Rome, celebrated with full honors by Santa Barbara, Patroness of the Fire Brigade
Rome: since yesterday, Sunday 4 December, the figure of Santa Barbara, Protector and Patroness of all firefighters in the Belpaese. Celebrations also in the rest of Italy and in the capital, especially, starting at 9 this Monday, December 5, with a ceremony among the most heartfelt by the members of the category.
Great celebrations in the capital and in the rest of Italy in honor of the patron saint of firefighters
In detail, yesterday, December 4, the firefighters commemorated their patron saint Santa Barbara.
Each command organized the commemorative day of the patron saint and prepared the program for a day full of events and meetings.
Already yesterday there were the first celebrations, in the presence of the Prefect of Rome Bruno Frattasi and the Commander of the Fire Brigade of the Eternal City, Alessandro Paola at the end of the Eucharistic celebration, with contributions from representatives of the Navy.
Today, the following day, in Rome, in the Basilica of Santa Maria MaggioreMass is celebrated in honor of Santa Barbara in the presence of the highest military and civil authorities, starting at 9 with a lot of official live streaming from firefighters.tv (read here).
The President of the Italian Republic himself, Sergio Mattarellasummed up the importance of the event in a heartfelt message in support of the fire brigade, released via the official website of the interior ministry: “In delicate emerging scenarios and in public aid interventions, the women and men of the Corps have always represented a solid garrison to protect people’s safety and the integrity of the assets, giving concrete implementation to the principles of solidarity that inspire the Constitutional Charter, as well as highlighting the commitment on the occasion of the recent calamitous events in Ischia”, recalls the Head of State, underlining how “The spirit of service that characterizes the vocation of the National Body, constituting its distinctive trait, it was also testified by the significant contribution offered by the Corps during the pandemic period, for which the Gold Medal for Civil Valor was awarded to the Flag”.
“Ours is a country as beautiful as it is fragile – specifies instead the minister Piantedosi – the vulnerability of the territories is linked to beauty also due to their own morphology, when not due to neglect. There is no piece of history of calamitous events in which the collective memory does not quickly draw on the memory of the industrious presence of the firefighters on the scene. Also in the dramatic landslide event in Casamicciola it was possible to appreciate, in the intervention, technical expertise and humanity, as it is in the exemplary tradition of the National Corps, a fundamental component of the National Civil Protection System. This is the dual vocation of the firefighters, which combines technical specialization and constant technological updating with a trait of effective closeness and solidarity towards those who are rescued”.
Focus on the history of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara represents the ability to face danger with faith, courage and serenity even when there is no way out. In fact, she was elected patroness of the firefighters, as protector of those who are “in danger of sudden death”.
He was born in Nicomedia in 273. She distinguished herself for her commitment to study and for her confidentiality, qualities that earned her the qualification of ‘barbara’, i.e. foreign, non-Roman. Between 286-287 Barbara moved to the rustic villa of Scandriglia, today in the province of Rieti, following her father Dioscoro, collaborator of the emperor Maximian Herculeus. Her father had intended Barbara to marry the prefect of Nicomedia, but she refused to marry.
Her furious father had her tried and sentenced to death, because of her Christian faith. The girl was thus forced to take refuge in the woods after destroying her gods in her father’s villa.
Found, it was delivered to the prefect Marciano. She was then locked up in a cell in the fortress of Nicomedia. In the prison, one day, a fire broke out: Barbara came out alive from the flames. During the trial, which began on December 2, 290, Barbara defended her beliefs and urged Dioscorus, the prefect and those present to repudiate the pagan religion to embrace the Christian faith.
This cost her painful tortures. Finally, on 4 December, she was beheaded with a sword by Dioscorus himself, who was however struck by lightning. Tradition invokes Barbara against lightning, fire and sudden death.
His remains are found in the cathedral of Rieti.
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