Feast of San Leone - Sinagra
Description

Feast of San Leone - Sinagra

 Property included in the Register of Intangible Heritage of Sicily (REIS)

 

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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. 118
Good: Feast of San Leone
Book: REI - Book of celebrations
Approval date: 20-10-2008
Category: Patronal feast
Province: Messina
 
Municipality: Sinagra
Local denomination: Miracles of Santu Liu
Chronological News
Leo II, called the Wonderworker, was born in Ravenna in 710 and was appointed bishop of Catania in 765, dedicating himself to fighting heresies. In his bishopric in the Byzantine Empire, iconoclasm was in progress, i.e. the destruction of sacred icons and those who did not obey the edict were imprisoned. Leone opposed this law and for this reason the governor of Sicily ordered his arrest and Leone was forced to take refuge in the mountains probably in Sinagra (Vallone d'Orecchia) where he lived as a hermit in a cave. After many years he returned to Catania where he resumed his episcopal seat and where he died on February 20, 789.
The cult of the holy bishop has remained alive in the memory of the archdiocese of Catania. Promoters and great disseminators of devotion to the saint were the Benedictine fathers. Despite being included in the calendar of celebrations on February 20, the Saint in Sinagra is celebrated on Easter evening and Easter Monday. The feast of San Leone in fact recalls the legend of the attempted theft of the remains of San Leone, according to which some Catanesi, in an attempt to steal the remains of the saint, on Easter evening, after walking all night, at dawn, found themselves at the same starting point and frightened by the event they fled.
Recurrence: Annual
Date: February 20
Occasion: Easter Sunday and Monday, 8 May
Function: Celebratory / Devotional
Actors: Civil authorities (the Mayor) and religious authorities (bishop and parish priest), the bearers of the launch of the Saint, the brotherhoods
Participants: Local community of devotees, tourists
Description
The feast of San Leone is a celebration dedicated to the patron saint of Sinagra which consists of two moments: Easter Sunday, Easter Monday and 8 May.
The interest revolves around the celebrations of the Patron Saint Leo, whose recurrence falls on February 20, but due to an ancient custom it is celebrated on the evening of Easter Sunday, when the statue of the saint is carried in procession from the country church to the town. . Young and old, all lined up, to carry on their shoulders the statue of the town's patron saint, San Leone, who preferred Sinagra to the role of Bishop of Catania, in the last part of the procession the launch with the statue is pulled "running" on the bridge located at the entrance to the town around 23.00 pm, after the procession, which proceeds slowly, which lasts about four hours, with the classic "two steps forward and one backward", which symbolizes the saint's indecision in returning to Catania , where he carried out the activity of Bishop. At the sight of the town, the Saint "has no more doubts", chooses Sinagra and goes to meet his people running wildly. This phase of the Easter Sunday festival is called "Miracles of Santu Liu", Or rather a run of the heavy statue of the Saint, devoutly carried on the shoulders of the faithful, to the cry of"long live Santu Liu”, Which bursts into the crowd.
Tradition has it that during this phase of the celebrations, in the past as still today, the "Miracles of Santu Liu ".
The party continues with the Easter Monday procession which in ancient times coincided with the Easter Monday fair; during the day there is also "The Easter Monday Fair" in the past much felt.
In a similar way to the "Easter Race", on May 8 the Patron Saint's Day is repeated, during which parades of marching bands and fireworks are held with great participation of the people. The spectacular running crossing is repeated starting at 15,00 pm and after crossing the town, the simulacrum stops in front of the "stone of San Leone", in the district Vallone d'Orecchia, where tradition tells of the encounter between the holy miracle worker and the devil chased away by his gesture (the sign of the Cross, which is now engraved on the stone). The procession ends with the arrival at the Mother Church where the Simulacrum will remain until November 1st, to then be brought back to the country church for the winter season, in memory of the Saint's hermitage.
REFERENCES
Alaim, Francis. 1998. Nebrodi. Travel notes between history and culture of the Park Municipalities, Palermo: Fabio Orlando Publisher.
 
Falcone, Nino. 1977. Religious feasts of the Nebrodi, Marina di Patti (ME): Pungitopo Editions.
 
Come, Giuseppe. 1985. History, folklore, monuments, landscapes of 65 towns in the Messina area, Messina: Grafiche Scuderi sas
 
 
 
 
Card Author: Chiara Dell'Utri
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