As every year Catania is preparing to celebrate Sant'Agata, patron saint of the city and beloved not only by the people of Catania. This year, however, will be a "subdued" party due to the pandemic from Covid-19. In a Sicily just out of the red zone (and entered in orange zone), The feast of Sant'Agata 2021 (from 3 al 5 February) will be compulsorily carried out behind closed doors. Therefore, there will not be the usual crowds of faithful and tourists who flock to the streets of the city. The coronavirus even canceled the processions and forced the archbishop of Catania, Salvatore Gristina, to close the cathedral to the public. The traditional celebration of the mass will be streamed through the Youtube channel Facebook page . of the archdiocese. The faithful who wish to pray in church, or who wear the "bag”And they want to receive the blessing, they can go to the diocese closest to their home.
Feast of Sant'Agata 2021: streaming celebrations and closure of Piazza Duomo
Despite the restrictions, the people of Catania will still be able to follow the celebrations of Sant'Agata, which this year will be almost exclusively religious. The 4 February the archbishop in fact celebrated the traditional mass of the dawn, 6 in the morning (strictly behind closed doors), in the presence of the mayor of Catania, Except Pogliese, for the opening of the chapel with the bust-reliquary of Sant'Agata. At 18 it was then the turn of the First Vespers, with the message to the city of the archbishop. The 5 February, day of the death of Sant'Agata, will be celebrated instead the Pontifical (which the faithful can follow in streaming). To avoid gatherings, the mayor issued an order with the parking ban in Piazza Duomo. This will be closed Thursday 5 February from To 5 12 e Friday 6 February from 5 am to 15 pm.
Il Covid-19 marked this feast of Sant'Agata 2021 in Catania, as unfortunately many other celebrations around Italy. The more aspect folkloristic of the celebrations has in fact left more space for that purely religious. Despite this see the Cathedral without his faithful (who will participate in streaming, makes even more sad the three days that Catania dedicates to his beloved Saint Ajita. Having faith also means resisting during the darkest times and hoping that tomorrow a light will illuminate your path. Although this year the pandemic did not allow the people of Catania to be able to celebrate the feast of Sant'Agata in the best possible way, it is hoped that next year we will reach theherd immunity and you can go back to the street screaming: "Semu all devotees, all. Citizens, citizens! Long live Saint Ajita!».
