Prato is a nice city in Florence surroundings and its famous for its textiles’ companies and for a holy relic attributed to the Virgin Mary that is exposed five times per year on Easter, Christmas, 1st May, August 15th and September 8th.
The holy relic is a girdle of the Virgin Mary given to Saint Thomas by the Virgin herself. It came to Prato from Jerusalem around 1141 with Michele, who got it as dowry. He kept it secret for over thirty years, then he gave it to the parish of Saint Stephen. It soon became object of worship because of several miracles that happened.
Many people came every year to worship the holy girdle together with famous figures such as Saint Francis and several catholic popes. It is safely kept inside the Duomo of Saint Stephen in a special chapel frescoed by Agnolo Gaddi with scenes representing the Story of the Virgin and the Girdle. On the altar there is a beautiful Madonna with Child by Giovanni Pisano.
The girdle is exposed five times per year from the external pulpit decorated by Donatello and built by Michelozzo between 1428 and 1438.
Photo credit by La mia vita in un obiettivo
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September 6, 2012 at 7:01 am[…] Prato sabato ci sarà anche l’ostensione della sacra cintola ed il Corteggio, un meraviglioso corteo con 400 figuranti. Domenica c’è invece la Palla […]
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September 3, 2014 at 11:39 am[…] you’re more into Holy traditions then you’ll enjoy the Sacra Cintola display in Prato on September 8. On the feast day of the Madonna, a historic parade will be […]
Mary
April 29, 2015 at 7:27 pmWhen is the girdle shown on May 1, 2015
TooMuchVale
April 29, 2015 at 8:12 pmHello Mary, yes on May 2015 it will take place, but it won’t be the costume parade as on September 8th.