The cult of Saint Gennaro

Talking about San Gennaro with Neapolitan people means talking about a dear relative, a close friend, someone who is really loved, that’s why they show a devotion never seen before.

The cult of Saint Gennaro is well-established in the Neapolitan history and three times a year the worshippers gather and prey for the miracle of the blood melting in the cruets to happen so to keep bad news and bad luck away from the city of Naples.

People believe that Gennaro was born in 272 A.D. either in Benevento, the city he eventually became the bishop of, or in Naples, but no one knows for sure. The emperor Diocleziano is responsible for his martyrdom as he used to persecute Christians.

When the christian deacon of Miseno, named Sosso, was imprisoned by the judge Dragonio, his friend Gennaro, together with two mates, went to console him in prison. Then Dragonio arrested them as well and in 305 A.D. he sentenced them to public decapitation.

According to the tradition of the day, a woman named Eusebia collected the blood of Gennaro and kept it in two cruets that gave to the bishop during the transportation of Saint Gennaro’s remains to Napoli’s catacombs.

The remains of the saint went through several transfers in time, as they were also stolen by the Lombard prince that took them to Benevento, but the cult of San Gennaro endured within the heart of Neapolitan people. From Montevergine, the remains eventually got to Napoli thanks to the cardinal Giovanni di Aragona, and nowadays they are kept in the Cappella del Tesoro di San Gennaro (Chapel of Saint Gennaro’s Treasure) within the Duomo.

Three times a year – the Saturday before the first Sunday of May, September 19th and December 16th – Neapolitan people gather to witness the miracle of Saint Gennaro, that is the saint’s blood melting in the cruets.

The rites are solemn and, as the archbishop of Naples takes the cruets from the chapel, people wait holding their breath, praying and hoping. If the blood melts everybody rejoice as it means that no tragedy is going to happen, but if the blood stands still then bad news may be on the way.

Every person who has some kind of bond with Naples, also people living abroad, is devoted to the saint that protects this city and waits eagerly for the blood melting miracle to happen. This incredible devotion is proven by the treasures kept within the Museo del tesoro di San Gennaro (Saint Gennaro’s Treasure Museum), where all the gifts to the saint offered by popes, kings, prestigious men and commoners are kept.