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The cultural conference “Luce Sospesa” ended with an extraordinarily positive result, an event of great spiritual and anthropological importance strongly supported by the parish priest Francesco Pontoriero and the Festa Committee. At the center of the event, in addition to the solemn figure of Saint Basil the Great, two ambitious and wide-ranging projects shone: the birth of the Interregional Ecumenical Sanctuary and the establishment of the Museum of Illuminations, a traditional art now officially nominated as a UNESCO intangible heritage of humanity.
Memory runs overseas: the testimonies of emigrants
The conference recorded warm and heartfelt participation from the entire community, but the echo of the success went beyond national borders. Particularly moving were the testimonies of affection that arrived the following day from the second and third generation emigrants living overseas.
Through the memories handed down by their mothers, the descendants of the Calabrians abroad have recalled the magic of the festival of the past: a day in which everything was “polished”, the festive dress was displayed with dignity and celebrated at the table with a meat-based lunch. An era in which the church was transformed into an explosion of flowers and the city lights still ran on gas.
An anecdote from the past
Among the most vivid memories emerged the historical figure of “Ziu Lissandru” (Alessandro Adelardi), Cessaniti’s historic luminarist, affectionately remembered as he “ran away from parts to latra ma cendi chiji chi sa astutavanu” (he ran from one side to the other to relight the street lamps that went out).
Between future and tradition: the Sanctuary and the Museum of Illuminations
This bridge between past and future was made possible thanks to the synergy between Don Francesco, tireless promoter of the future Sanctuary, and Franco Pugliese, regional president of the illuminations. The latter is strongly supporting the birth of the city museum, intended not only as a custodian of a precious historical memory, but as a beacon for future generations.
Father Lorizio’s applause and the success of the “Vasilopita”
Last but not least, the event also celebrated the culinary tradition linked to the Saint. The guests were able to appreciate the typical desserts prepared for the occasion, among which the Vaiutopita (the traditional bread of Saint Basil the Great) stood out.
The dessert received exceptional praise from Father Lorizio, who praised its extraordinary artistic and palatable quality, defining it as excellent and superior even to the Greek versions tasted several times in the past. A final and dutiful applause was paid to the pastry chef staff and all the volunteers who collaborated in the perfect success of an event that united faith, culture and territorial identity.