Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows

A Marian tradition in the Nebrodi mountains

The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is one of the most deeply rooted religious events in Santa Domenica Vittoria, a mountain municipality in the province of Messina nestled at an altitude of approximately 1,080 meters, between the Nebrodi Mountains and the Alcantara Valley, facing the majestic Mount Etna. Every year, on the third Sunday of September, the community gathers around the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows for a day of faith, reflection, and popular celebration.

Devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows

The figure of Our Lady of Sorrows, depicted with her heart pierced by grief for her Son's Passion, is the object of ancient and profound devotion throughout Sicily. In Santa Domenica Vittoria, this devotion is expressed through a festival that blends liturgical moments with community spirit, in a village where religious traditions still dictate the rhythm of collective life today.

The day's program

The festival follows a traditional format that repeats year after year:

• Holy Mass in the village church, the central moment of the religious celebration;
• Procession of the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows through the streets of the historic center, accompanied by the faithful and a brass band;
• Evening of music and dancing in the main square, where the community gathers to conclude the day in a festive atmosphere.

At the heart of the September festivities

The appointment with Our Lady of Sorrows is part of a particularly rich September calendar for Santa Domenica Vittoria: a few days earlier, on the first Sunday of the month, the village celebrates Saint Anthony the Abbot, its patron saint. The third Sunday dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows thus represents the second great devotional moment of autumn, drawing emigrants and visitors back to this small Nebrodi community.

A village to discover

Santa Domenica Vittoria, of feudal origin, is one of the highest towns in the province of Messina and is located within the Nebrodi Park, a land of forests, pastures, and local products such as the renowned Nebrodi truffle. Participating in the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows is also an opportunity to discover an authentic corner of mountain Sicily, far from the beaten tourist paths, where religious and community life remain closely intertwined.