Augusta, Sicily
Every city, town and village in Sicily has at least one church…one Catholic church. Most towns have a number of Catholic churches. Cities like Catania and Palermo have 10 to 20. And communities often have a patron saint. Siracusa’s is Saint Lucy. Catania’s is Saint Agatha. Melilli’s is Saint Sebastian. The church’s art reflects the commitment to the patron saint.
Yearly processions of men carrying large statues of the Saint celebrate the villages commitment to it’s patron saint. The stories of the lives of these saints are known to all and interwoven with the spiritual life of the village.
The Catholic church’s domination of communities is lessening. It is strongest among the older generation but you still see many young people attending Mass and there are many elaborate Catholic church weddings.
Here are a few of the churches we have seen.
Procession of St. Lucy, Siracusa, Sicily
Catania, Sicily
- Palzzolo Acreide, Sicily
- Palazzolo Acreide, Sicily
MedFlies 
I’ll have to tell Emily that St. Sebastian is the patron saint of Melilli. I’m sure that there are many days when she would say that HER Sebastian is not so saintly (but undeniably adorable). Are there any St. Henry’s?
We haven’t found a St. Henry yet but there are still plenty of churches to go. And, yes Virginia, there is a Saint Henry.
crop circle in Italy….http://youtu.be/jVEGCgvE_zs
Better than any church ehe