Patronal Feast of Saint Pancras

A Celebration That Identifies the Town

The Patronal Feast of Saint Pancras is the most heartfelt religious event in Castelnovo ne' Monti, the capital of the Apennines in the Province of Reggio Emilia, in Emilia-Romagna. It is celebrated every year on May 12th, the date of the saint's martyrdom, and it is a day of celebration for the entire community: on the occasion of the patron saint, the Municipality and local services observe holiday hours, a sign of how deeply rooted the event is in the life of the town.

Who Was Saint Pancras

Saint Pancras was a young Christian martyr, beheaded on the Via Aurelia in Rome around 304 AD, at the age of about fifteen, during the persecution of Diocletian. Precisely because of his youth, he is venerated as the protector of young people, as well as of promises and oaths. His figure, buried in the Roman catacombs and later honored with a basilica on the Janiculum Hill, has spanned centuries and reached the Reggiano Apennines, where he was chosen as the patron saint of Castelnovo ne' Monti.

The Religious Program

The center of the feast is the celebration in the Church of the Pieve, the ancient place of worship in the town. According to custom, the day includes:

• the recitation of the Holy Rosary in the late afternoon;
• the Solemn Holy Mass in honor of the patron saint, celebrated in the evening, with a prayer particularly dedicated to the young people of the community;
• the gathering of the faithful around the figure of the saint, a moment of strong identity for the citizens.

The patronal celebration concentrates the town's evening liturgy on this date, with the community gathering in the main church instead of the smaller parishes for the occasion.

Castelnovo ne' Monti and the Reggiano Apennines

Castelnovo ne' Monti is the main center of the Reggiano mountains, at the foot of the suggestive Pietra di Bismantova, the imposing rock formation that dominates the landscape and is even mentioned by Dante. The patron saint's feast is part of a calendar of traditions that, throughout the year, bring this territory of villages, trails, and Apennine culture to life. For those visiting the area, May 12th is an opportunity to discover the most authentic and devout soul of this mountain community.