Feast of Saint Sosthenes the Martyr – Mili San Pietro (with the Tafaria)

A unique celebration in the heart of the Peloritani

The Feast of Saint Sosthenes the Martyr is celebrated every year on the first Sunday of September in Mili San Pietro, an ancient village in the Municipality of Messina (Sicily Region) located 199 meters above sea level, at the foot of citrus-covered hills and crossed by the Mili stream. The village, one of the oldest in the Messina area, preserves the famous Basilian abbey of Santa Maria, founded in 1091 by Count Roger the Norman.

The primacy of a forgotten saint

Mili San Pietro boasts a curious distinction: it is one of the very few places in the world that venerates Saint Sosthenes the Martyr of Chalcedon, considered one of the least-known saints globally. Traces of his cult are found only here, in the homonymous Calabrian town in the province of Catanzaro, in Piacenza, and in New Jersey, where the devotion was brought by local emigrants. The sanctuary of Saint Sosthenes stands in the Serro district, on the high hill overlooking the village: in the days leading up to the feast, pilgrims reach it even on foot.

The Tafaria, the musical awakening of the village

The most anticipated and identity-defining moment is the Tafaria: a musical procession that, at the first light of dawn, travels through the narrow streets of the village, awakening it to the sound of drums, guitars, accordions, and friscaletti (the characteristic Sicilian cane flutes). It is a rare popular tradition, documented and handed down for generations, which gives the day an archaic and festive character.

Procession and festivities

The day opens with traditional fireworks and, after the Tafaria, continues with the solemn procession of the saint's statue through the streets of the village, accompanied by the "Gaetano Celeste" marching band of Camaro and led by the parish priest. Evening shows in the square, moments of prayer, and the novena at the sanctuary complete the religious and civil program.

The Messina Braciola Festival

The gastronomic heart of the feast is the Messina Braciola Festival, a centennial event organized by the "Feast of Saint Sosthenes" Committee in the village square. The braciola — a meat roll typical of Messina's cuisine — attracts numerous visitors every year, combining devotion, music, and convivial tradition.