Saint Felicity Feast

The patronal feast of Affile

The Saint Felicity Feast is the most cherished celebration in Affile, a village in the Simbruini Mountains located in the province of Rome, in eastern Lazio. Every year on November 23rd, the liturgical day dedicated to the martyr, the entire community gathers around its patron saint with a celebration that blends religious, civil, and popular elements in the heart of the historic center.

Who was Saint Felicity

Saint Felicity was a 2nd-century Roman noblewoman and a matron of a patrician family. According to tradition, she had seven sons and, together with them, suffered martyrdom for the Christian faith. Her figure as a mother and martyr, alongside her seven sons, is central to the devotion of Affile: the village's parish church is named after her, and she is venerated as the patron saint and protector.

The relics and the parish church

The Parish Church of Saint Felicity, documented as early as the Middle Ages, houses the saint's relics, which arrived in Affile and were placed in an urn beneath the altar following the church's expansion and consecration in the first half of the 19th century. Inside, one can find the altarpiece depicting the martyrdom of the saint and her sons, as well as a precious copy of the Catarinozzi organ, a testament to a famous family of organ builders originally from Affile. On the day of the feast, the relics and the precious reliquary are displayed for the veneration of the faithful.

The solemn Mass on November 23rd

The highlight of the feast is the solemn Mass on November 23rd, celebrated in the parish church with the exposition of Saint Felicity's relics. The celebration is part of the spiritual life of the Diocese of Tivoli and Palestrina, to which Affile belongs, and is often attended by the Bishop. Surrounding the liturgy, the community experiences a day of reflection and celebration, renewing a tradition deeply rooted in the town's history year after year.

Affile and the Simbruini Mountains

Perched among the Simbruini Mountains, on the border between Lazio and Abruzzo, Affile is an ancient village in the upper Aniene valley, rich in history, churches, and picturesque views. The patronal feast is the perfect opportunity to discover this authentic corner of the province of Rome, far from the main tourist circuits, and to meet a community that proudly preserves its religious and popular roots.