Restituta of Africa
Restituta von Afrika († 255 or 304 ), also called Restituta von Karthago , Restituta von Teniza or Restituta von Bizerta , was a Christian virgin and martyr . The Roman Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches venerate them as saints .
Life
Restituta is said to have been born in Carthage , in Hippo Diarrhytus (today Bizerta , Tunisia ) or in Teniza (today's Ras Djebel, perhaps there is also a confusion with the place of her death here) and suffered martyrdom under Valerian or Diocletian . Exact historical information is missing about the exact place and the exact time of their martyrdom. Restituta may have belonged to the Martyrs of the Holy Books , a North African group of martyrs around Dativus, Saturninus and others. It is also believed that she was a pupil of Cyprian of Carthage , who also died a martyr.
Lore
According to the Neapolitan Proprium , her martyrdom took place in Ponizara, according to other sources in Carthage or Teniza. The conviction took place because of her Christian creed and her rejection of the worship of the pagan gods by the judge Proculus. A later medieval tradition reported by Pietro Suddiacono in the 10th century that has similarities with the Vites of St. Devota , Reparata and Torpes argues that Restituta was tortured and taken to a boat filled with pitch and resin . The boat was then set on fire. She herself was not injured by the fire, but caught those who tried to burn her. When Restituta asked for God's help, an angel was sent to guide her boat to the island of Aenaria (now Ischia ). It landed in the bay of what is now San Montano, and when the boat touched the shore, the beach bloomed with white lilies. Tradition goes on to say that a Christian woman named Lucina dreamed of the angel and the boat. When she went to the beach, she found Restituta's corpse, shining and intact. Lucina called the population together and Restituta was solemnly buried at the foot of Monte Vico in Lacco Ameno , where a basilica was dedicated to her . On August 8, 1817 , Caroline von Humboldt wrote in Lacco Ameno about the Bay of San Montano :
“We recently found a myriad of white lilies on the shore in the sea sand. An old legend goes on the island that where the lilies bloom on the shore, the body of the holy Restituta was found, is the patron saint of the island and has given her name to the most invigorating water. It is said that one wanted to transplant the lilies into the fruit gardens, but they can only get away in the sand of the sea and on the spot. "
The lilies, which were dune funnel-shaped daffodils , so-called beach lilies ( Pancratium maritimum ), which are sometimes equated with the biblical rose of Sharon , no longer appear on the beach in the Bay of San Montano.
Adoration
Already in the 5th century there was a Christian community in Lacco Ameno and a venerated Restituta. In fact, the expansion of the worship of Restitutas from North Africa to Italy can be historically explained with the expulsion of the Athanasians from North Africa by Geiseric , the Arian king of the Vandals . Their relics may have been brought from Naples to Naples by Gaudiosus in the 5th century when he had to leave North Africa.
The church of Santa Restituta was built in Naples in the 6th century and dedicated to its patronage. The Cathedral of Naples was built in the same place in the 13th century . A church is dedicated to the saint in Carthage. A crypt dedicated to St. Restituta is located at Cagliari , in the neighborhood of Stampace . The Chiesa di Santa Restituta was built there. It is possible that their relics were brought here by North African refugees in the 6th century, the original inscription has been lost.
The feast day of the saints in the liturgy of the Catholic Church and Orthodox Churches is May 17th . Common days of remembrance for the Martyrs of the Holy Books are February 11 or February 12 in the Martyrologium Romanum and in the Martyrologium of Carthage, and January 7 in the Evangelical Calendar of Names .
On the beach of San Montano on Ischia, the miraculous landing of the relics that is said to have taken place there is re-enacted every year, usually with hundreds of spectators. On May 17th there is a procession with her icon across the sea. The usual route leads from the landing stage in Lacco Ameno first west towards Punta Caruso and then to Casamicciola Terme . On May 18th, her statue is carried through the streets of the town, covered with gold and precious stones donated by believers. The festival ends at midnight with fireworks.
Restituta was declared the patron saint of Calenzana and the Balagne in 1984 by Pope John Paul II . The saint is also the patron saint of Lacco Ameno and the diocese of Ischia . She is particularly venerated on the island of Ischia and especially in Lacco Ameno. A wooden statue of St. Restituta is there in the church dedicated to her. The feast of the saints is celebrated as the island's oldest patron saint from May 16-18. According to a long tradition, the place is decorated with garlands and lights, and stands with handicrafts are set up. Restituta is also the patron saint of Oricola .
In Christian iconography, St. Restituta is shown standing in a burning ship, sometimes angels are depicted above her or the first words of the antiphon Veni, sponsa Christi accipe coronam, quam tibi Dominus preparavit in aeternum (“Come, Bride of Christ and receive the crown, which the Lord has prepared for you in eternity ”) to read. The miraculous translation of the restituta's corpse was shown in a print by Luca Giordano , a drawing of the incident is attributed to Francesco Solimena .
music
Inspired by the life of the saints, Alphonse de Lamartine composed the work Le lis du golfe de Santa Restituta dans l'île d'Ischia in 1842 .
Web links
- Santa Restituta (Italian)
Individual evidence
- ↑ Restituta on FaithND (English)
- ↑ a b c d May 17th in the Ecumenical Name Calendar
- ↑ Catholic.org (English)
- ↑ Ἡ Ἁγία Ρεστιτούτα ἡ Μάρτυς . 17 Μαΐου. ΜΕΓΑΣ ΣΥΝΑΞΑΡΙΣΤΗΣ. (Greek)
- ↑ a b c d J. E. Stadler, FJ Heim, JN Ginal: Complete Lexicon of Saints
- ↑ a b c d e Santa Restituta d'Africa (o di Teniza) (Italian)
- ↑ a b travel tip Ischia on Süddeutsche.de
- ↑ http://www.santiebeati.it/dettaglio/53650 (Italian)
- ↑ a b Article about the Festival of Restituta on benessereischia.it
- ↑ Ischia anthology on larassegnadischia.it
- ↑ a b San Gaudioso di Abitine (Italian)
- ^ Martyrologium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2001 ISBN 88-209-7210-7 )
- ↑ Entry under Between Church, Cross and Cumin ( Memento from February 2, 2014 in the Internet Archive )
- ↑ Entry on Bildindex.de
- ↑ Entry on Bildindex.de
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Restituta of Africa |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Restituta; Restituta of Carthage; Restituta of Teniza; Restituta from Bizerta |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Christian martyr |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 3rd century |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Hippo Diarrhytus (Bizerte, Tunisia) or Carthage |
| DATE OF DEATH | 255 or 304 |
| Place of death | Tunisia , uncertain: Carthage |