Patronal Feast of Our Lady of Constantinople

A Feast with Ancient Roots

The Feast of Our Lady of Constantinople is the main religious event in Noepoli, a small municipality in the Province of Potenza nestled in the Pollino National Park, in an area also marked by Arbëreshë culture. The origins of the feast are very ancient, probably dating back to the 8th century, making it one of the most evocative celebrations in the upper Sarmento valley.

Processions, Candles, and Sheaves

In the past, the feast lasted three days, from August 4th to 6th; today, the highlight is August 6th. The day begins with the morning procession in the Terra district, followed in the afternoon by processions in the Casale and Fontanino districts. Women carry candles and sheaves, wooden thrones adorned with candles or wheat sheaves, to the Mother Church for blessing: a votive offering that intertwines faith and peasant culture.

The Tarantella, the Bagpipes, and the Auction

In front of the Chapel of Our Lady of Constantinople, women perform a characteristic tarantella to the sound of bagpipes and accordion, in one of the most iconic moments of the feast. There is also the auction, where local products offered by devotees are sold, while the day concludes with popular music concerts and fireworks displays.

A Bridge to the East

Until the 1960s, the feast also included a Mass in the Greek-Catholic rite, a testament to Noepoli's deep historical-religious connection with the Christian East and its dialogue with the Eastern Churches. Participating in the feast means connecting with a layered Basilicata, where popular tradition, devotion, and Byzantine memory still coexist today.