San Cassiano Procession

A centuries-old tradition in Bressanone

The San Cassiano Procession is one of the most deeply rooted religious events in the history of Bressanone (Brixen), an episcopal town in South Tyrol, located in the Province of Bolzano and the Trentino-Alto Adige region. The celebration takes place every year during the Easter season and attracts worshippers, parish communities, and visitors from across the Diocese of Bolzano-Bressanone.

Origins: from 1704 to 1734

The tradition traces its roots back to 1704, when the relics of San Cassiano arrived at the local cathedral. In 1734, Prince-Bishop Ignaz Kaspar Count Künigl commissioned a precious reliquary bust and established the solemn procession that, with few interruptions, has been celebrated for nearly three centuries. The procession was halted only on three occasions: in 1945, at the end of the Second World War, and in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.

The diocesan patron saints

At the heart of the rite are the relics of the diocesan patron saints Cassiano and Vigilio, carried in the procession alongside those of Saints Albuino, Ingenuino, and Blessed Artmanno. San Cassiano of Imola and San Vigilio of Trento are fundamental figures in the religious identity of the ancient Prince-Bishopric of Bressanone.

How the celebration unfolds

The day begins with a solemn trilingual Holy Mass in the Bressanone Cathedral (Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta), celebrated in German, Italian, and Ladin and presided over by the diocesan bishop. The liturgy is animated by choirs and wind instruments from the Bressanone deanery. Afterwards, the procession with the holy relics begins, winding through the streets of the historic center amidst brass bands, church association banners, and parish communities, concluding in Piazza Duomo with the final blessing.

• Solemn trilingual Holy Mass in the Cathedral
• Procession of the relics of patron saints Cassiano and Vigilio
• Participation of choirs, brass bands, and associations
• Final blessing in Piazza Duomo

A hallmark of South Tyrolean identity

More than just a religious function, the San Cassiano Procession is a moment of strong collective identity for the community of Bressanone and the entire diocese. The celebration, also broadcast live on the radio, testifies to the deep bond between the episcopal capital of the Isarco Valley and its patrons, in a context where German, Italian, and Ladin traditions coexist within the municipality of Bressanone.