Minori, the procession and the fires of Santa Trofimena
Today, Wednesday 13 July 2022, Minori celebrates its patron saint and co-protector of the Diocese of Amalfi Cava de ‘Tirreni, before Sant’Andrea was the only protector of the Amalfi Coast, Santa Trofimena recalling the return of the sacred remains to Minori after the rape of Sicardo complete with a band, procession and fireworks. The cult of this saint is deeply rooted and immense is the faith that all the people of Minor pay her.
Le relics of the body of the Saint they are still kept in the crypt of the Basilica dedicated to her.
Santa Trofimena, a native of Patti (Messina), was martyred under the tyrannical rule and persecutions of Diocletian and Maximilian in the year 304.
The hagiographic tradition presents her as the daughter of a nobleman who wanted to marry her to an equal and, failing to do so, he mortally wounded her.
The body of the saint was found on the beach of Minori in a marble urn by a woman who was unloading her laundry at the mouth of the river Reghinna Minor.
He had just beaten the clothes on the marble when his arms stiffened; she scared, she asked for help.
Upon hearing what had happened, Amalfi and Neapolitan priests and the Bishop rushed to the scene because something supernatural was immediately thought of.
It was then realized that the urn was engraved with verses that narrated the life, flight and death of the Saint. Thus it was thought of carrying the urn into the Church, but the strength of the arms of many men and priests was not sufficient either to lift it or to move it.
“Inspired by God, Bishop Peter commanded that there be two virgin heifers not yet touched by the yoke. As soon as the heifers were adjusted the urn moved, with such speed, that it seemed rather the heifers being pulled from the mound than the mound by the heifers ”.
This is why two white heifers are represented in the simulacrum of Santa Trofimena!
A second translation of the body of the Saint occurred in 838 under Sicardo, Prince of Benevento, who aimed to make his Church more powerful by stealing relics and remains of Saints.
Worried, the Bishop of Amalfi decided to transport the body of the Martyr to his own cathedral church to put it in safety.
The third translation of the sacred relics came from Amalfi to Benevento and then, a fourth from Benevento to Minori through the intercession of Orso, bishop of Benevento, and of Pietro II, bishop of Amalfi.
(photo and video by Valeria Civale)