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When speaking of Cagliari, it is inevitable to mention Efisio, the martyred warrior who, according to tradition, defended the city in the 17th century as the inhabitants united in prayer to face the terrible pandemic known as the ‘baroque’ plague. However, the festivities still held today from 1 to 4 May in honour of Saint Efisio, which have their roots in the 17th century, are not the city's only vow. In fact, there are three solemn vows attributed to Saint Efisio in Cagliari.
The Vow of 11 July 1652
The plague that struck the island in the middle of the century is remembered as one of the most serious in the island's modern history, both because of its long duration and the high number of victims.
On 11 July 1652, the Municipality of Cagliari made a solemn vow to Saint Efisio to ask for his protection against the plague. The meeting took place in the Town Hall, located in Piazza Palazzo, a centre of power in the Castello district. With this vow, the members of the assembly pledged funds to organise a procession in honour of the Saint, starting from Cagliari, the place of Efisio long stay, to Nora, where his martyrdom took place on 15 January 303.
Even today, the municipal administration keeps the memory alive and ensures the fulfilment of the Vow. The original document of the 1652 Vow is preserved in the Historical Archive of Cagliari.
The first procession for the fulfilment of the vow was held in 1657: the simulacrum of the Saint was carried to the small church of Nora, accompanied by the local authorities and representatives of the villages freed from the disease. This rite is one of the most heartfelt moments for the faithful.
Every year, the mayor of Cagliari appoints a member of the municipal council for the prestigious role of ‘Alter Nos’, who will be the guardian and referent of the rite.
Immediately afterwards, the brethren of the Archconfraternity of the Banner assist the Alter Nos and choose the ‘Third Guardian’ to perform the task of master of ceremonies. The canon appointed by the Chapter, together with the ‘Alter Nos’, attests compliance with the provisions of the Vow and presides over the dissolution ceremony.
These ceremonial functions are performed by the Archbishop, representatives of the Metropolitan Chapter, parish priests, military chaplains and other members of the religious community, who lead the procession and participate in the religious acts.
The 151st ‘Sassari’ Regiment of the Italian Army takes charge of the Saint's relics, takes part in the procession and transports the Saint's chariot to various stages of the pilgrimage.
For 369 years, the community of Cagliari and the groups along the procession route (such as Giorgino, Su Loi, Villa d'Orri, Sarroch, Villa S. Pietro, Pula and Nora), together with the dioceses of Cagliari, Iglesias, Lanusei, Nuoro, Oristano, Ales-Terralba, Alghero-Bosa, Ozieri, Sassari and Tempio-Ampurias, as well as thousands of devotees from all over Sardinia, have participated in this rite.
The vote for liberation from the French assault
Cagliari has a gratitude towards Efisio not only for the elimination of the plague. In fact, there is a second vow linked to another extraordinary intervention.
It was February 1793 when the French fleet under the command of Admiral Truguet besieged Cagliari with an intense bombardment. Between 17 and 18 February, the enemy ships were preparing to invade the Gulf of Cagliari. At that moment, the citizens of Cagliari called upon their protector and, with the help of the militia led by Girolamo Pitzolo, managed to stop the French who had landed on the coast of Quartu Sant'Elena. The Saint was given the title of ‘supreme commander of the defenders’.
As a gesture of gratitude for the saint's protection, the beautiful simulacrum of Saint Efisio is the protagonist of the procession held on Easter Monday, Easter Monday. During this celebration, the archconfraternity of the Gonfalone carries the festively dressed martyr from the church of Sant'Efisio to the cathedral, concluding with a solemn mass.
Vowing in gratitude for the attempted water poisoning in Cagliari
In addition to the one about the French assault, there is another legend about a miraculous intervention by Saint Efisio.
Canon Spano relates that the holy warrior appeared in a dream to Filippo Pallavicino, the first Piedmontese viceroy, warning him of the poisoning of the wells of Castello. When he woke up, the viceroy immediately alerted the others, avoiding a possible tragedy. Another version of the legend, dating back to the 18th century, recounts that, on a Holy Thursday, Efisio, in a frightening guise, manifested himself ‘in su Porcxu de Bolonha’ (today's La Marmora portico) to a man who intended to kill the inhabitants of Cagliari by pouring a powerful poison into the holy water tanks of the city's churches. Struck by the vision of the saint, the attacker abandoned his plan and ran to confession, revealing everything that had happened.
Since then, as a sign of gratitude, the archconfraternity of the Gonfalone, which organises the celebrations for Saint Efisio, carries the precious simulacrum of the saint, dressed in mourning, in procession to the seven churches. Near the portico, the bearers bow before the saint as a sign of gratitude. According to Canon Spano, the statue that was once carried in procession was not the current one, attributed to the sculptor Giovanni Antonio Lonis, but the so-called ‘Sant'Efis sballiau’, or ‘Wrong Saint Efisio’, so called because, by mistake, it showed the palm of martyrdom in its right hand instead of the left, as tradition dictates. Regardless of the origin of the legend, it is certain that the tradition lives on through time, making the martyr's presence a start to the procession that, shortly after Easter, once again fills the streets of the city in celebration of Cagliari's liberation from the plague of 1652, thanks to Efisio's intercession.
In 2014, the Municipality of Cagliari began the process to register the Rite of the Dissolution of the Vow and the Feast of Sant'Efisio in the list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, following the guidelines of the UNESCO Convention and working closely with the Archdiocese, the Confraternity and the municipalities of Pula, Villa San Pietro, Capoterra and Sarroch.
Every year, tens of thousands of people participate in the rites and their preparations. In particular, confraternities and hundreds of cultural associations and groups carry out numerous preparatory activities throughout the year for the Rite and the Feast.
Bibliographic references:
- M.Lastretti, M. Dadea, Protettori poderosu. Cagliari e il culto a Sant’Efisio
- G.Pesenti, Sant’Efisio martire
- www.cagliariturismo.it
- www.arcisantefisio.it
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Roberta Carboni has been a tourist guide and art historian for more than 10 years. She lives in Cagliari and is passionate about Sardinia, which she has loved so much, all her life, which is why she has chosen to tell its story through exclusive thematic tours. In this way, she contributes to making the island known not only to those who do not yet know it, but also to the Sardinians themselves. The tours take place both within Cagliari, i.e. in the historic centre and other parts of the city, and in the surroundings of the city, going also to the south and centre of Sardinia.
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