Every year, the people of Nice and the faithful pay tribute to Saint Reparata, patron saint of Nice and Florence.
On the occasion of this celebration, a procession will be organized, departing from the Town Hall at 9:30 AM and proceeding to Place Rossetti, accompanied by the Music of the Nice Firefighters and Nice la Belle.
At 10 AM, a pontifical mass will be celebrated at the Cathedral of Sainte-Réparate, followed by the laying of wreaths at the war memorial in Place Rossetti and then serenades.
Saint Reparata was a young Christian saint, virgin, and martyr from Caesarea in Palestine, who is believed to have died in 250 under the reign of Emperor Decius (249-251), during the brief but violent persecution he led against new religions, including Christianity. According to tradition, Reparata’s ordeal began with fire, but she was saved by a providential downpour.
Her executioners tried to make her swallow boiling pitch, but she miraculously survived the trial and was eventually beheaded. Her body, placed in a boat, drifted across the Mediterranean. Angels are said to have guided the vessel to the shores of Nice, thus giving their name to the famous bay of Nice. The remains of the saint were buried in a chapel located in the old town before being placed in 1690 in the cathedral built on the site of the former chapel. Consecrated in 1699, it was placed under the protection of Reparata, as evidenced by the painting above the high altar in the choir of the building.
