santuario, mariano, diocesano, Santuario Mariano Diocesano Santa Maria Beata Vergine della Misericordia

On a small hill thick with ancient oaks, above the course of the Finita stream, stands this sanctuary. It is a Renaissance church, property of the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin of Mercy, and its setting feels deliberately secluded, a place apart. The church was elevated to a diocesan Marian sanctuary in 1988, during the Marian Year proclaimed by Pope John Paul II.

The real character of the place, however, lies in its traditions. A votive feast on 12 February commemorates a devastating earthquake in 1854, preceded by nine days of prayer. This solemnity draws together two distinct ethnic communities, the Arbereshe and the Calabrese, who sing hymns in the ancient Arbereshe tongue. The dawn celebrations conclude with a simple offering of bread and wine to all. The principal feast falls on the last Sunday of September, when the statue of the Virgin is carried in procession from the sanctuary down to the church in the town centre, followed by religious and civic festivities. Throughout August, the sanctuary remains a destination for pilgrims.

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