U Nummu ru Gesù (Good Friday)

A centuries-old rite in the heart of the Iblei Mountains

In Sortino, a small town in the province of Syracuse nestled within the Iblei Mountains, Holy Week reaches its emotional peak with "U Nummu ru Gesù" (The Name of Jesus), the procession of Christ at the Column held at dawn on Good Friday. It is one of the oldest and most defining religious rites in the Syracuse area, drawing a vast crowd every year to relive the Passion of Christ in prayer.

The statue that survived the 1693 earthquake

According to tradition, the statue of "U Nummu ru Gesù" was found intact in the rubble of old Sortino following the devastating 1693 earthquake that leveled much of eastern Sicily. Since then, the effigy has been kept in the side aisle of the Church of Santa Sofia, where it is the object of deep devotion throughout the year. This bond with the city's rebirth after the catastrophe makes the rite particularly significant for the people of Sortino.

The "sciuta": the dawn departure

The highlight is the "sciuta", the departure of the statue from the Church of Santa Sofia at approximately 4:00 a.m. The effigy is carried on the shoulders of the confraternity members and accompanied through the town streets by torches, traditional "farate" bonfires, and funeral marches played by local bands. The procession, simple yet profoundly captivating, passes through symbolic locations such as the old prison, the Collegio di Santa Maria, and the Benedictine monastery, where the nuns offer their prayers.

The "corsa della vara" and the "trasuta"

One of the most spectacular moments is the arrival at the Mother Church, marked by the characteristic "corsa della vara" (the running of the float) and the closing of the central portal, a dramatic reenactment of the Passion. The procession concludes around 7:00 a.m. with the "trasuta", the return of the statue to the church. The atmosphere, amplified by the darkness of the night and the glow of the fires, makes this rite a truly unique experience.

Holy Week in Sortino

"U Nummu ru Gesù" is part of a rich calendar of celebrations that animate Sortino during Holy Week, from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday, when the evocative "Easter Meeting" takes place in Piazza Quattro Canti with the procession of the Risen Christ. It is a heritage of popular traditions that bears witness to the religious and cultural identity of this corner of Sicily.