357th SANT’EFISIO FESTIVAL

On 1 May 2013 Cagliari and Sardinia 357esima celebrate the Feast of Sant’Efisio.
An intense moment of devotion, faith, culture and ancient traditions that merge into a folk festival that has no equal in the world.

Efisio, Saint and Patron of Sardinia, born in the East, lived at the time of the Emperor Diocletian in the third century. A.D. and as a soldier was sent to the island to persecute Christians. According to tradition, however, that one night, hearing a voice and seeing a cross appear in the sky shining Efisio converted to Christianity and became defender, disobeying the orders of Diocletian which they commanded the martyrdom took place on January 15, 303 AD in the prison of Nora.

Only after the terrible plague of 1656, the anniversary of his death, already the object of devotion and celebration, acquired the solemnity and pomp that still characterize it. The dramatic situation and the loss of so many lives umanespinse the Sardinian population to unite in prayer asking for the intercession of Our Lady of Bonaria and of the Holy Martyr Efisio, ancient protector of the city of Cagliari.

Today, as then, in gratitude for the health regained, the city of Cagliari and the whole island, with a solemn ceremony, retrace every step of the Martyrdom of the Holy Cagliari.

It ‘more than 300 years in fact, that every 1st of May, the Sardinian population accompanies his patron saint in this traditional and original procession, retracing the route that the prison in which he was imprisoned in the place of martyrdom comes to Nora, and then return to his Church Stampace where his relics are still preserved.

The parade is gorgeous. Consisting of 3,500 people in costume and coming from Campidano from Gallura, dall’Ogliastra from Sulcis from Logudoro and Barbagia and accompanied by more than 200 people at the turn divided into three main groups of campidanesi, the militias and the Caretaker, as well as the honor guard of Mazzieri municipal dell’AlterNos, the clergy, the Representation of the Army and Police officers in full uniform, also all on horseback.

One of the most evocative of the ceremonial dressing with gold and precious trappings with which the saint is richly prepared for his journey. Everything is perfectly organized and planned in every detail, even the choice of oxen traineranno the precious Holy Chariot of their ornaments and deliberately kept hidden until 1 May. However, the only way to further exploit the majestic solemnity of this event is to join the active participation of the entire population in Sardinia to celebrate the greatness of his patron saint.

The protagonists

The Confraternity

The Confraternity is a secular association and popular, among the oldest of Cagliari, established by papal bull by Pope Paul III in 1539. The venue was and still is the church of Sant’Efisio in the district of Stampace Low. It includes one hundred and fifty registered members, divided into two branches: male and female.
The Guardianìa and the Third Guardian

The members of the Guardianìa are also called by the people “Is Dottoris”, because in the past were part of notable citizens, and have the role of escort of honor of the saint. The Third Guardian is the representative of the festival and the main responsible for its organization.
The Alter Nos

The Alter Nos is the character that represents the Authority, and symbolizes the official ceremony of thanksgiving to the Holy public. Often it is a councilor or a councilor delegated by the Mayor. Wearing the Golden Fleece, a locket made of solid gold donated in 1679 by Charles II, King of Sardinia and of Aragon.
The three statues

The statues kept in the church of the Holy Stampace are three. The oldest in time (sixteenth century) is called “Molas sballiau” or “Sant’Efisio wrong” because it presents the cross imprinted in his left hand instead of the right. The second (XVII century) is the one that appears in public in the Festival in May, where the saint is depicted as a young Spanish aristocrat, with a mustache and goatee. The third was built in the eighteenth century by the sculptor Giovanni Antonio Lonis, and it shows in the Holy Roman military dress. is that the statue is carried in procession on Easter Monday.

The Procession of Folk

The parade is open from May 1 traccas, ox carts decorated for the occasion. At the festival usually involving twenty wagons from the district of Cagliari. The following are the folk groups in costume, walking, singing or reciting the prayers of the island’s religious tradition, the goccius. Behind the folk groups parade horses.

Open the Knights of Campidano, riding horses adorned with ribbons and rosettes. Then it was the turn of the militiamen, armed with musket and saber. The procession on horseback continues with the body of Guardianìa, parading in black tailcoat, cylinder, and blue band at the hips. In the front row, the Third Guardian holding the Banner of the arch. In hat and tails, with a tricolor flag on the sides, the proceeds Alter Nos, representative of the Mayor of Cagliari.

So parading members of the Arch of the Banner, introduced by a brother holding a crucifix of 700. Two brothers, called the “Collateral”, have a duty to stand at the sides of the coach throughout the parade route, and open the doors when it stops to allow the faithful to file within flowers, offerings, votive offerings and supplications .

The arrival of the chariot with the statue is announced by the sound of launeddas. The chariot is pulled by imposing a yoke of oxen decorated with flowers and colored mantles and conducted by Su Carradori. By way of Rome, in front of the stage where they sit authorities, the coach of the saint proceeds on a carpet of petals (sa ramadura), hailed by the sirens of ships docked at the port. is a very exciting time, especially for the intervention of the crowd that comes close to the Saint for the request for a pardon. So the coach continues his journey to Nora accompanied by the faithful who have vowed to take the path on foot.

Program:
10.00:

The traditional chariots campidano called traccas, lead the procession.
The following are the many different colors of Sardinian costumes: 3500 people dressed in traditional costumes from all over the island.
Are 300 horses that follow into three different groups: the Knights campidanesi, the Militia, the Guardiania.
12.00

Departure of Sant’Efisio through the following path:
Via Azuni, Piazza Yenne, Corso Vittorio Emanuele, Via Sassari, Piazza del Carmine, Via Crispi, Via GM Angioy, Via Mameli, Largo Carlo Felice, Via Roma (City side), Via Sassari (lower part) Viale La Playa, Fishermen’s Village, Georgie, Church of Sant’Efisio a Giorgino (15:00).
Arrival at the Church of Sant’Efisio a Giorgino is replaced with the coach and are made to wear to the Holy traveling clothes.
La Maddalena Beach, procession along the provincial road until the junction with Golden Fruits and stop with outdoor Mass in the square opposite the Church of Sant’Efisio Su Loi.
Short stop for the oxen.
Resuming the journey up to Villa d’Orri in the chapel where the property of the Marquis of Villahermosa is celebrated a Mass in commemoration of the dead.
Blessing and departure for Sarroch place where the saint spent the night in the church of the same name.

The Religious Procession

On the afternoon of May 1 the fishermen accompany the statue in the seaside village of Georgie and here the rest of the family is in the church Ballerò. Are removed the jewelry and proceed to the change of clothes, replaced by simpler ones. The statue is transhipped on a chariot, he said “chariot campaign.” So you go up to Maddalena Beach, where the faithful flock from nearby Capoterra (formerly called Villa Sant’Efisio). The third stage is carried out in the locality called “Su Loi”, with the celebration of a Mass.

At sunset, the procession arrives at the Chapel of the prestigious Villa d’Orri missing the Marquis of Villa Hermosa, where it is celebrated the Eucharistic blessing. At the end of the procession resumed the trip and get to Sarroch. The chariot is accompanied to the church of Santa Vittoria where it is celebrated a solemn mass, and this happens overnight.

On May 2, the procession arrives at Villa San Pietro, stage introduced during the festival in 1943, and subsequently in Pula. The chariot arrives around noon welcomed by civil and religious authorities. On the bridge called “On Rondo” Alter Nos entrusted to the Mayor of Pula task to continue the festivities. Is then celebrated a solemn Mass in the church of San Giovanni Battista. A stop in front of the cemetery and another in front of the church of St. Raymond and the Holy dall’Arciconfraternita is taken into custody and escorted to Nora, where he arrived around 21. So the statue is placed in a niche.

Throughout the day of May 3 is the commemoration of the martyr with masses and functions. At 18, the procession takes place along the coast, during which the Holy leaves the chariot and is transported in the shoulder to revisit the place of his martyrdom.

On the 4th of May is the day of return, and the ritual is repeated leg.

Program:
May 2
08:00

Mass
Departure to Villa San Pietro.
Procession, Mass and departure to Pula: Municipal authorities, the Confraternity and the faithful are waiting for the Holy begin the procession through the village.
Mass and lunch.
18:00

Celebration of the Holy Mass before the start of the simulacrum for Nora.
Feast in front of the statue to commemorate the dead.
Stop at the cemetery to commemorate the dead.
Blessing in the Church of St. Raymond.
Departure for Nora, stop the statue next to the command of the Navy, lowering of the flag and then leave for Nora for the celebration of the Holy Mass.
May 3
07:30 am

Mass until 11:00 am celebrated by the diocesan ordinary outdoors.
18:30 pm

Procession with the statue along the path that leads to the ruins of Nora and then return to the beach.
Mass and departure to Pula.
May 4
08:00

From Pula After the Holy Mass to get to Cagliari at around 22:30.
May 5

Mass.
Afternoon from 5th to 25th day novena in honor of the saint.
On May 22 you spend 40 hours of veneration of the saint and on this occasion the rosary is read spanning the entire life of Ephisius.
On 25 May, officially closes the calebrazione holiday in honor of Sant’Efisio.

Source: cagliariturismo.it