The earlier dates commemorate the martyrdom of the catanaian saint, while the latter date celebrates the return to catania of her remains, after these had been. It was built to the behest of count roger over the remains of a roman building its called the achilliane thermae, whose ruins can be visited by going to underground, the cathedral dates back to norman times between 1078 and 1093. After the reformation era, agatha was retained in the calendar of the church of englands book of. Jun 17, 2015 a whole new way of learning about the saints.
Jerome, which lists christian saints in chronological order. Share your intention and reflect for a few moments. The first day is reserved to the candles offer that, traditionally must be as tall and heavy as the person who is asking for protection to the. Visit the churches in her honor, the church of alla fornace where she was burned, the. The christian festival attracts devotees and tourists from all over the world. The patrons are protectors who are deeply connected to each place through a long history and the saint often represents the very character of a town. She is also considered to be a powerful intercessor when people suffer from fires. The holy virgin martyr agatha was the fifteenyearold daughter of rich and respected christian parents from the city of palermo formerly panormos in sicily.
The legendary story of saint agatha starts in the third century a. See more ideas about saints, patron saints and catholic saints. The unique event blends devotion, folklore, and tradition. Jan 25, 2020 the people of catania look forward to it all year. She is one of seven women, who along with the blessed virgin mary, are commemorated by name in the canon of the mass. May the virgin martyr saint agatha implore your compassion for us, o lord, we pray, for she. Agatha there is evidence that agatha was venerated at least as far back as the sixth century, but all that we know for sure is that she was born in sicily and died there, a martyr. Like lucy, this early christian saint came from sicily. With crowds of up to 1,000,000 strong, there are few mass expressions of devotion as popular as the festa di santagata in catania. Greeks, romans, vandals, goths, byzantines, muslims, normans, hohenstaufens, spaniards, bourbons, the savoy kingdom of italy and the modern era have all held sway, and left. During the persecution under the emperor decius 249251, the city prefect of catania, quintianus, having heard about agathas. A cult that goes beyond the spiritual aspect, embracing the culture, folklore and society. Her feast day is february 5th, the date of her death. Catholic books, catholic saints, patron saints, roman catholic, lives of the saints, saints and.
Dvd 30 minutes journey with bob and penny lord as they go to sicily and explore the life story of this early church martyr. The festival begins on february 3 with the long and solemn noon procession that goes from the. As in the case of agnes, another virginmartyr of the early church, almost nothing is historically certain about this saint except that she was martyred in sicily during the persecution of emperor decius in 251. On the main days of the festival, from february 3rd to the 5th, the city comes to a standstill to celebrate saint agatha of sicily, patron saint of catania. Agatha virgin and martyr was born in sicily, of rich and noble parents a child of benediction from the first, for she was promised to her parents before her birth, and consecrated from her earliest infancy to god. Read at a meeting of the johns hopkins medical history club on february 27, 1950. Agatha died in defense of her purity, in catania, sicily, where she was born. Yet, in our historical precision, have we lost an essential human quality of. She has been mentioned in martyrologium hieronymianum, a book compiled by st. Saint agatha is the patron saint for breast cancer, rape victims, fire, nurses and natural disasters. On february the celebration lasts 3 days from 3rd to 5th 2020 and every day is characterized by religious ceremonies. Agatha was born in sicily, of rich and noble parents a child of benediction from the first, for she was promised to her parents before her birth, and consecrated from her earliest infancy to god. Jun 8, 2015 saint agatha is often represented as a virgin wearing a long veil, and over this a crown, symbol of her victory over death.
As a young lady agatha decided to dedicate herself totally to god. Agatha 4 was born at catania or palermo, sicily, and she was martyred in approximately 251. It takes place annually from 3 to 5 february and on 17 august. Nov 22, 2016 infomercial about the life story of st.
Oct 14, 2010 the story and history of saint agatha and a giveaway. Carmina, viii, 4, but we can affirm nothing with confidence concerning her history. Oct 22, 2014 classical and contemporary renderings of saint agatha, patron saint of the breast and guardian of catania, sicily. January 20, 2015 february 5, 2016, biographies, agatha, biography, life, sicily, 0 one of the most highlyvenerated virgin martyrs of christian antiquity, agatha was put to death during the persecution of decius 250253 in catania, sicily, for her steadfast profession of faith.
Browse saints profiles, explore biographies, see their friends and activity. She is one of seven women, who, along with the blessed virgin mary, are commemorated by name in the canon of the mass she is the patron saint of catania, molise, malta, san marino, gallipoli in apulia, and. Agatha rolls recipe on source above made in sicily in honor of the feast. Martyr agatha of palermo in sicily orthodox church in. Greeks, romans, vandals, goths, byzantines, muslims, normans, hohenstaufens, spaniards, bourbons, the savoy kingdom of italy and the modern era have all held sway, and left lasting influences on the islands culture and architecture. Catania was rescued and, from then on, the city, splendily lit up with fairy lights, is crowded every year with visitors and devotees from all over the world while santagata, in her silver cart, the vara, goes meet her people, throughout the whole town. These circumstances, added to her extraordinary beauty, inflamed quintianus.
St agatha of sicily february 5 saint of the day saint. Two versions of her martyrdom were recorded in the early church. The feast in august is smaller that the feast of saint agatha in february, but every year it attracts many devotees and turists. It is thought that she belonged to a rich and prominent family, and from a young age she dedicated her life to god, resisting men who wanted to marry her or have. Saint agathas cathedral takes its name from the santuzza protector of the city, her feast day is on february 5th. Saint agatha of catania, sicily travel photos by galen r. The festival of saint agatha is the most important religious festival of catania, sicily.
Sicilian people have a unique rapport with religion and superstition which binds the two seemingly conflicting doctrines together. The ancient books of liturgy abound with verses in honor of st. The rich, recorded history of sicily reaches back for more than three thousand years. Share your intention and reflect for a few moments help us to imitate her virtues during our earthly life and enjoy eternal happiness with her in heaven. The story and history of saint agatha and a giveaway. Agatha is the patron saint of sicily, bellfounders, breast cancer patients, palermo, rape victims, and wet nurses. Saint agatha is honored here in the place of her martyrdom. She is one of seven women, who, along with the blessed virgin mary, are commemorated by name in the canon of the mass. Her robe is the mark of her faithful witness to christ.
She is the beautiful little virgin martyr of catania, in sicily, who was killed for the catholic faith. Agatha of sicily, virgin and martyr teaching catholic kids. Feast of saint agatha, patron of catania, sicily italy by. At that time251 ademperor decius was persecuting christians. Minne di santagata, minni di virgini, agatha buns, and agatha bread are different names of a dish prepared in sicily during her feast, representing her severed breasts. Here are 10 things to know about her, to feel like a real citizen of catania. My fellow christians, our annual celebration of a martyrs feast has brought us together. Lord god, you showered heavenly gifts on saint agatha. Agatha of sicily facts, childhood, family life, career. I bought this book thinking it was the third volume of the history of sicily by the same authors. Agatha, saint, according to tradition, a noble sicilian virgin of great beauty and wealth, who rejected the love of a roman consul and as a result suffered cruel martyrdom. The festa di santagata guide to sicily the thinking. This holy virgin and martyr, st agatha, is held in great veneration by the greek as well as the latin church.
Agatha was born in sicily during the third century, and she spent her entire lifespan during the time before christianity was legal in the roman empire. The feast of saint agatha is celebrated twice a year. The story and history of saint agatha the story and history of saint agatha. St agatha of sicily is a virgin martyr who was born in catania or in sicilys capital, palermo, ad 231. However, it is a very abridged version of the entire three volume set, extending from early greek times to just after wwii. The feast in august lasts only one day and its connected to the celebrations occured in the night of august 17 1226, when the remains of the saint were brought back in catania from. The first day is reserved to the candles offer that, traditionally must be as tall and heavy as the person who is asking for protection to the saint. Saint agatha of sicily, virgin and martyr short life history. Palermo and catania are both mentioned as her possible birthplace, and tradition holds that she was born to wealthy and noble parents. The night of august 17 great fireworks color the sky starting from catanias harbour and from the church of saint placido, a real rarity. Her name is mentioned in the roman canon of the mass. Feast of saint agatha, patron of catania, sicily italy. Oct 09, 2017 devotion to saint agatha remains strong, but not only in catania, she has also become the patron and protector of all of sicily. She had protected the city from earthquakes and especially volcanos since the 4th century.
Three thousand years of human history by sandra benjamin. But an important man named quintianus wanted to marry her. The cult of the patron saint is a mixture of religious fervour, superstition and faith. Agatha, virginmartyr of catania in sicily catholic store. Agatha, also known as agatha of sicily, is one of the most highly venerated virgin martyrs of the catholic church. Pages in category agatha of sicily the following 2 pages are in this category, out of 2 total. St agatha novena st agatha of sicily was a beautiful young woman who consecrated her virginity to christ and was martyred for it. Devotion to saint agatha remains strong, but not only in catania, she has also become the patron and protector of all of sicily. It commemorates the life of what is the citys patron saint, agatha of sicily. Like many of the early saints, her history is cloaked in time. She shined with bodily beauty which was not damaged by the ravages of time and spiritual fairness, but was also full of riches and material goods. St agatha was a native of sicily, and descended of a noble and opulent family. Saint agatha is, like catherine, one of the popular set of late roman beautiful virgin martyr saints. She is also the patron saint of breast cancer patients, martyrs, wet nurses, bellfounders, bakers, fire, earthquakes, and rape and torture victims.
Agatha was born at catania or palermo, sicily, and she was martyred in approximately 251. Feast of santagata in catania visit sicily official page. Jan 31, 2018 st agatha is the patron saint of catania, molise, malta, san marino and zamarramala, a village in the province of segovia in spain. Saint agatha, you suffered sexual assault and indignity because of your faith and purity. Pope damasus wrote a hymn in her honor or had a poem that was perhaps written by someone else included in his book of devotions. Agatha is a martyr and one of the most venerated virgins of the early church. The roman catholic church always had a tremendous amount of power over sicilians spiritual, cultural. See more ideas about patron saints, saints and catholic saints. Nov 20, 2015 sicilian people have a connection to their town and saint which is almost fanatical. The feast of saint agatha is one of the most important religious feats in catania and its the third religious feast most followed in the world. Agatha achieved renown in the early church for her noble victory. Dedicated to sicilian art, culture, history, people, places and all things.
The whole city turns out en masse, tens of thousands come from afar to express their gratitude or to pray for intercession and many others just come for the incredible atmosphere, the fireworks and the food. Plan and serve an italian meal to honor st agatha on february 5th. These circumstances, added to her extraordinary beauty, inflamed quintianus, a man of consular dignity, with such love of her, that he resolved to compel her to become his wife. The story is, like many of such vintage, tangled and unreliable, and follows a fairly stock sequence of romance and persecution, but in agathas case she dedicated her virginity to god but was lusted after by a roman official, quintinianus. For her, christs death was recent, his blood was still moist. One thing we do know is that she was born in sicily in the third century.
February 5 came from the city of panormos today called palermo on the island of sicily. Pray this novena for those suffering from breast cancer, and for nurses. Saint agatha of sicily 231 ad 251 ad is a christian saint and virgin martyress. The connection between the two can be traced back to the struggle the early catholic church in sicily had against pagan religions. According to these sources agatha was a sicilian virgin of noble extraction. St agatha was born in sicily, of rich and noble parents a child of benediction from the first, for she was promised to her parents before her birth, and consecrated from her earliest infancy to god. She is also one of the seven girls named in the litany of the saints. She is the patron saint of breast cancer patients and of various localities in italy and elsewhere. There is evidence that agatha was venerated at least as far back as the sixth century, but all that we know for sure is that she was born in sicily and died there. Hear the prayers of those who recall her devoted life and who ask her to intercede for them in their necessity.