Feast of the Most Holy Crucifix
Description
Feast of the Most Holy Crucifix
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Technical sheet prepared by: Region of Sicily - Department of cultural heritage and Sicilian identity - CRicd: Regional center for inventory, cataloging and documentation and Sicilian regional film library
N. Prog. 88
Well: Feast of the Most Holy Crucifix
Book: REI - Book of celebrations
Approval date: 13-04-2007
Category: Party / Ceremony
Province: Palermo
Municipality: Monreale
Local denomination: Party ru Signuri
Chronological News
Legend has it that around 1540, two ships sailed in the Mediterranean: one carrying Christians from the vicinity of Palermo, the other was a Turkish ship. It is said that the Turks had a Crucifix with them which they treated in a very irreverent way. The Palermo sailors asked and obtained to be able to redeem the simulacrum of the SS. Crucifix in exchange for a large sum of money. Returning to the port of Palermo, a question arose between them as to who should keep the simulacrum. It was decided to place it on a cart pulled by oxen: in the place where the cart would stop, a church would rise to house the "Crucifix". The oxen stopped several times and in various places but, beaten, they continued their journey and then stopped where the church of the "Collegiata" now stands. Another legend is told by Pitrè and reports the story of the Crucifix which arrived in Monreale following an exchange with roses. However, history tells us very different things: around 1400 the church of SS. Salvatore because it is the seat of the brotherhood of the same name. This church later became the seat of the College of Canons, founded by Monsignor Venero and for this reason it was called "Collegiata". It was Monsignor Venero, then archbishop of Monreale, who ordered the bill of the “SS. Crocifisso ”to the Gagini family.
Recurrence: Annual
Date: May 3
Occasion: Remembrance of the healing of Archbishop Veniero from the plague and commemoration of the SS. Crucifix
Function: Devotional
Actors: The "Brothers"
Participants: Local community, civil and religious authorities, tourists
Description
On 1 and 2 May, the festival is characterized by folkloristic events promoted to entertain and delight: bands playing through the streets of the town, horse races, singing appointments, flag wavers and rides. Relevant is the journey of the penitents who, barefoot or with heavy woolen socks, walk the perimeter from the Collegiate Church crossing the main streets to return to the starting point. The celebrations reach their climax on May 3rd. At the end of the pontifical celebrated by the Archbishop, the traditional descent from the altar of the venerated image takes place. When the Crucifix it is brought down from the altar and is placed on the base of the Vara, the wounds of the sacred side are continuously groped by the handkerchiefs of the faithful who embrace and kiss the Cross.
The effigy of the Crucifix is then placed outside the church, under the majolica that represents it. At 18.00 o'clock, to the sound of the bell and the roll of the drums, accompanied by the sound of the bells, the solemn procession starts and ends, after the fireworks, at about 2.00 the next day. A feast for the eyes is the distribution of flowers that rain down on the crowd from the vara. At the end of the procession the "relocation" of the Crucifix takes place in its chapel located on the high altar. The "Brothers" on their shoulders carry the Simulacrum to the church, shouting: "Our patri returns to the house", While the faithful reply:"Grace patruzzu amurusu, grace".
REFERENCES
Cardella, Anthony. 2002. Holy rites and legends of the Sicilian people. Palermo: Sigma.
Pitre, Giuseppe. 1979. Patronal festivals in Sicily. Sala Bolognese: Ovens.
Sitography
Filmography
Discography
Footnotes
There are several versions of the legend of the Crucifix. The current procession unfolds along a path that for the most part is that indicated by Archbishop Venero in 1625. It starts from the Collegiate Church, passes through via A. Veneziano up to the “Canale”; along Corso P. Novelli up to "Arbitrage", After a stop of about 30 minutes, he descends from the same road to via Garibaldi, called a scinnuta ru Signuri, here he stops in front of the statue of Padre Pio, then continues along via Venero then corso P. Novelli, called a Varanni, to via Roma to piazza Vittorio Emanuele II. After completing the complete tour of the square, continue along via B. D'Acquisto to go up from via Palermo, go around the aforementioned square and stop, in front of the Municipality and the Cathedral, for the fireworks, at the end of which it returns to the Collegiata passing through via Umberto I.
Author Profile: Laura Mattaliano
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