San Nicola di Genna: festa al tempietto nell'agro castellanese

San Nicola of Genna: it's festival at the small temple in the countryside of Castellana

From Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th August 2024, in Castellana-Grotte, there will be a festival in honor of the Saint of Myra.

The beautiful small church of San Nicola of Genna, on the hills of the City of the Caves, will be at the center of the solemn celebrations sponsored by the Municipality of Castellana-Grotte and organized by the homonymous Committee chaired by Luigi Cassano.

A festival dedicated to San Nicola, the most venerated Saint, after the Madonna, in Christianity. Catholics, Orthodox and faithful of different confessions pay homage to the myrrh-streaming Saint, whose remains emit a fragrant substance with healing properties, the manna.

The August event will include religious moments and entertainment opportunities, a rural festival that retains, despite prevailing homogeneity, its genuine freshness.

Naturally, this will be the best opportunity to visit the small temple, candid and essential, dating back to the 16th century.

The church, once part of the Feudo of Genna, is located in an area of ancient habitation. The numerous ceramic finds in the surrounding area testify that the entire area was inhabited in ancient times. Nearby, one can observe the well-known snow house of San Nicola of Genna, an underground chamber dated 1788, a valuable witness of the Castellana past climate, and to the south, the Wall of Genna, remnants of a medieval structure of uncertain attribution. Inside, you can admire a canvas by Elvira Tauro depicting San Nicola dating back to 1922.

Here is the program of events, sponsored by the Municipality of Castellana-Grotte.

It will start at 7:45 pm on Friday 23rd August with the Prayer Vigil.

On Saturday 24th August, at 7:00 pm, the Diana, that salvo of firecrackers that traditionally marks the beginning of popular festivals. At 7:15 pm, the Holy Rosary and at 7:30 pm, the Holy Mass celebrated by Don Andrea Simone. At 9:00 pm, musical entertainment by "Evening Breeze".

On Sunday 25th August, at 9:00 am, the Diana and the opening of the church for worship, at 10:30 am, Holy Mass, at 7:00 pm, Holy Rosary and litany of St. Nicholas. At 7:30 pm, Solemn Mass presided over by Don Giovanni Amodio, parish priest of the church of San Leone Magno and zonal vicar of Castellana-Grotte, with Don Vito Cassone, parish priest of Santa Maria del Caroseno.

At 8:30 pm, solemn procession and blessing of the district. Following musical entertainment by the Banda Castellana-Grotte association.

At 11:00 pm, fireworks by Emotions Fireworks company, and at 11:30 pm, closing of the evening with the drawing of lucky numbers for the prize lottery.

Finally, there will be a craft exhibition and food stands to delight the palate. Additionally, there will be artistic illuminations by Paciello Francesco SAS of Monopoli, and floral decorations by "Ditelo con un fiore" by Marcello Allegretti.

Photo by Guglielmi and Ezia Secondo.

Those who wish to contribute to the success of the celebrations can make their donation, big or small, by visiting the small church during the Sunday evening celebration or by sending a bank transfer to the IBAN IT66R0846941440000000035036 coordinates.
Web: www.vivicastellanagrotte.it...