Matera is preparing to celebrate Sant’Agnese! Here are the scheduled events

There Parish of Sant’Agnese with the patronage of the Municipality of Matera proposes to the faithful the party in honor of Sant’Agnese.

Agnes was born in Rome to Christian parentsbelonging to an illustrious patrician family, in the 3rd century.

Decided to consecrate her virginity to the Lord.

When he was still twelve years old, persecution broke out and many of the faithful abandoned themselves en masse to defection.

Agnes remained faithful to Christ and sacrificed her young life to him.

She was denounced as a Christian by the son of the prefect of Rome, who fell in love with her and was rejected by her in order to maintain her vow of virginity.

She was exposed naked at the Circo Agonale, a place in Piazza Navona (now the crypt of Sant’Agnese) delegated to public prostitutes.

A man who tried to approach her fell dead before he could touch her and equally miraculously rose again through the intercession of the saint.

Thrown into the fire, this was extinguished by his orations; she was then pierced with a sword in the throat, in the way in which lambs were killed.

For this reason in iconography she is often depicted with a sheep or a lamb, symbols of candor and sacrifice.

The party planned in Matera it will last 8 days, from 21st to 28th April.

The celebrations will culminate the April 28th with a solemn procession of the statue of Sant’Agnese at 8.00 pm.

Here is the complete program.