SAN CIRO

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WORSHIP

Grottaglie In the cult of St. Cyrus is introduced by the Saint Francis De Geronimo citizen in 1707, when he returned to native land after a mission of 40 years at Gesu Nuovo of Naples Grottaglie and "fell in love" this Egyptian martyr, even today, is celebrated with devotion and moving with great popular participation, commemorates the martyrdom at January 30 with the lighting of the pyre (a large pile of firewood) and celebrating the dies natalis to January 31, bringing the statue of the saint in solemn procession through the streets of the city, attended by thousands of faithful. Popular piety tells us numerous examples of miraculous healings have occurred through the intercession of the hermit Alexandria. The party of "Santu Ggiru" represents migrants irresistible that the 'wherever possible, leads them to return "home" anywhere in the world they are for that date. It is a phenomenon, this large proportion, consolidated over the years, and passionate students of anthropology. In worship fits, in fact, a thin vein of profane with the sacred lives in perfect balance and tradition that makes this a priceless performance and in terms of religious and secular point of view. St. Cyrus, worshiped at Villa Castelli (Brindisi) in Portici (Naples) and in Sicily Marineo copatrono city Grottaglie, along with St. Francis De Geronimo and the Madonna della Mutata.

BIOGRAPHY

Cyrus was born in Alexandria in 250 AD, his family of origin there is no news. He studied medicine at a famous school of his city and, in this neighborhood said Doryzim, opened a clinic with adjacent laboratory where, in 554 AD, some two centuries after the martyrdom, the patriarch Sant'Apollinare erected a church and a hospital. Practical art of medicine earning the nickname Anargiri (without silver) because he did not pursue fame or money but it was to serve the poor and the afflicted devoting to the care of souls than bodies. In 299 A.D. Doctors in Alexandria, which were also mixed necromancers, were accused of witchcraft and of plotting against the Roman Emperor Diocletian and all medical treatises that existed were burned. To escape persecution and continue his mission in Arabia Cyrus withdrew to the borders of Egypt, devoting himself to contemplation and monastic discipline, becoming a messenger of God's word. His first disciple was St. John of Edessa, abandoned the honors of a military career, followed him into the desert to stay with him four years. In 303 A.D. Diocletian issued an edict of persecution against Christians and began a terrible period was infamous as the Era of Martyrs. Ciro and John left the hermitage and took Canopus to bring comfort to a mother Athanasia, and his three young daughters, Teatista of 15 years, and Eudoxia Theodote of 13 as an eleven, martyred for refusing to abjure Christian faith by sacrificing to the gods. Cyrus and John were captured and tortured before the horrified eyes of four women to sap spirit and determination, prior to slaughter. On 31 January 303 A.D. St. Cyr, after unspeakable torture, was put to death by beheading after being dropped into a cauldron of boiling pitch, and with him his disciple John.

Cultural Association IL BAGATTO – Via Madonna Del Lume 43 – Grottaglie (Ta) - testi di Anna Montella
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San Francesco De Geronimo

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Was a leader of crowds has converted thousands of sinners.He made countless wonders and restored the dead to life with the help and intercession of the Lord who gave him the gift of bi-and prediction. (Detail of painting "Mancinelli)

First of eleven children, St. Francis De Geronimo was born in Grottaglie December 17, 1642 by Leonardo and Gentilesca Gravina. Theatre of the games were a boy the streets near his home, then incorporated in the sanctuary that Grottaglie wanted to dedicate in 1838.

It was a cheerful and friendly child who liked to laugh and tell jokes with a predilection for the fireworks that sometimes makes himself, making crackling then to the delight of his companions. The natural inclination for games, typical of children of every age, did not neglect the study of the catechism or compassion for the less fortunate. Celebrated in popular memory Grottaglie, was the wonder of bread, liberally bestowed by Francis, the father rather than empty the cupboard filled even more. His was a wealthy family, because his father had Gianleonardo homes, vineyards and a tannery just outside Port Antonio, in the district of the tanners, even today, is called "cunzaturi them", though activity has disappeared from time. At the age of ten he went to boarding school near the community of San Gaetano, who settled in the church of St. Matthew (now Madonna del Lume) in 1641. The lack of high school led to Francis Seminary of Taranto, where he followed a course of five years. In the summer of 1665 he moved to Naples to attend the University and Director of the Jesuit Seminary and March 20, 1666 was ordained a priest. Thus began his "Mission of Naples which lasted 40 years.

A true "marathon of the Lord" did not expect that sinners go to him, but he went to look them in the most infamous neighborhoods and squares, milling walk hundreds of miles, preaching and spreading the word of the Lord. This frail Jesuit, by immense faith, was a leader of crowds has turned thousands of sinners. He made countless wonders and restored the dead to life with the help and intercession of the Lord who gave him the gift of bi-and prediction. In 1707, after 40 years, returns to Grottaglie for a "mission" in the church and took the Matrix introduced the cult of St Cyrus in our town. The May 11, 1716 Father Francis, after walking so much, concludes his journey among men aged 74. Canonized in 1839 by Gregory XVI, the mortal remains of Saint returning to the birthplace, in Grottaglie, in 1945.

Cultural Association IL BAGATTO – Via Madonna Del Lume 43 – Grottaglie (Ta) – texts by Anna Montella
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The Castle

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Feudale symbol of power that the Archbishops of Taranto exercised for centuries the city, the Bishop's Castle covers a total area of about 6150 square meters with 65 rooms. Made of tuff “zuppigno”, its construction dates back to the fourteenth century, witness the massive keep, the highest turris fifteenth aspect of the typical rectangular crowned twenty blackbirds that rises three stories to reach a maximum height of 28, 63 m. Altered several times over the centuries, the castle still belongs to the Curia and the Archbishopric of Taranto which has awarded the City Administration in use for purposes of Grottaglie socio-cultural.

Promoter construction was
Archbishop
Jacopo D’Atri

In his long reign (1354 - 1381) that he, as his predecessors, used to reside for extended periods in our town, in addition to College, had failed to erect and fortify the Bishop's Castle and the walls surround the entire village. Bloody and wrapped in mystery her tragic death took place in the shadow of the ancient manor house on the night of July 15, 1381 when, in the Land of Grottaglie, was brutally murdered with pitchforks. According to popular sources, the murderous hand was that of a country, such Biagio Annicchiarico, called "lu stuertu”, which would thus avenged the honor offended by the loving attention that, according to rumors of the country, the archbishop would have turned to wife after having had these infatuated. Other sources are inclined instead to political crime perpetrated by a faction hostile to the Pope and his followers. In the absence of a culprit to blame, to repair the wrongdoing, Pope Gregory XI ordered that, for many years, Grottaglie were to celebrate a Mass in the coming days.

Cultural Association IL BAGATTO – Via Madonna Del Lume 43 – Grottaglie (Ta) – texts by Anna Montella
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Church Madonna del Lume

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Known as the ancient church of S. Matthias, is presumed to have been built around 1460. It was seat of the Congregation of St. Gaetano, known as "the Community" founded in 1641 with the aim of "raising the spiritual education, moral and cultural Grottaglie-people."
This school was formed well fellow saint Francesco De Geronimo , who lived with his family at a hundred yards, where now stands the shrine that the Grottaglie dedicated in 1838, incorporating his home.

The church, now owned by the Confraternity of the Name of Jesus, which was donated in 1939 by Mrs Isabella Pepe, heir of the family Antoglietta Bucci, has a facade which stands a large window with lots of octopus spilled.

Two niches carved in the wall are placed laterally to enclose the portal and the statues of St. Gaetano and S. Andrew Avellino. The interior is strikingly decorated in a sumptuous Baroque eighteenth century, by artist Nicholas Coviello between 1720 and 1740. Decorations, stucco, paintings, statues, vestments make this temple a fine example of Baroque art and having kept alive thanks to the work of the Brotherhood that since 1997, pursues a relentless and expensive project of restoration of works of art in its existing oratory, thanks to the participation of many benefactors.
Besides the central altar in the small temple insist six side altars, three on the right side and three on the left side. Altar stands an oil painting depicting the Madonna del Lume, painted by N. Coviello.


information taken from brochure "Confraternita SS. Nome di Gesù – Grottaglie” - 2004 - 2nd Edition
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Cultural Association IL BAGATTO – Via Madonna Del Lume 43 – Grottaglie (Ta)
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Pope Ggiru

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Figure ambiguous charm, was the undisputed protagonist of the tragic vicendeche took place in Grottaglie 800 in the first twenty years and in his dual role as priest-incompatible robber did discuss whether the whole generations. (Painting by Gaspare Mastro)

His name Ciro Annicchiarico and Nicola was born in Grottaglie on 15.12.1775 and Vincenzo D'Alo Ippazia. From childhood he was destined for the clergy and in 1801, age 26, was ordained priest. A man of good education was also master of Gregorian chant in the Collegiate Chapter of Grottaglie and "supporter" of the Jacobin movement. His life was disrupted by a tragic and dark episode, moreover, never explained, occurred on the evening of July 16, 1803 under the arch of the Madonna del Lume, where a hooded figure in white approached and killed the 21-year old cleric Motolese Joseph, son of rich and powerful family.

Don Ciro was accused of the crime probably because, in addition to belonging to opposing political factions, it seems that both were vying for the love the same woman, Antonia Zechariah, known as the curciola. Of this crime he always declared innocent, but the man's father, Nicholas Motolese, thanks to his influential friends to persecute him bitterly. Don Ciro fled the farms of Puglia by then established when his brothers were arrested for aiding and abetting. Sentenced to 15 years of exile, although the evidence against him was not conclusive, he escaped disguised as a lawyer and began to scrub. In 1806, with the advent of the Napoleonic rulers in the kingdom of Naples, but returned to Grottaglie Motolese not won and gave to the Court of Lecce in 1812 issued a new arrest warrant. With the help of a prostitute, that Antonia Achille, the breeze was ambushed during which the police killed the 24 year old Emanuel, brother of Don Ciro instead escaped. Pressed by events and driven by revenge, he organized a band of robbers along with another brother, Salvatore said "anger", and some deserters.

On March 20, 1813, at the chapel of St. Leonardo, killed the father Motolese seizing the other son, Vincent, to whom the ransom was paid a large sum. To defend its freedom and became guilty of other murders, but certainly not all crimes that, as a convenient scapegoat, took him charged. Meanwhile in 1815 the Bourbons were returned to power and "Papa Giru, in 1816, began advocating political brigandage to its old Jacobin ideas. Although in 1817 the various sects of Otranto to the task of organizing insurgent military forces in the area, already is plotting in the shadows behind him. The same leaders Carbonari, lawyer. Smart and Baron Scazzeri, sell his life to the Irish General Richard Church. Abandoned by all, wanders with his gang between Brindisi, nuts and Grottaglie, while imposing forces are used to carry out its catch after strong defense, is at the farm "Scasserba" in agro Grottaglie. On February 7, 1818 "Papa Giru" himself over to the white majority by promising to have saved his life and enlightening interview with the General Church, but both promises are not kept. Conducted in nearby Francavilla is shot, without due process in the afternoon of 8 February 1818.His head, dried and put in a cage, they exposed the clock tower in the square in Grottaglie until May 1819.

Outlaw cruel or romantic idealist; victim or executioner?Who was actually Ciro Annicchiarico?
Surely, like the phenomenon of brigandage, he was mainly the product of an age troubled and contradictory expression of deep malaise which has resulted in social upheaval, political, religious abuses and harassment of a middle class increasingly rich, oppressive and indifferent the needs of a people exasperated by injustice. Today, almost two hundred years since those events whose impetuosity, like a river in flood, swept and cut so many lives, beyond the historical truth or alleged that the transgressive figure of Pope Giru, the priest-brigand, is identified as that hero noir par excellence, crossed the border of reality and time, has become legend.


Cultural Association IL BAGATTO – Via Madonna Del Lume 43 – Grottaglie (Ta) - testi di Anna Montella
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SAN CIRO

IL CULTO

tra sacro e profano

A Grottaglie il culto di San Ciro viene introdotto dal santo concittadino Francesco De Geronimo nel 1707, quando questi tornò al paese natìo dopo una missione di 40 anni al Gesù Nuovo di Napoli e i Grottagliesi “si innamorarono” di questo martire egiziano che, ancora oggi, viene celebrato con commovente devozione e con grandissima partecipazione popolare, ricordandone il martirio al 30 di gennaio con l’accensione della pira (una grande catasta di legna) e celebrandone il dies natalis al 31 di gennaio, portando il simulacro del santo in processione solenne per le vie della città, cui partecipano migliaia di fedeli.

La pietà popolare ci tramanda innumerevoli esempi di guarigioni prodigiose avvenute per intercessione dell’eremita alessandrino. La festa di “Santu Ggiru” rappresenta per gli emigranti un richiamo irresistibile che, la’ dove è possibile, li porta a tornare a “casa” in qualunque parte del mondo si trovino per quella data. È un fenomeno, questo, di vasta proporzione, consolidato negli anni, e che appassiona gli studiosi di antropologia. Nel culto religioso si inserisce, infatti, una sottile vena di profano che convive col sacro in perfetto equilibrio e che rende questa tradizione uno spettacolo impagabile e dal punto di vista religioso e dal punto di vista laico. San Ciro, venerato anche a Villa Castelli (Brindisi) a Portici (Napoli) e Marineo in Sicilia è copatrono della città di Grottaglie, insieme a San Francesco De Geronimo e alla Madonna della Mutata.

NOTE BIOGRAFICHE

Ciro nasce ad Alessandria d’Egitto nel 250 d.C., della sua famiglia di origine non si hanno notizie. Studiò medicina presso una rinomata scuola della sua città e, nel rione detto Doryzim, aprì un ambulatorio con annesso laboratorio dove, nel 554 d.C, circa due secoli dopo il martirio, il patriarca Sant’Apollinare eresse una chiesa ed un ospedale. Pratico’ l’arte della Medicina guadagnandosi l’appellativo di anàrgiro (senza argento) poiché egli non perseguiva fama o denaro ma era al servizio dei poveri e degli afflitti dedicandosi alla cura delle anime oltre che dei corpi. Nel 299 d.C. i medici di Alessandria, a cui erano mescolati anche i negromanti, venivano accusati di stregoneria e di cospirare contro l’imperatore romano Diocleziano e tutti i trattati di medicina allora esistenti vennero dati alle fiamme. Per sfuggire alla persecuzione e continuare la sua missione Ciro si ritirò nell’Arabia ai confini con l’Egitto, dedicandosi alla disciplina monastica e alla contemplazione, divenendo un messaggero della parola di Dio. Il suo primo discepolo fu San Giovanni di Edessa che, abbandonati gli onori della carriera militare, lo seguì nel deserto restando con lui quattro anni. Nel 303 d.C. Diocleziano emanava un editto di persecuzione contro i Cristiani ed ebbe inizio un periodo terribile rimasto tristemente famoso come l’Era dei Martiri. Ciro e Giovanni lasciarono l’eremo e si portarono a Canòpo per recare conforto ad una madre, Atanasia, e alle sue tre giovani figlie, Teatista di 15 anni, Teodota di 13 ed Eudossia appena undicenne, condannate al martirio per non aver voluto abiurare la fede cristiana sacrificando agli dei. Ciro e Giovanni furono catturati e torturati davanti agli occhi inorriditi delle quattro donne, per fiaccarne lo spirito e la determinazione, prima di trucidarle. Il 31 gennaio del 303 d.C. san Ciro, dopo indicibili torture, veniva messo a morte mediante decapitazione, dopo essere stato calato in una caldaia di pece bollente, e con lui il suo discepolo Giovanni.


Associazione culturale IL BAGATTO – Via Madonna Del Lume 43 – Grottaglie (Ta) - testi di Anna Montella - fotografie di Michele Manisi
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Chiesa Madonna del Lume

Conosciuta anticamente come la chiesa di S. Mattia, si presume che sia stata costruita intorno al 1460.

Fu sede dell'antica Congregazione dei Chierici di S. Gaetano, nota come "la Comunità" sorta nel 1641 con lo scopo di “elevare l'educazione spirituale , morale e culturale del popolo grottagliese”.A questa scuola si formò pure il santo concittadino Francesco De Geronimo che abitava, con la famiglia, ad un centinaio di metri, dove ora sorge il santuario che i grottagliesi gli dedicarono nel 1838, inglobando la sua casa natale.

La chiesetta, attualmente di proprietà della Confraternita del Nome di Gesù, a cui venne donata nel 1939 dalla sig.ra Isabella Pepe, erede della famiglia Antoglietta Bucci, presenta una facciata in cui spicca un ampio finestrone a sacco di polpo rovesciato. Due nicchie scavate nel muro sono poste lateralmente al portale e racchiudono le statue di S. Gaetano e S. Andrea Avellino.
L'interno è vistosamente decorato in un fastoso barocco settecentesco, ad opera dell’artista Nicolaus Coviello tra il 1720 ed il 1740. Fregi, stucchi, tele, statue, arredi sacri fanno di questo tempietto un pregevole esempio di arte barocca conservato e tenuto vivo grazie al lavoro della Confraternita che, dal 1997, persegue un infaticabile e costoso progetto di restauro delle opere d’arte esistenti nel suo Oratorio, grazie anche alla partecipazione di numerosi benefattori.

Oltre all’altare maggiore centrale, nel piccolo tempio insistono sei altari laterali: tre sul lato destro e tre sul lato sinistro. Sull’altare maggiore troneggia una tela ad olio raffigurante la Madonna del Lume, dipinta dall’artista N. Coviello.

Notizie tratte dall’opuscolo “Confraternita SS. Nome di Gesù – Grottaglie” - 2004 – 2° Edizione