Procession of the Chains of Saint Paul and Neighborhood Fair (Feast of Saints Peter and Paul)

A Benedictine tradition born in 1949

The Procession of the Chains of Saint Paul is one of the most cherished devotions in the San Paolo district, located in the VIII Municipality of Rome, in the heart of the Lazio region. Established in 1949 by the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, the celebration has evolved into a highly anticipated event for many, especially the local Romans. It takes place every year on June 29th, the day the Church celebrates the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, the patron saints of the Eternal City and the only civil holiday specific to the capital.

The relic of the Apostle's chains

The heart of the rite is the sacred relic of the chains that, according to tradition, bound the Apostle Paul to the Roman soldier tasked with guarding him during his imprisonment in Rome. The relic, now consisting of several iron links, has been housed since 2009 in a precious permanent reliquary located beneath the Altar of the Confession in the Papal Basilica. Once a year, it is removed and carried in procession by the abbot and the monastic community, offering the faithful a rare moment of direct veneration.

The route and the participants

The procession begins at Piazzale San Paolo, in the area in front of the Basilica's quadriportico, and winds through the streets of the district: Viale di San Paolo, Via Tullio Levi Civita, Largo Enea Bortolotti, Via Efeso, Via Corinto, Via Ostiense, and Viale Francesco Baldelli, before returning to the churchyard for the solemn blessing with the relic. The procession includes city confraternities and archconfraternities with their banners, priests and religious in choir dress, as well as representatives of the Metropolitan City and the Municipality of Rome.

The neighborhood fair along Via Ostiense

Alongside the religious dimension, a lively neighborhood fair grows every year, accompanying the feast of the patron saints along Via Ostiense and the surrounding streets. Hundreds of market stalls, food vendors, artisans, and traveling fairground attractions draw merchants, families, and curious visitors, giving the day a face that is both sacred and festive. It is an opportunity to experience the San Paolo district in a different light, amidst tradition, good food, and a festive atmosphere.

An event in the heart of Rome

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul in Rome weaves together several moments: the morning Papal Mass at St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican, the Girandola fireworks display at Castel Sant'Angelo in the evening, and this procession with its fair in the Ostiense district. For the San Paolo neighborhood, however, the Procession of the Chains remains the quintessential identity event, capable of uniting Benedictine spirituality with the popular life of the district.