The Patriarch of Aquileia
In Friuli, Christianity took root early and its emblematic figure was the Patriarch of Aquileia, who existed from 554 to 1751. He exercised ecclesiastical jurisdiction over the largest diocese in Christendom after the five patriarchates of Rome, Antioch, Alexandria, Jerusalem and Constantinople. In its maximum extension, his diocese covered a vast territory between Como in the west and the Danube in the east. After the separation of the Eastern and Western Churches in 1054, the Patriarchate of Aquileia became the second dignity after the papacy. In 1077, it was invested with political authority and ruled over the principality of Friuli until 1420.
The Catholic religion today
In terms of religious practice, Italy shares the fate of all European countries: a good part of the population is baptized but only a small percentage attends mass regularly. However, the major religious holidays are always celebrated. The three major recurrences are Easter, August 15(Ferragosto) and Christmas. While more and more Italians are adopting Northern European customs for Christmas celebrations - Christmas tree and gift exchange - there are still two traditions that are deeply rooted in the country: the construction of elaborate nativity scenes(presepi) and the Befana. On January 6, the day of the Epiphany, the Befana (a witch) travels the sky on her broom in search of the Christ Child. She stops in every house and leaves gifts, toys and sweets for the nice children, and a piece of coal for the others. In the Alpine regions, St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, is also celebrated and he brings them gifts on the night of December 6. But after his arrival, the Krampus, demonic creatures with long horns, chase children (and adults!) by ringing their bells.
The cosmopolitanism of Trieste
Declared a free port in 1719, Trieste experienced rapid economic development. To attract merchants and entrepreneurs, the Austrian sovereigns granted the citizens of the city a series of privileges, including freedom of worship. An edict of Maria Theresa of Austria allowed the various communities to build their own church, cemetery and school. Until the beginning of the 20th century, Trieste welcomed important religious communities: Greek and Serbian Orthodox, Protestants (Lutherans, Waldensians, Anglicans...), Armenians. Their places of worship, still active, are scattered throughout the city: Serbian Orthodox church of Saint Spyridon, church of San Nicolò dei Greci of Greek Orthodox rite, Evangelical Lutheran church, Anglican church
... The Jewish presence in Trieste is older since it goes back to the Middle Ages. Created around 1690 behind the current Piazza Unità d'Italia, the Jewish ghetto was a very lively and noisy area. In the Trieste dialect, the expression far gheto still means "to make noise". The Trieste ghetto was more extensive, but it was partly razed during the Fascist era, in particular to build the Casa del Fascio (now the Questura). Inaugurated in 1912, the synagogue of Trieste is one of the largest in Europe. From the 1920s onwards, many Jews from Central and Eastern Europe embarked at the port of Trieste to reach Palestine, earning the city the nickname of the Gate of Zion.Popular beliefs
Legends and popular beliefs have ancestral origins and their memory has been perpetuated by oral culture. In the rural areas, the memory of fantastic beings, beneficial or evil, has been preserved. The waterways of the Carnic Alps are inhabited by aganis, female creatures who, on the nights of the full moon, meet to dance. They would have taught the woman to work with wool and the man to make cheese. But one should not trust them: like the rivers, the aganis can be alternately calm or treacherous. As for the sbilfs, they are mischievous wood elves who break into houses to steal cakes and tear off clothes. Generally invisible, they sometimes appear to children and to those whose hearts are pure.
