The oil painting on canvas ("Burial of Saint Lucia" 408×300 cm) was created by Caravaggio as an altarpiece for the main altar of the Basilica of Santa Lucia al Sepolcro, on the site where, according to tradition, the Saint was martyred and buried in 304, during the great persecution commissioned by the Roman emperor Diocletian... #tuttitaly
The Sanctuary of Saint Lucy at the Tomb in Syracuse, located in the Val di Noto in Sicily, is a sacred place that preserves the memory of the young martyr Lucy. The basilica is located outside the ancient city walls and encloses the place of the martyrdom and burial of Saint Lucy.
Caravaggio's Painting
The painting by Caravaggio, titled "Burial of Saint Lucy" and created as an altarpiece for the basilica, depicts the moment when the Saint was buried after the martyrdom in 304 AD during the persecution ordered by the Roman emperor Diocletian.
History
The history of Saint Lucy begins in the 3rd century, when the young woman from Syracuse decides to consecrate herself to the Lord Jesus, refusing marriage to a pagan. This gesture leads to her denunciation and condemnation to death by decapitation. Saint Lucy is revered as the protector of the eyes and sight, as it is said that her eyes were gouged out during the tortures.
The basilica houses the martyr's body, placed in a tomb carved into the rock beneath the area of the underlying catacombs. Numerous pilgrims and devotees visit the Sanctuary of Saint Lucy at the Tomb to pay homage to the Saint and seek her intercession.
The story of Saint Lucy continues with the theft of her body to Constantinople and later to Venice, where it is now preserved in the church of Saints Geremia and Lucy of Syracuse.
In 1600, a small temple was built to protect the tomb of Saint Lucy, while in 1634, a statue depicting the dying Saint was sculpted.
During a city siege 1735, the citizens turned to Saint Lucy for protection. They received a miraculous sign: the marble statue sweated from the forehead, face, and hands on the days 6, 7, and 8 of May, confirming the Saint's protection and intercession.
The Sanctuary of Saint Lucy at the Tomb in Syracuse is full of history, devotion, and miracles, and it continues to attract faithful from around the world who seek comfort and protection.
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