Saints, Feast, Family
- Traditions passed down with Cooking, Crafting, & Caring -
August 26
Saint of the day:
St. Orontius of Lecce or Sant’Oronzo
Patron Saint of Lecce (city and province); Ostuni; Turi
The Story of St. Orontius of Lecce
St. Orontius of Lecce (1st c.) was the son of the Roman imperial treasurer in Lecce, Italy. Upon his father's death he inherited the position. Orontius was converted to the Christian faith along with his nephew, Fortunatus, by Justus, a disciple of St. Paul the Apostle. Orontius was later denounced to the authorities as a Christian and was ordered to sacrifice to the pagan gods. He refused and was arrested, removed from his office, tortured, and exiled to Corinth together with Fortunatus. In Corinth the pair met St. Paul the Apostle, who consecrated Orontius as the first bishop of Lecce. When Orontius and Fortunatus returned to Lecce they were persecuted and imprisoned again, but were released and ordered to stop preaching. They continued to preach in the surrounding cities, and were arrested a third time and executed.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orontius_of_Lecce
http://sites.nd.edu/sla2019/2019/07/10/puglia-cavalcata-di-santoronzo/
https://www.summerinitaly.com/guide/cavalcata-di-sant-oronzo
Prayer:
Visit:
Cavalcata di Sant'Oronzo
Ostuni, Italy
An historical and beautiful festival is the Cavalcata di Sant'Oronzo in Ostuni which pays homage to the city's patron saint. Dating back to 1657, the procession began as a way of showing gratitude and dedication to the saint who was believed to have saved Ostuni from the plague when it swept through Puglia. Since then, it has been an annual rite that is replete with ceremony and tradition. The cavalcade is a three-day festa with knights on horseback dressed in red cassocks and white slacks with plume-topped hats. The horses are draped in intricately embroidered red shawls. They accompany the ornate silver statue of St. Oronzo (Orontius) a Roman convert to Christianity who was martyred under Caesar Nero. The procession begins with a benediction of the horses and the knights, then snakes through the streets of Ostuni. There are elaborate arbors of lights, marching bands, music and of course food to be enjoyed as part of the celebrations. The Cavalcata di Sant'Oronzo is held August 25, 26 and 27 annually.
The Colonna di Sant'Oronzo, Lecce (Column of St. Orontius)
Saint Orontius was the first Bishop of Lecce and is revered by the Church as a Holy Martyr and patron of the city. The column has his image on the main square of the city, Piazza Sant'Oronzo. The sculptural composition was created by Giuseppe Zimbalo. It was established in 1686 in gratitude for the wonderful rescue of the city from the plague. The people of the town prayed to Saint Orontius for his help in the XVII century. Initially, the statue was made of wood, bound with copper, but in 1739 it was replaced by bronze. The 30-m stone column, on which the image of the Saint is set, was presented to Lecce by the city of Brindisi, where, according to legend, Saint Orontius also stopped the plague epidemic.
Recipe
Bruschetta with Goat Cheese and Mashed Fava Beans
Ingredients
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1 Kilo Fresh Fava Beans
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Extra Virgin Olive Oil
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Lemon Juice
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Sea Salt & Cracked Black Pepper
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1/3 Cup Grated Pecorino Cheese
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3 Tablespoons Finely Chopped Fresh Parsley
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8 Small Slices Crusty Baguette
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4 Ounce Log Soft Goat Cheese At Room Temperature
To Serve:
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Extra Virgin Olive Oil
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Cracked Black Pepper
Directions
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First remove the fava beans from their pods and boil them in a pot of water for 5 minutes.
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Drain, run cold water over the beans and allow to come to room temperature.
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Either use a sharp knife to make a slit in the skin or tear with your fingernails, and pop the beans into a bowl.
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Continue to remove the skin on all of the fava beans.
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Add a drizzle of olive oil, juice of half a lemon, salt, pepper, and grated cheese and mix.
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Mash with a fork until half the beans are pureed (or use a hand wand and pulse briefly).
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Taste, and adjust seasonings and add additional olive oil if needed to create a spreadable consistency.
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Stir in the chopped parsley.
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Grill or broil the bread slices until golden brown on both slices and then brush one side of each slice with a little olive oil.
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Spread the side brushed with olive oil with goat cheese, then spread with some of the mashed fava beans.
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Arrange the bruschetta on a platter and drizzle the top with a little additional olive oil, then a sprinkling of cracked black pepper.
