“It will be a special celebration for the Lecce Christian community not only because after two years we try to savor the normality of the rites that traditionally, for many centuries, have been held in this city but, above all, because we are going to conclude the year-long journey, that of the Oronziano Jubilee in memory of the two thousand years since the birth of our patron ”.
This is how the archbishop opened his speech yesterday morning Michele Secciapresent at the press conference to present the civil celebrations organized by the municipal administration (LAWS). Therefore, the feast in honor of Saints Oronzo, Giusto and Fortunato is back, scheduled from 23 to 26 August in a widespread manner throughout the city.
The municipal administration and the archdiocese of Lecce have worked for the return of the patronal feast according to tradition, with the various moments dedicated to religious rites (LAWS) and civil celebrations. In addition to the procession with which the market fair, the funfair, the concerts in the square, the preview of the Christmas fair of Santa Lucia in via Trinchese return, the musical events in collaboration with the Tito Schipa ai Teatini Conservatory, the theater in the vernacular and the market of flavors at the Villa Comunale with the novelty of a real one Fireworks Festival in Lecce at the end of the three days and the confirmation – by popular demand – of the traveling band in the neighborhoods.
“We are pleased to be able to restore – the mayor announced at the opening Carlo Salvemini – the tradition after the reduced-form editions caused by the pandemic emergency and to be able to conclude the Oronziano Jubilee with a complete party that will be widespread in the city involving many places, from the center to the neighborhoods, from the marinas to the villages thanks to the joyful passage of the band. It means returning to normality also for the patronal feast, which passes through a rich calendar of civil initiatives and a series of measures to ensure that it is an organized, livable and decent party, easy to reach even by public transport. (DOWNLOAD THE MAP). We want to experience this recurrence which is a ritual, not a ritual, with fullness, serenity and awareness. The rites strengthen the memory and the feeling of belonging to places and people, while rituality is a formal and passive fulfillment “.
“I thank the Curia – concluded the mayor – who this year wanted to be a promoter together with Artwork of a series of cultural initiatives in support of religious ones and I thank the councilors Foresio And De Matteis (both present atOpen Spaceed) together with all the municipal offices that have worked synergistically to the success of these three days “.
“We lived a holy time in this Oronzian Year – added Seccia – during which we had many opportunities to get closer to the figure of Sant’Oronzo not only from the point of view of faith, living the celebrations of reconciliation and the Eucharist and learning to know the purifying function of the gesture of passing through the Holy Door of the cathedral and the sanctuary outside the walls; but also by scrutinizing its history, tradition, art… thanks to cultural events organized by the diocese throughout the year. The last one last June, the Oronziano conference organized with the University of Salento, the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences of Lecce and the Society of Homeland History. From the studies presented on those days it will be necessary to start again to feed historiographic research and renew devotion ”.
“But what does devotion to our patrons consist of – asked the prelate -?”. “Oronzo – he continued – continues to teach us that following Christ is a serious experience, for which it is also worth giving up one’s life in order to obtain as a final reward the eternal embrace with the One who awaits us at the end of the journey of earthly life. This is what devotion is: our patron is not satisfied with hasty signs of the cross, a visit to churches, a kiss sent to the picture or to a saint. True devotion is achieved in the imitation of those who have had the courage to live and die with the gospel in their hearts ”.
“This year the diocese – continued Seccia -, considering the jubilee occasion, wanted to celebrate the patrons not only with the usual liturgical rites: it will be present among us during the three days of celebration, Msgr. Pulijcthe archbishop of Zaradiocese in which (precisely a Not at) an important relic of Sant’Oronzo is kept and with him in addition to the procession we will proceed to the closure of the two Holy Doors and at the same time the Oronziano Jubilee. But the diocese, in collaboration with ArtWorkhas decided to offer the city, in the cloister of the ancient seminary, also some cultural evenings that will accompany the different liturgies: an approach already tested last year with moderate results and which this year is enhanced even more in the certainty that knowledge and beauty improves the life of the city ”.
“We will not forget those who are far away – concluded the archbishop. Thanks to Portalecce and with the generous collaboration of Telerama we will reach the elderly and the sick (with the web and TV even those physically distant from Lecce) by broadcasting the live broadcast of the procession of 24 August and the pontifical of 26 August. It is right that the atmosphere of the celebration and an opportunity to participate in prayer with those who will be in Piazza Duomo and on the streets of the city reach them too. I wish everyone peaceful days full of spirituality ”.
JUBILAEUM ORONTIANUM LYCIENSE. The widespread party for the city / HERE ALL THE PROGRAM