The History of the chapel as the feast approaches!
As the feast for St. Cosmo and Damiano approaches at the chapel on Kossuth Avenue in Utica, NY, I thought it would only be right to give a brief history of the chapel. It isn’t just delicious pizza frite and sausage! (even though we all love them)
In the year 1911, a small group of Utica, New York Italian immigrants commonly known as “ee-bah-rise” as in Bari, Italy formed a society of their own to honor the Saints Cosmo & Damiano in America.
The tradition began for them in the year 1625 in Alberobello, province of Bari, Italy. It was a week-long holiday observed by a solemn novena, and a joyous street celebration, and a grand Sunday afternoon religious procession through the streets of the neighborhood.
In 1911 when the first feast was held in East Utica in a spare room over a bakery not far from where the chapel now stands, serves as the first chapel for the”oo-quad-ara”, the sacred portrait of Saints Cosmo and Damiano.
Thus, from these humble beginnings the Society grew, from few to many, to where the Chapel Shrine now stands at 312 Kossuth Ave, Utica, New York.
The celebration of Saints Cosmo and Damiano martyrdom is held the last Sunday in September and on the Saturday preceding the last Sunday.
This years date for the feast and celebration of Saints Cosmo and Damiano will be September 28th 2013 and September 29th 2013. We look forward to seeing all of you there!
Everyday up to the feast we will be posting either new photos, chapel history, pictures of Alberobello where the Saints came from all to get in the spirit of the upcoming feast!
September 6, 2013 · 1:05 am
stcosmoanddamianouticany 