The Blood Miracle of Naples

NAPLES – Thousands gather today in Naples Cathedral to feast, commemorate the martyrdom of the principal patron Saint of Napoli, Saint Januarius, and marvel at what is know as The Blood Miracle.

At the center of the celebration is the 3rd century Christian Napoleon Bishop, Januarius, who was imprisoned and famously beheaded during Emperor Diocletian’s brutal persecution of Christians within the Roman Empire.

Although little is known about the life of St. Januarius, legends surrounding his life and death have continued to grow throughout the centuries. The most famous mystery surrounding the Saint is The Blood Miracle, which can be witnessed three times annually by anyone wishing to visit the city of Napoli on the first Saturday of May, Sept. 19t, and Dec. 16. 

The spectacle that is The Blood Miracle, is the unexplained liquefaction of a red, dry substance, which according to legend, is the dried blood of Saint Januarius. The liquefication happens within an ampoule, in which the blood has been supposedly sealed since the time of the Saints death, and is said to happen without any human disturbance or prodding.

As mysterious as The Blood Miracle is, it is not a unique phenomenon.  Similar rituals in which dried blood is mysteriously liquefied in front of awe stricken onlookers include the liquefication of blood said to belong to John the Baptist in the monastery of San Gregorio Armeno, and the blood of Saint Pantaleon which liquefies in Ravello. These phenomenon are therefore exclusive to the Campania region and essentially unheard of elsewhere.

In advance of the procession at the Naples Cathedral, the celebration begins with the representations of various holy figures being carried through Spaccanapoli. A silver bust of San Gennaro leads the procession, followed by holy Teresa, Lucia, Patricia and many more. Neapolitans frequently bet on the order in which these holy statues are carried forth, while applauding their favorite, in the hope that it may get a place at front at the following procession.

The day is of particular importance in Naples, bringing in thousands of tourists eager to witness the mysterious event, which generates much needed capital for one of Italy’s poorest major cities. Thousands of business owners flock to the area surrounding the cathedral selling a countless array of fine foods, trinkets, and curiosities of all kinds.