Venice:
Shrine of St Lucia
Shrine of Santa Lucia, church of San Geremia
The church of San Geremia, in Venice, is home to the body of Saint Lucia, who died in Syracuse, circa 304, during the Emperor Diocletian's persecution of the Christians.
St Lucia's body was stolen by the Venetians during the sacking of Constantinople, in 1204. It was originally housed in a church dedicated to the saint, but in 1860 Santa Lucia was demolished to make way for the railway station. Saint Lucia's body was duly moved to the nearby church of San Geremia, which was renamed Santi Geremia e Lucia.
St Lucia's body was stolen by the Venetians during the sacking of Constantinople, in 1204. It was originally housed in a church dedicated to the saint, but in 1860 Santa Lucia was demolished to make way for the railway station. Saint Lucia's body was duly moved to the nearby church of San Geremia, which was renamed Santi Geremia e Lucia.
Plaque to the demolished church of Santa Lucia
The church might have been destroyed, but its memory lives on in the name of the railway station, Venezia Santa Lucia. There is a plaque to the demolished church embedded into the cobblestones in front of the station.
The Feast Day of St Lucia is December 13th.
The Feast Day of St Lucia is December 13th.