Patronal Feast of Saint Blaise and Saint Margaret

A patronal feast with medieval roots

The Patronal Feast of Saint Blaise and Saint Margaret is the most significant religious event in the municipality of Cappadocia, a small village of just under six hundred inhabitants nestled at an altitude of 1,108 meters in the Nerfa Valley, between the Carseolani and Simbruini mountains in the province of L'Aquila (Abruzzo). The two patron saints have been venerated for centuries: the churches dedicated to them, Sancti Blasii and Sanctae Margheritae in Cappadocia, were already mentioned in a papal bull by Pope Clement III in 1188, testifying to the historical depth of this cult.

February 3rd, the day of the patrons

The anniversary is celebrated every year on February 3rd, a date dedicated in the liturgical calendar to Saint Blaise of Sebaste, bishop and martyr. The community gathers in the parish church named after Saints Blaise and Margaret for the Solemn Holy Mass, the heart of the celebration. The parish, led by Father Renato Ciccarelli, belongs to the Diocese of Avezzano.

The blessing of the throat

The most characteristic and anticipated moment is the blessing of the throat: according to tradition, Saint Blaise is the protector against throat ailments, and during the feast, the priest imparts the blessing to the faithful by holding two crossed candles to their necks. It is an ancient and heartfelt rite that, in Cappadocia as throughout Italy, draws devotees of all ages to the church.

Faith and community in a mountain village

The feast is not just liturgy: it is above all a moment of reunion for the community of Cappadocia and its hamlets — Petrella Liri, Verrecchie, and Camporotondo — scattered across the mountains of the western Abruzzo slope, on the border with Lazio. In a territory marked by mountain depopulation, the patronal anniversary retains the value of an identity-defining event, an occasion to gather around one's roots and traditions passed down from generation to generation.

A village to discover

Those who visit Cappadocia during the feast will discover an authentic Apennine village, immersed in the landscape of the western Marsica region. The municipality, with its Camporotondo ski resort above 1,400 meters, is also a destination for lovers of winter mountains: the patronal feast of February 3rd thus falls in the heart of the cold season, when snow envelops the valley and the village.