Santo Stefano di Briga, torna dopo 40 anni la processione di Santa Lucia

MESSINA. A tradition lost over time, a celebration lost over the years, the statue of Saint Lucia had not been carried in procession since 1978, until yesterday, when the wooden effigy of the Saint of Syracuse was welcomed into the streets of the "Soprano." A return that began thanks to a dream, that of Lorenzo Clemente, a citizen of Santo Stefano, who repeatedly dreamed of the Virgin Saint Lucia expressing his desire that the small church dedicated to her, now deconsecrated for years and a victim of abandonment, be restored. Father Lino Grillo, parish priest of the parish of San Giovanni, granted the wishes of the Clemente family, who donated over 100,000 euros to enable the work. Thus began the process for the restoration of the small church of Saint Lucia, work directed by architect Marialucia Micali and carried out by local craftsmen, some of whom volunteered their services. During the work, an incredible discovery was made: behind a perforated brick wall, a fresco attributed to the Basilians was discovered, thus pushing the church's construction date back much further, to around the year 1000. Other frescoes and architectural elements were also discovered, hidden by the renovations that took place over the years. This important discovery has now been brought to the attention of the Superintendency of Cultural Heritage. The small church, located in the center of the village, was consecrated on December 11th, in the presence of the Archbishop of Messina, Giovanni Accolla. Concurrently with the restoration of the church, the wooden statue was also restored, carried out by restorer Carmelo Geraci. The effigy was returned to the Stephen community in all its splendor. The simulacrum will be placed in the new church, which will become a place of prayer open to the faithful.