Celebrating the Feast of St. Mauro in Poreč: A Rich Program Unveiled

In a festive spirit, Poreč is gearing up to celebrate the feast day of St. Mauro, the heavenly patron of the city and the Poreč-Pula Diocese, on Tuesday, November 21st. The traditional celebration, encompassing both religious and secular festivities, promises a vibrant mix of events.

Religious Celebrations

The focal point of this year’s St. Mauro celebration is the solemn mass honoring the patron saint, followed by a procession through the city streets. The solemn mass will commence at 10:30 a.m. in the Euphrasian Basilica, with the procession winding its way through St. Eleuterius, Decumanus, Cardo streets, along the waterfront to the city administration building, through Negrijeva Street to the main square (Trg slobode), and back to Decumanus. Leading the solemn mass is Mons. Roko Glasnović, the Bishop of Dubrovnik, accompanied by archbishops and bishops from the Rijeka Metropolitan Archdiocese and priests from the Poreč and Pula Diocese, as announced by Rev. Mladen Pranjić, the administrator of the Poreč parish, during a press conference today.

Additionally, on Friday, November 17th, a spiritual music concert featuring Davor Terzić will be held at the basilica after the 6 p.m. Holy Mass, presenting his latest CD. A three-day spiritual preparation, including confession and prayer, will take place from November 18th to 20th at the cathedral. Notable figures such as Mons. Ivan Štironja, the Poreč and Pula Bishop, and dr. sc. Jakov Rađa, the cathedral preacher of the Zagreb Archdiocese, will preside over the Holy Masses on Saturday, Sunday, and Monday at 6 p.m.

“St. Mauro remained faithful to God, and I believe this serves as an inspiration for each of us to turn to God in our hardships and uncertainties, just as St. Mauro did,” emphasized Rev. Pranjić.

Secular Celebrations

Nenad Velenik, the Director of the Poreč Tourist Board, outlined the secular festivities scheduled to take place at Liberty Square starting at 10 a.m. The Baredinesaurs will kick off the celebration with music, followed by the distribution of polenta with brodet after the solemn mass. The musical entertainment will continue with Sergio Pavat and Orchestra Istriana. The renowned local company Agrolaguna, celebrating its 60th anniversary, will treat attendees to cake and 500 glasses of sparkling wine.

Various associations and clubs contribute to the festive atmosphere with events such as the traditional celebration of St. Mauro in the Italian Community of Poreč, marking its 75th anniversary this year, the 26th St. Mauro Fishing Cup, an exhibition by Varvari creative talents, the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of Zdravi grad Poreč, the Youth Festival, and more.

Mayor Loris Peršurić highlighted the significance of this holiday for the residents of Poreč, not only for its spiritual meaning but also for the numerous gatherings and events that bring the community together. The festivities begin with the traditional St. Mauro Awards ceremony in the Istrian Assembly on November 20th, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the city’s culture. Mayor Peršurić invited everyone to join the celebrations, which include free food distribution and Agrolaguna’s anniversary.

The Mayor also mentioned that Poreč is hosting the national conference of LIDER and the Association of Cities for Mayors and Entrepreneurs, a national water conference, and the 15th Crofish Fair on November 24th. Following the St. Mauro events, the city will take a brief pause before kicking off the Advent season on December 2nd with the lighting of the first candle on Liberty Square.

St. Mauro Awards

The celebration’s prelude is the St. Mauro Awards ceremony, recognizing individuals contributing significantly to the region’s culture, art, or education. Organized by the Public Open University of Poreč (POUP), the awards ceremony, scheduled for Monday, November 20th, at 7 p.m. in the Istrian Assembly, will include a lecture by curator Marina Martinčević from the Local Museum of Poreština on the “Formation and Development of the Poreč Cathedral Chapter until 1828.”

St. Mauro’s Relics

Notably, the last procession before its reinstatement in 2014 occurred in 1934. In 1354, Genoese admiral Paganino Doria defeated the Venetian fleet, taking the relics of saints Mauro and Eleuterio from Poreč as payment for their alliance with the Serenissima. After more than 500 years, the relics returned to Poreč in 1934, marking one of the grandest celebrations in honor of the patron saint. Representatives from the Poreč-Pula Diocese, parishes, neighboring dioceses, and church officials, as well as civil authorities, police, firefighters, cultural and artistic societies, young Poreč athletes, and others, will participate in this year’s procession through the streets of Poreč, carrying the saint’s relics.