Feast of the Most Holy Ecce Homo

A celebration of faith in the heart of the Nebrodi

The Feast of the Most Holy Ecce Homo is one of the most deeply rooted religious events in Mistretta, an ancient village in the Nebrodi Mountains in the province of Messina, Sicily. Every year, on the second Sunday of September, the entire community gathers around the venerated statue of the Ecce Homo to renew a devotion that dates back to the mid-17th century.

The origins of the cult

The cult of the Ecce Homo in Mistretta is linked to the Reformed Franciscan friars who inhabited the convent attached to the Church of Santa Maria di Gesù, which remains the site of the celebrations today. Around the mid-17th century, they spread the devotion to the image of Christ, scourged and presented to the people, following the Gospel episode of the "Ecce Homo".

The statue and the 'varetta'

The exquisite wooden statue of the Ecce Homo dates back to the first half of the 17th century and is attributed to Friar Umile Pintorno da Petralia Soprana (1600-1639), a famous Franciscan sculptor known throughout Sicily for his crucifixes and works of intense drama. The polychrome sculpture conveys human suffering through its reclined head, vacant gaze, and bound hands. During the procession, the sacred fercolo (float), the work of local sculptor Pasquale Azzolina, is accompanied by the varetta, which holds a relic of the Holy Cross and votive candles offered by the faithful for graces received.

The procession and festivities

The celebrations are preceded by a solemn novena dedicated to the Most Holy Ecce Homo, during which red drapes—a symbol of the Passion of Christ—are displayed and a votive lamp is lit as a sign of devotion. On the day of the feast, after the sacred services, the statue is carried through the streets of the historic center, accompanied by the priest, civil authorities, the local brass band, and the affectionate participation of the people. The festivities traditionally conclude with a fireworks display.

A defining tradition for Mistretta

More than just a liturgical recurrence, the Feast of the SS. Ecce Homo represents a moment of strong cohesion for the municipality of Mistretta and the entire Nebrodi area. It is an occasion when emigrants and visitors return to the village, families reunite, and the streets come alive with faith, music, and tradition, in one of the most authentic expressions of Sicilian popular religiosity.