The wooden remains of the box in which the bones of Saint Nicholas from Myra to Bari will be brought in today procession, protected in a crystal case. This will open it festival of Saint Nicholas. With an event that will liven up the alleys of the historic center starting from 4.30pm.
The gathering
The rally will be at 4.30 pm in front of the Basilica. At 5pm the procession will start through the alleys of the historic center until 7.30pm when, with the return to the Basilica, a theatrical show will take place on the re-enactment of the Translation according to Niceforo’s version, curated by the director Antonio Minelli. And it is the director himself who explains what will happen this evening in the historic center. «In a narration by Nicephorus – says the director – the Translation is narrated as it was told by the sailors. The departure from Bari and the departure from Myra is described with the sailors of Myra displeased that Saint Nicholas was taken to Bari and the sailors of Bari who replied that Saint Nicholas would protect all the people from Bari”. It is therefore a detailed description of what happened during that journey. «For eight years – explains Minelli – we have decided to propose those moments again. The wooden remains of the box in which the relics of the saint were deposited will then be carried in procession. That box was kept in the convent of Abbot Elia before the Basilica was built. It is now in the Basilica museum and tomorrow it will be carried in procession.” At the end of the procession, a performance will be organized in the churchyard of the Basilica with a dialogue between the people of Bari and the people of Myria regarding the translation of the bones.
The circulation
For the occasion, the Municipality issued a specific ordinance prohibiting stopping and transit. From 2pm to 10pm and, in any case, until the end of the requirements, a ban on transit is established in Piazza San Nicola and Largo Urbano II. From 5pm no transit in Piazza S. Nicola, Arco Angioino, Piazzetta 62 Marinai, Strada Martinez, Strada Santa Maria del Buonconsiglio, Piazza San Pietro, Strada Santa Teresa delle Donne, Largo Ospedale Civile, Via Pier l’Eremita, Strada Santa Chiara , Strada San Luca, Via delle Crociate, Strada Carmine, Strada San Marco, Piazzetta Sant’Anselmo, Strada Santo Totaro, Strada dei Gesuiti, Strada Fragigena, Piazza Mercantile, Piazza Ferrarese, Via Vallisa, Strada San Benedetto, Strada de’ Gironda, Strada degli Orefici, Piazza Mercantile, Strada Fragigena, Strada Palazzo di Città, Corte del Catapano.
The draw
The celebrations will then continue on April 28th with the traditional draw of the two fishing boats that will transport the painting and the statue of the Saint on May 7th and 8th. For the first time, on the occasion of the 250th anniversary of the foundation of the Guardia di Finanza, the ceremony will take place at the naval station in the port. Also in this case, a specific ordinance was issued which provides for a ban on transit along Corso De Tullio, crossing the Imperatore Augusto seafront, Strada Porto Nuovo, Piazza San Pietro, Strada Santa Scolastica, from 8 pm onwards in relation to the passage of the procession. Martinez street, 62 Marinai square, San Nicola square.
The festival will come to life on May 6th with participants who will cross the alleys of Bari Vecchia to communicate the progress of the historical procession the following day. The events on May 7th will begin with the procession with the painting of the Saint (from San Giorgio bay) and will end with the long-awaited historical procession. On May 8th at 10am there will be mass at the San Nicola pier, celebrated by the archbishop, Monsignor Giuseppe Satriano. This will be followed by the statue’s embarkation into the sea. Which will return in the late afternoon and then reach Piazza del Ferrarese in procession. Fireworks show at 10pm. And finally on May 9th the traditional collection of the Holy Manna will be held after the 6pm mass in the Basilica. At 10pm the last fireworks show.
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