Saint Germano Patronal Feast

The patronal feast in Scisciano

On October 30th, the Municipality of Scisciano, a small town in the Nola area near Naples, celebrates its patron saint, Saint Germano, Bishop of Capua. It is the most significant event of the year for the local community: an autumn patronal feast, far from the tourist crowds, which preserves the intimate and familiar character of village festivals in inland Campania, where the religious and civil dimensions of town life naturally overlap.

Who was Saint Germano of Capua

Germano lived between the 5th and 6th centuries. Born into a wealthy family, he renounced his inheritance to provide for the poor; he became Bishop of Capua in 516 and was a friend of Saint Benedict of Nursia. In 519, Pope Hormisdas sent him as a papal legate to Constantinople to resolve the Acacian schism. He died on October 30th, 540, the date on which the Roman Martyrology commemorates him. His relics were translated to Cassino in 866 by Emperor Louis II: from then until 1863, the city at the foot of Montecassino bore the name of San Germano. Much of what is known about the saint comes from the Dialogues of Saint Gregory the Great.

The Mother Church of Saints Germano and Martino

The center of the celebrations is the Mother Church of Saints Germano and Martino on Via Parrocchia, the spiritual heart of Scisciano. The building is dedicated to two distinct yet complementary figures: Saint Martin of Tours, a symbol of charity, and Saint Germano of Capua, the patron saint venerated by the locals. Over the centuries, the church has undergone several restoration and consolidation projects, which have preserved its integrity and returned accessible spaces to the community. The parish also celebrates the Assumption of Mary with great participation in mid-August: two devotional pillars that mark the town's year, in summer and autumn.

Experiencing the festival

The festivities are organized by the parish with the involvement of local associations, primarily the parish Catholic Action, which kicks off its annual activities every autumn with an eye toward the patronal feast. Alongside liturgical celebrations, there are cultural moments: on October 30th, 2024, for example, the parish church hosted a conference dedicated to the cult of Saint Germano, Bishop of Capua, in Scisciano, explored through history, art, and popular devotion.

• Solemn liturgical celebrations at the Mother Church of Saints Germano and Martino
• Community gatherings and meetings promoted by the parish
• Cultural initiatives regarding the history of the patron saint's cult
• Active participation of local families and youth groups

Scisciano and its territory

Scisciano has just over 6,000 inhabitants spread over an area of about 5.5 km², at 31 meters above sea level, and borders Marigliano, Nola, San Vitaliano, Saviano, and Somma Vesuviana. The territory, included in the ancient Ager Nolanus, preserves traces of Roman centuriation; the toponym is said to derive from the name of a Roman landowner, Sittianus. The municipality has been autonomous since 1816 and became part of the province of Naples in 1927, after having belonged to the Terra di Lavoro. A fun fact: Ayrton Senna's maternal grandfather, Luigi Sena, was originally from Scisciano.

Why it's worth visiting

Those who arrive at the end of October will find a different side of Campania compared to the more famous destinations: no crowds, just a community that identifies with its saint and opens the doors of its mother church. The festival is perfect for combining with a visit to Nola, just a few kilometers away, or a day spent among the towns of the Nola area, where the autumn season brings with it the flavors and rhythms of the Vesuvian countryside.