Devotion and religious spirituality, but also popular tradition, identity, respect and participation. A feast towards which the Castelfiorentino community has always shown a feeling of sincere devotion, shared by lay people and Catholics, through the values of associationism and solidarity. It is the patronal feast of Saint Verdiana, celebrated on 1 February, and this year will see the 10:30 a.m. Mass presided over by H.E. Monsignor Gherardo Gambelli, Archbishop of Florence.
The religious celebrations in honour of the saint – which in fact kicked off several days ago with the “doubles” (the ringing of the bells that, according to tradition, announced Verdiana’s “transit to heaven”) – will officially begin on Friday afternoon (31 January – 5:00 p.m.) with Vespers and the exposition of the Holy Relics, which will be followed – at 6:00 p.m. – by Holy Mass.
On Saturday 1 February, the festivities will begin early in the morning with the traditional patron saint’s fair (Piazza Kennedy and Viale Potente), which will last the whole day. Consequently, the stalls of the weekly market (fruit and vegetable and food sector), which are normally located in Piazza Kennedy and Viale Potente, will move to Via Masini and Via Piave (this move will only take place on Saturday 1 February).
At 10:30 a.m., in the Sanctuary, the Holy Mass is scheduled, presided over as mentioned by Archbishop Gherardo Gambelli, a native of Castelfiorentino, who also recently presided over the celebration for Saint Sebastian (patron of the Municipal Police) in the Church of Santa Verdiana. The Holy Mass at 10:30 a.m. will also be attended by the Mayor of Castelfiorentino, Francesca Giannì.
The celebrations in honour of Saint Verdiana will continue in the afternoon (3:30 p.m.) with a Holy Mass dedicated to children and young people from catechism and their families. This will be followed (4:00 p.m.) by the Procession through the streets of the town and the Blessing of the village (itinerary: Via Battisti, Via Palestro, Piazza Cavour, Via Garibaldi, Via Ferruccio, Piazza del Popolo), and will conclude at the Collegiate Church of San Lorenzo with second Vespers (5:30 p.m.).