This week was a special celebration in Catania that was overseen by the Vatican's Sec'y of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin:
Saint Agatha's relics were taken from Sicily to Constantinople in 1040 CE by General George Maniaces, whose forces were there to 'save' Sicily from the Arabs. While they were at it, they looted a lot of important religious items, including Agatha's bones.
Local tradition notes that the citizens of Catania watched helplessly from the shoreline in tears as the ship sailed away. Today, a waterfront fountain facing east stands on that exact spot to commemorate their sorrow.
The relics remained in Constantinople for 86 years. According to legend, Saint Agatha eventually decided it was time to return home. She began appearing in the dreams of Gisliberto, a French soldier, and Goselmo, an Apulian soldier, who were both stationed in Constantinople. In the visions, the saint repeatedly pleaded, "Let me return home."
in 1126 they staged The Holy Heist:
To smuggle the remains out of the church undetected, they divided the saint's body into five parts. They hid the pieces inside wooden boxes and quivers to bypass imperial security guards. The pair slipped onto a ship bound for Sicily. During the journey, they stopped in Gallipoli, where they left one of the saint's breasts as a gift.
When the soldiers arrived in Sicily, Bishop Mauritius of Catania initially feared a Byzantine trap. However, upon opening the boxes, an indescribably sweet, miraculous fragrance filled the air, confirming the relics' authenticity.
On the night of August 17, 1126, word spread that Saint Agatha had returned. Overjoyed citizens rushed into the streets barefoot and still in their nightclothes to celebrate. This unexpected midnight homecoming birthed the Sant'Agata d'Agosto summer festival, which Catanese faithful still celebrate every August.
At the 900th anniversary celebration this past week, Archbishop Luigi Renna publicly displayed Saint Agatha's skull before Cardinal Parolin placed it back into the newly restored silver reliquary bust and solemnly crowned it.
When I visit Catania in September, I hope to get a token of Saint Agatha, and perhaps get it blessed by a priest. Have you gone through the process of getting a religious article 'sacramentalised' in Catania? Any tips?