FEAST OF SANT’AGATA IN AUGUST

Sant’Agata, patroness of Catania, brings the city to a party again this summer.

The celebrations of August 17, also called mid-August celebrations, were established on the occasion of the return to the homeland of the relics of Sant’Agata, stolen as war booty by the Byzantine leader Giorgio Maniace. On the evening of 17 August 1126, after 86 years of “exile”, the Body of Sant’Agata was welcomed in Catania, where it could be venerated again.

The Agatha celebrations will then take place according to traditional customs from 16 August with the exhibition of the Veil of Sant’Agata in the Cathedral Basilica of Catania for the whole day, Mass and the evening procession.

The celebration of the Dedication of the Cathedral will instead be prepared by two cultural events aimed at highlighting the precious heritage it contains: the III edition of the organ festival “The concerts of the Grand’Organo Jaquot”, with the artistic direction of Maestro Salvatore Reitano (with exhibitions on 30 July and 3, 9, 12, 18 August) and the guided tours “Sant’Agata and its Cathedral” which will allow access to wonderful places that are not always accessible (Friday 11 August with visiting shifts at 19: 30, at 21 and at 22:30).