Reggio Calabria and San Giorgio, history of an ancient devotion

On April 23rd the Church remembers Saint George; a special day for the city of Reggio Calabria which celebrates its Patron Saint to whom two parish communities in the city area are also named.

Don’t miss our updates, follow our channel Telegram: GO TO THE CHANNEL

The devotion to San Giorgio in Reggio Calabria dates back to the beginning of the 11th century and is linked to the episode that led Reggio Calabria to inflict a defeat on the Saracens who were threatening the Calabrian coasts.

San Giorgio, patron saint of Reggio, saved the city from the invasion of the Saracens

In 1086 the Saracen Bonavert of Syracuse landed in Reggio, destroying the monastery of San Nicolò on Punta Calamizzi and the church of San Giorgio, damaging the effigies of the Saints, but Duke Ruggero Borsa counterattacked and pursued Bonavert, killed him in battle and conquered Syracuse. For this victory the people of Reggio adopted Saint George as their protector, in fact it is said that Roger would have been assisted by the Saint against Bonavert.

Who was Bonavert, the invader of Reggio driven out by San Giorgio

But who was Bonavert? Ibn ‘Abbād, known as Benavert (also Benarveth or Bonavert) according to the correction proposed by Goffredo Malaterra, chronicler-panegirist of Roger I of Altavilla, was an Arab leader of Sicily. Ibn ‘Abbād was lord of Syracuse, and from 1072 to 1086 he directed the last resistance of the Arabs of Sicily in the eastern sector of the island, in an attempt to prevent the definitive Norman conquest.

TO KNOW MORE: From Piedmont to Reggio, the artist Fabrizia Ghione donates a painting of San Giorgio to the Municipal Palace

In 1075, he nevertheless managed to defeat Count Roger’s son Giordano near Catania, conquered that city again from Islam in 1081, and led some expeditions to Calabria (Reggio) in 1085-86.

Bonavert’s death at the hands of Roger

However, he perished on May 25, 1086, during the siege brought to Syracuse by Roger, falling into the sea with his heavy armor jumping from one ship to another, while his wife and son took refuge in Noto, which was also destined to fall. it a few years later (in 1091), together with Butera. A descendant of his, Muhammad ibn ‘Abbād, rebelled against Frederick of Sicily at the beginning of the 13th century, also meeting his death in that attempt.

Thus San Giorgio became the patron saint of Reggio

Indeed, ancient times correspond precisely to this period devotion of the city to Giorgio, also documented by the fact that they were the saint dedicated many churches in the city (including San Giorgio di Sartiano in La Judeca, San Giorgio di Lagonia, San Giorgio intra moenia and San Giorgio extra moenia).

The places of worship dedicated to San Giorgio

For the following centuries, the presence of four named churches is documented to the patron saint, as the historian reminds us Renato Laganà, in particular through the pastoral visits of Monsignor D’Afflitto. One was San Giorgio de Gulferio or Intra moenia (which housed the relic of the saint which disappeared in the earthquake of 1783).

The other, the little church of San Giorgio della Giudecca which stood near the ancient Jewish quarter (found entirely “ruined” in 1594, after the fire set by the Turks in 1543). It was near the church of Sant’Andrea in the ancient Piazza Mesa (today via Fata Morgana).

We are now also on WhatsApp, don’t miss our updates: GO TO THE CHANNEL

Another building was the church known as San Giorgio «de Lagonia», also destroyed, and of which the priest Cristaldo Cosentino was rector, who celebrated mass there once a month. The archbishop transferred the benefit to the Cathedral and the church “remained abandoned like the many others that were seen burned or destroyed at that time as a sad reminder of past Turkish incursions”. The other church, located outside the city walls, still retains the title of Saint George “extra moenia” or «of the Bars».

In particular in the church of San Giorgio al Corsostill existing in the heart of the city, nIn the Middle Ages the three mayors of the city were elected with a solemn act at the foot of the altar of the patron saint.