A 1,700-year-old skull belonging to Saint Agatha, a third-century Christian martyr and patron saint of Catania, Sicily, was returned to its gold bust reliquary in an ancient Catholic ritual on August 17. The ceremony, held at Catania Cathedral, saw Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s Secretary of State, bow and kiss the relic as part of a traditional rite of veneration.
The elaborate ceremony commemorated the 900th anniversary of Saint Agatha’s relics being returned to Catania from Constantinople in 1126. Footage of the ritual, which has endured for centuries, circulated on social media, prompting renewed debate among Christians about the veneration of relics.
Catholics view the act as honoring a saint, not worshipping her remains, considering relics as tangible links to early Church figures and reminders of their courage. Believers may pray beside relics, asking the saint to intercede with God on their behalf. Within Catholic tradition, kissing a relic is an expression of deep respect, distinct from worship, which is reserved for God.
However, some non-Catholics have deemed the ritual as idolatry, the worship of a physical object as a god. In response, one Catholic commenter noted on X, formerly Twitter, that such practices are permitted by Catholic tradition through the solemn crowning of sacred images, an ancient devotional practice that expresses honor toward Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or the saints, describing it as "sacramental/devotional symbolism, not worship of the statue itself."
Saint Agatha, born around 231 AD in Catania, dedicated her life to God. According to Christian tradition, she died in prison around 251 AD during Emperor Decius’s persecution of Christians after refusing to renounce her faith and enduring torture, including the amputation of her breasts. She was later honored as a martyr and became Catania’s patron saint.
The anniversary events began with a prayer vigil on August 16, followed by a pilgrimage. Church bells rang across the archdiocese as worshippers accompanied Agatha’s relics toward the cathedral, retracing the homecoming that took place nine centuries earlier. During major celebrations, the skull is taken out of its ornate gold and silver bust reliquary for public display.
Inside the cathedral, the Archbishop of Catania presented the skull to the congregation before it was secured inside the Busto Reliquiario, the ornate silver-gilt bust in which it is traditionally housed. Cardinal Parolin later placed a crown on top of the bust, a gesture that honored Agatha’s status as a martyr and Catania’s spiritual protector. The celebration is known locally as Sant’Agata d’Agosto, or Saint Agatha in August, marking the return of her relics.
According to local tradition, Agatha’s remains were taken to Constantinople in 1040 and recovered 86 years later. Their arrival back in Catania on August 17, 1126, established a commemoration that continues today.
