It was the dawn of the 4th century, and practicing Christianity in the Roman-ruled city of Siracusa was illegal. Already though, inspired by nearby Catania’s Patron Saint, Sant’Agatha, young and beautiful Lucia devoted herself to Christianity. She planned to give her dowry to the poor, yet her widowed and sick mother had already arranged Lucia to be married to a wealthy pagan. When the young man heard of her plans to distribute her dowry in the name of Christianity, in retaliation, he contacted authorities who sentenced Lucia to a brothel. This is where the story gets interesting. She was immovable: the Roman governor’s Oxen couldn’t take her away, a fire couldn’t be started to burn her to death at the place she firmly stood, the only punishment with which the frustrated Romans found success was gouging out her eyes, and finally, by stabbing her to death. Over time, the strength and resistance of Lucia inspired Siracusans, and she was martyred and eventually crowned the city’s patron saint. Her feast day is on December 13. Pictured is a souvenir copy of the silver statue that followers annually fervently process through the city’s streets.
