Sepino hosts each year the evocative “Night of the Bells” in honor of St. Christine. This tradition, dating back to 1099, celebrates the arrival of the Saint’s relics in the Molise village.
The story tells of two French pilgrims on their way to the Holy Land who, after stealing St. Christine’s body from her tomb in Bolsena, set out for Apulia to embark. However, upon reaching Sepino, they were mysteriously stranded: the saddlebag containing the relics became immovable. Only after the community vowed to celebrate three feasts in honor of the saint could the body be moved to the local church on January 10, 1099. Some 70 years later, the relics were donated to the bishop of Palermo, but an arm of the martyr remained in Sepino.
The feast begins on Jan. 9 with the ringing of bells at eventide. At the town hall, the administration distributes a bundle of sweets and a candle to the children as an offering to the saint. Little girls dressed in white, called “virgins,” take part in the procession leading to the church, where the relic and statue of St. Christine are displayed.
After the celebration of Vespers and the Eucharist, the mayor offers the Saint gold, frankincense and myrrh, followed by the blessing of the children. Meanwhile, a draw is held in the sacristy to determine the shifts of those who will manually ring the bells during the night and the groups who will carry the statue in processions. The ringing of the bells resounds continuously until morning, creating a spiritually charged atmosphere.
On January 10, the “Intratio” is celebrated, commemorating the translation of the Saint’s body to the Church of the Most Holy Savior and her patronage over Sepino. The faithful go to confession to receive communion and obtain the partial indulgence granted by Pope Clement XII. After the Eucharistic celebration, there is a solemn procession to the Canala district, following one of the routes attributed to the pilgrims who brought the relics in 1099.
This feast, which combines history, faith and tradition, represents a moment of great involvement for the Sepino community, renewing each year the deep bond with its patron saint.