Catania, Sicily, Italy, February 4, 2017. Men, women and children in white tunics stand ready to pull heavy ropes through the streets as part of the annual festival of Saint Agatha, a Roman Catholic martryr Credit: Joseph Reid/Alamy Live News
Catania, Sicily, Italy, February 4, 2017. Thousands celebrate the annual festival of Saint Agatha, a 3rd Century Roman Catholic martyr said to have been tortured by having her breasts cut off and later executed by a a Roman official after refusing his sexual advances. The festival runs for three days and, on the second day, includes a procession through the streets of Catania in which participants in white tunics pull 50 meter ropes to commemorate the breaking out of Agatha from prison by citizens of Catania. The procession also includes a carriage carrying a reliquary bust of Saint Agatha, as well as large votive candles.
Size: 5976px × 3992px
Location: Via Cali, Catania, Sicily, Italy
Photo credit: © Joseph Reid / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: agata, agatha, catania, catholic, catholicism, celebration, church, female, festa, festival, italy, martyr, relgion, religion, religious, saint, santagata, sicily, woman
