santuario, diocesano, San Lucido di Aquara nella parrocchia di San Nicola di Bari

In the parish church of San Nicola di Bari, already documented in 1308, a local devotion has been raised to the rank of Diocesan Sanctuary. The honour, conferred in 2019, recognises the cult of San Lucido, a Benedictine monk and patron of Aquara. The building’s ancient choir once held a Byzantine-style icon screen (“cona alla greca”), which, worm-eaten with age, was replaced with new paintings in the late eighteenth century. In 1498, the saint’s mortal remains were solemnly translated from the church of the Monastery of San Pietro.

The principal feast, on 27 and 28 July, follows a deliberate ritual. It begins with a vigil Mass, invocations and prayers. Afterwards, the silver bust of the saint is solemnly lowered from its year-round sanctuary. The procession then winds through every quarter of the town, even the most outlying, accompanied by band music, sacred songs, fireworks and illuminations. The faithful cry: “Viva San Lucido! San Lucido, inspire us too!”

Description via source. Coordinates and heritage data from the Atika atlas.