The ancient rite of the “lowering” of the Big Picture which has been exposed since this morning (and will be for the entire month of May) for the veneration of the faithful, has kicked off the celebrations of the Marian month dedicated to the Virgin of Capocolonna, patron of the archdiocese and co-patron of the city of Crotone.
The traditional ceremony took place in the church of the Immaculate Conception which this year kicks off the great Septennial celebration which will have its highlight with the great pilgrimage on the night of the third Sunday of May with the large Icon of the Black Madonna which will be transported by a cart pulled by oxen during the journey between the city and the Lacinio promontory, home to the Marian Sanctuary and back. The ceremony, hosted in the church in via Risorgimento, as the cathedral Basilica was closed for restoration work, was attended by the archbishop of Crotone-Santa Severina, Alberto Torriani and the diocesan clergy, as well as the civil and military authorities with the prefect of Crotone Franca Ferraro, the mayor Vincenzo Voce and the commander of the Port Authority of Crotone Domenico Morello. At 6pm the archbishop will preside over a solemn mass for the start of the Septennial celebrations, on the occasion of which Pope Leo XIV granted a plenary indulgence for the faithful who will follow the Marian rites during the month dedicated to the Virgin.