Feast of Saint Paolino of Nola

A patronal feast in the heart of the Peloritani

The Feast of Saint Paolino of Nola is the most deeply felt religious and identity-defining event in Mongiuffi Melia, a small municipality in the Metropolitan City of Messina, Sicily. The town, formed by the two hamlets of Mongiuffi and Melia connected by a bridge over the Ghiòdaro stream, rises on the southern slopes of the Peloritani Mountains, in a valley rich in plane trees, vineyards, and ancient olive groves. Here, Saint Paolino, a bishop of Nola who lived between the 4th and 5th centuries, has been venerated for centuries as the protector of harvests, in a territory where agricultural tradition has always marked the life of the community.

The two celebrations: June 22nd and the first Sunday of August

The cult of Saint Paolino in Mongiuffi Melia is divided into two distinct moments. On June 22nd, the saint's liturgical day, the statue is transferred on the eve from the church of San Leonardo to the Mother Church. Religious services and the solemn procession are held in the morning; in the afternoon, the statue reaches the Lampeli district, where food and drinks are offered to participants, before crossing the other districts of the village.

On the first Sunday of August, the octave of the feast, the festivities become more spectacular: mortar fire, church bells, and a brass band accompany a procession that extends to the surrounding countryside and reaches the Deri district, where wheat was once threshed on the ancient threshing floor.

The Miracoli and the Trasuta

The most characteristic moment is the Miracoli: the heavy float bearing the statue is carried at a run from one corner of the square to another, following a Saint Andrew's cross path, repeated three times, and then rotated on itself three times to bless the entire town. The same ritual is repeated in the Deri district to invoke protection over the crops.

In the evening, the return of the statue to the church brings the Trasuta of Saint Paolino to life, amidst rapid runs and rotations of the float contested by the numerous bearers. It is the most emotional moment of the feast, with the square packed: even children and teenagers imitate the adults by carrying small statues proportional to their weight, passing down a deeply rooted tradition from generation to generation.

A heritage of faith and identity

More than just a religious event, the Feast of Saint Paolino is the symbol of Mongiuffi Melia's identity: a collective ritual that unites devotion, peasant memory, and a sense of belonging. The ancient popular saying "Cu chiù beni lu voli, chiù forti lu chiama" (The more one loves him, the louder one calls him) summarizes the spirit of a community that, even today, entrusts its hopes and harvests to its patron saint.