Saint Pancras of Taormina: the City's First Bishop according to Tradition
Anyone arriving in Taormina from Porta Messina immediately meets a church built on the remains of an ancient temple: it is the church of San Pancrazio, the city's patron saint. According to tradition Pancras was the first bishop of Taormina, in apostolic times, and died a martyr for the faith. He is venerated by the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Churches.
The tradition
The oldest account, the Life attributed to Evagrius and written many centuries later, relates that Pancras was born in Antioch in Cilicia. According to this tradition the apostle Peter met him and sent him to Sicily, around the year 40, as the first bishop of Tauromenium, ancient Taormina. There he preached the Gospel, converted many inhabitants and was finally stoned to death by pagans.
Historians regard many details of this Life as legendary. It is certain, however, that Pancras of Taormina appears in ancient martyrologies and that his cult is very old, in both East and West.
The church of San Pancrazio
The church dedicated to the saint, at the entrance to the historic centre, was built between the late 16th and early 17th century on the remains of a Greek temple, traditionally linked to the cult of Isis and Serapis. The passage from pagan temple to church tells the city's story well: Christian faith did not erase ancient beauty, it turned it into a place of prayer.
Taormina, a Christian city
For centuries Taormina was an important Christian city, an episcopal see and a Byzantine stronghold. It was one of the last cities in Sicily to fall during the Arab conquest, on 1 August 902. In those years Saint Elias the Younger also passed through, meeting his disciple Daniel in Taormina. The holy places of the city and its surroundings are described on the page Spiritual Taormina: saints and churches.
What he teaches us today
- The roots of faith. Christianity in Taormina has a very ancient history.
- Transformation. A pagan temple turned church reminds us that God transforms, he does not destroy.
- Witness. The bishop gives his life for his people.
The Christian spiritual days I offer take place near Taormina: the story of Saint Pancras is one of the first we share with those who come.
Feast day
Taormina celebrates Saint Pancras on 9 July. The Orthodox Churches also commemorate him on 9 July, as a hieromartyr.
How to take part
The days take place near Taormina, in Sicily. The places to visit are agreed together each time. There is no overnight stay: we share one day, and in the evening everyone returns to their own home. Hospitality has no price and does not depend on any offering: whoever comes is welcomed for who they are. Everyone contributes as they can: anyone who cannot leave anything is welcomed like everyone else, and takes part by giving a little of their time.
The days are reserved for Catholic and Orthodox Christians, because they are lived in shared prayer. To ask for a date, simply write to me on WhatsApp. The spirit of the days is told in the manifesto of hospitality.
If you would like to know what makes this mission possible, read The circle of love.
Explore the other pages
The days: Christian spiritual days in Sicily · The Philoxenia of Abraham · Spiritual search and finding yourself · Day retreat, silent retreat and pilgrimage: the international names
Spiritual travel in Sicily: Spiritual tourism in Sicily: the guide · Pilgrimage walking routes in Sicily · Holy Week and Easter in Sicily · Religious festivals in Sicily: the calendar · Orthodox pilgrimage in Sicily · Spiritual Nordic walking and ski walking in Sicily
Nature and places: Spiritual Taormina · Spiritual walks in nature · Christian meditation in nature in Sicily · Places to meditate near Taormina and Messina · Places to meditate in Sicily
Prayer: Christian asceticism: the spiritual struggle · The prayer of the heart or Jesus Prayer · Hesychasm: the prayer of stillness · The Philokalia: the Neptic Fathers
The saints of Sicily: Byzantine Sicily and the Italo-Greek saints · Saint Hilarion the Great in Sicily · Saint Methodios of Syracuse · Saint Joseph the Hymnographer · Saint Elias the Younger of Enna · Saint Agatha of Catania · Saint Lucy of Syracuse
Sources
What this story teaches
An ancient temple turned into a church: God does not erase the beauty he finds, he brings it to fulfilment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Saint Pancras of Taormina?
According to tradition the first bishop of Taormina, sent to Sicily in apostolic times and martyred. He is the city's patron saint.
Who sent Saint Pancras to Taormina?
According to the traditional Life, the apostle Peter, around the year 40. Historians regard many details of this account as legendary.
How did Saint Pancras die?
Tradition relates that he was stoned by pagans who opposed the preaching of the Gospel.
Where is the church of San Pancrazio in Taormina?
At the entrance to the historic centre, near Porta Messina. It was built in the 16th-17th century on the remains of a Greek temple.
When is Saint Pancras celebrated in Taormina?
On 9 July. The Orthodox Churches also commemorate him on 9 July.
Is Saint Pancras of Taormina the same as Saint Pancras of Rome?
No. Saint Pancras of Rome is a young martyr of the 4th century, celebrated on 12 May. Saint Pancras of Taormina is the bishop of the apostolic tradition.
When did Christian Taormina fall?
On 1 August 902, during the Arab conquest of Sicily. It was one of the last cities on the island to fall.