The Church of Saint Anatolia in Castel di Tora, owned by the Pontifical Greek College of Saint Anastasius since 1931, stands in a place steeped in history and spirituality. According to the chronicles of Gregory the Great, it was in the vicinity of the ancient city of Tora that Saint Anatolia was martyred in 249 AD, making this site particularly significant for local devotion. Pagan tombs have also been discovered in the vicinity of the church, bearing witness to the continuous habitation of the area since antiquity.

The sanctuary remains at the heart of the community’s religious life to this day. Every year, on the second Sunday in July, a festival is held in honour of the saint, preceded by a novena. The most moving moment takes place on Saturday afternoon, when, following the celebration of Vespers, a solemn procession winds its way through the countryside, setting out from the village and reaching the sanctuary across the lake, in a poignant journey of faith and tradition.

Photo by parchilazio.it