowned in the river Simeto while fleeing the riot on the day of the execution.
Tradition and Devotion
According to an ancient tradition, Saint Agata is considered a salvatrice (savior) because she rescued Catania several times over the centuries, especially during earthquakes and lava eruptions.
Legend has it that her holy purple-colored veil (named “limpia” in Sicilian) has stopped two dangerous eruptions. The first one occurred in 251 AD, a year after her martyrdom, and the second one in 1886, when the lava threatened Nicolosi. In both cases, the veil was brought in procession to the eruption site, and the advancing lava flow miraculously stopped. Catania cardinal Giuseppe Benedetto Dusmet, who is regarded as a saint and whose body is preserved inside the cathedral, is said to have led the 19th century procession to Nicolosi.
The holy veil is 13 feet long by 20 inches large. According to legend, the veil, which was originally white, covered the head of Saint Agata when she was rolled over live coals during her martyrdom. Throughout this torture, the “limpia” remained miraculously undamaged by the fire but turned red. From then on, the veil has been venerated as a defense against Etna eruptions.
Catanians have been celebrating a festival in Saint Agata’s honor since 1519. Every year in early February, a stream of devotees of all ages crowd the streets of the historic center. In non-pandemic years Feb. 4 would have been the “Giro Esterno” a spectacular procession in which the relics of Saint Agata are taken from the church and paraded throughout the city of Catania through day and night.
Devotees wear special tunics (in Sicilian, “saccu”), gloves, a handkerchief, and a black skullcap (in Sicilian, “a scuzzitta”). Some historic accounts link the white tunic to either the ancient Egyptian Goddess Isis or the penitential garment worn by priests. According to another tradition, the saccu symbolizes the nightdress that the Catanians wore when they welcomed the return of the Saint’s relics from Turkey on Aug. 17, 1126. Giorgio Maniace, a Byzantine general, had stolen the relics as a war trophy and taken them to Constantinople (renamed Istanbul) in 1040.
Dressed in these traditional garments, devotees of Saint Agata take part in a procession of the “Cannalori,” which are tall wax candles surrounded by a heavy candelabrumshaped gilded wooden structure decorated with statues depicting angels, saints, pennons and flowers. Scenes from Saint Agata’s martyrdom are also carved on their sides. Each Cannalora represents a city’s guild, including butchers, greengrocers, fishmongers, pasta makers, bakers and more.
Nowadays, there are just 11 Cannalori that take part in the procession and each can weigh up to 1,500 pounds! During the processions, the Cannalori, each carried by 8 to 12 people, stop every once in a while and “compete” with one another by performing a kind of dance named “Annacata” that consists of a series of swaying moves.
Another important procession during the festical is of the “Vara.” The “Vara” is a 16-foot long richly decorated silver float that includes bust depicting Saint Agata and several crystal and silver caskets which contain her relics to include bones from her legs and arms.
Giovanni di Bartolo, a goldsmith from Siena, created the bust in the 14th century. The bust is made of enameled silver and lies on a magnificent pedestal and is cut just under the waist. Hundreds of precious jewels cover the statue. Most of which were donations of devotees.
The magnificent golden crown studded with gems donated by English King Richard “The Lionhearted” in 1190 during his visit to Sicily on his way to a crusade, is undoubtedly a highlight of the collection within the Vara.
Many people carry huge candles on their shoulders throughout the procession. During a normal festival year, Catania wax shops sell hundreds of ceri (tall wax candles) that devotees carry in the hopes that a saint will grant them a miracle they have been asking for. Usually, it is up to the devotee to decide how heavy the candle should be and for how long they would carry it. According to Catania wax dealers, the most requested candle is the one that weighs approximately 85 pounds, but some also request candles that can weigh up to 350 pounds.
Carrying ceri in procession is usually a lifelong practice. If one devotee is too old or sick to carry a heavy candle, another person such as a son or a relative could continue to participate in the procession instead of them. Although the celebrations look different this year, many Sicilians will still carry out their own private devotions to Catania’s beloved patron saint.