Festival of the Miracles of Blessed Angelo and Saint Nicholas

A festival rooted in devotion

The Festival of the Miracles of Blessed Angelo and Saint Nicholas is the most significant religious and popular event in Furci, a small village of about 780 inhabitants perched at an altitude of 550 meters in the hinterland of the Province of Chieti, in Abruzzo. Every year, in mid-May, the entire community gathers around the figure of Blessed Angelo of Furci, an Augustinian friar born in the village around 1246 and who died in Naples in 1327, whose memory remains intertwined with that of Saint Nicholas the Bishop.

Blessed Angelo and the miracle of the oranges

Angelo of Furci was a respected theologian and preacher who studied in Paris and became the provincial prior of the Augustinians in Naples, humbly refusing the episcopal sees of Acerra and Melfi. His cult was approved by Pope Leo XIII in 1888, and his remains are venerated in the sanctuary dedicated to him. The heart of the festival, however, is the memory of the so-called miracle of the oranges: a prodigious episode passed down through the collective memory of the village, which is renewed every year with the rite of blessing and distributing oranges to the many faithful present—a simple and moving gesture that encapsulates the sense of belonging of the people of Furci to their roots.

Two days of celebrations

Festivities begin in the days leading up to the main event with holy masses and novenas, moments of prayer and reflection that prepare the community. On May 16th, the eve, the ancient feast of Saint Nicholas is celebrated with a pre-festive service. The main day is May 17th, when faith and folklore blend through the streets of the historic center.

• In the morning, the opening with fireworks and the band parading through the town;
• at 11:00 AM, the solemn pontifical mass in the parish church;
• in the afternoon, the procession with the statue of the Blessed and the rite of the blessed oranges;
• in the evening, the concert in Piazza Umberto I, featuring pizzica, folk songs, and traditional music;
• late at night, the grand finale with fireworks.

A village to discover

Beyond the festival, Furci is worth a visit for its sanctuary dedicated to Blessed Angelo, the medieval tower that dominates the historic center, and the production of excellent olive oil, the pride of the local agricultural economy. Participating in the Festival of the Miracles means immersing yourself in the authentic soul of inland Abruzzo, where faith becomes community and tradition is passed down from generation to generation. The event is organized by the Parish of Furci together with the Festival Committee, with the involvement of the entire village.