Saints Cosmas and Damian Feast

A patronal feast with an ancient heart

Every year, on the last Sunday of September, the small village of Sciglio, in the municipality of Roccalumera, province of Messina, becomes a pilgrimage destination for the Saints Cosmas and Damian Feast. The two saints, twin brothers who lived in the 3rd century and are known as the Holy Physicians or anargyroi because they treated the sick without asking for payment, are the patrons of the village and are venerated there as miracle workers and protectors of the suffering.

The church and the village of Sciglio

The heart of the celebration is the Parish Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian, likely built in the 17th century and originally dedicated to the Most Holy Savior. Situated in a dominant position in the center of the ancient village of Sciglio, along the stream of the same name, the Baroque-style building preserves a pink stone portal dating back to 1758. The statue of the two saints is kept here in its niche all year round, emerging only for the days of the feast.

The program of devotion

The festivities follow a ritual calendar that has remained unchanged over time:

• Novena: Starting from the Friday preceding the second-to-last Sunday of September, the statue is moved from its niche and placed to the right of the presbytery, beginning the nine days of prayer.
• Thursday evening: The statue is carried in procession to Piazza dei Caduti, where it remains throughout the night and the following day so that the sick and disabled can also venerate the two saints; during the solemn celebration, the sacrament of the anointing of the sick is administered, followed by a candlelight procession back to the church.
• Last Sunday of September: From early morning, the village fills with pilgrims; liturgical services are held every hour starting at 5:00 AM, leading up to the Solemn Mass at 11:00 AM. In the evening, the statue is carried in procession through the streets of the village before making its moving return to the church; the festivities conclude at midnight with traditional fireworks.

Between faith and popular tradition

The feast has always attracted thousands of faithful from Roccalumera and the neighboring towns of the Ionian coast. Religious devotion is intertwined with popular tradition, expressed through wax or silver ex-votos, lit candles, devotional songs, and, in the past, barefoot processions as a sign of a vow. Saints Cosmas and Damian, martyrs under Diocletian and celebrated by the Church on September 26th, remain a symbol of healing, protection, and community identity for Sciglio, celebrated in one of the most evocative patronal feasts in the Messina area.