Local historical accounts

The year 264 was counted: when on the morning of February 13 five chests were discovered in Lipari floating above the waves of the sea, one of which preceded as principal the others: already all were approaching the shore, and properly where it was called Porto di Genti […].

The people who saw this ran thronging to it, moved by curiosity to see what it was: and behold it aimed to land at that lido the indicated first marble crate and remained this one stranded on the lido; they gave the other four crates immediately turn by the way of the sea of Messina. Surprised all by a strange marvel they did not understand the Mystery, nor did they understand, how the burdensome marble could keep itself floating on the waters, and every one would have liked to see it enclosed in that prodigious ark: when at this time the Holy Bishop Agathon rushed to it all in anticipation, and torn with the solicitous walk he had made to reach it soon, for already from Heaven above the dawn of the morning in a dream he had received through an Angel the news of the whole thing; and he signified to the people that there was to be found in that chest locked up there a precious treasure, namely, the sacred Body of the Glorious Apostle St. Bartholomew, sent by God all the way from Greater Armenia to enrich the city of Lipari […].

The Holy Prelate opened the Casket and found in it the precious Body of St. Bartholomew; curiosity changed in an instant into tender devotion and all prostrate adored those Sacred Relics, not being able to contain themselves from weeping for the excessive joy. But more than any other, the Holy Bishop Agathon resolved himself into tears, who genuflected, not ceasing to kiss those cold limbs, which by their coldness seemed to be kindling ever greater flames of devotion and holy love in his soul […].

He finally imposed on the clergy that they lift up on the humeri that sacred Remains and with jubilation and hymns of joy carry them to his nearby Church (of which now in our times, there remains only a small chapel miserable remnant of the time and past misfortunes of this Island) […]. The Holy Prelate Agathon, having situated the Casket above the altar of the Church and knowing well that from God the glorious Apostle had been constituted for protector of Lipari, as the Angel had already revealed him, when he gave him notice of the arrival of said Sacred Relics, esteemed it well on behalf of the people and the City to suddenly then weave to him a brief panagyric oration in tribute of homage and thanksgiving: “And what happiness is ours, O glorious Apostle, that thou hast deigned to come to these our shores, almost port of Salute to us wretches agitated by the bristling sea of this world? Oh what happiness is ours, while thou what river of the divine Paraclete hast i wished to enter this Sea of ours and come down to us? Humbly does this island of Lipari beseech Thee to will in it and with it happily dwell. Thou art, O Most Holy Bartholomew, purest gold, most precious gift of the Hand of God, pillar of light, gentle voice of the flying eagle and his sweetest Song. Thou of all good the treasure, with a devout heart to thee I bow, I salute thee I venerate thee O Bartholomew splendor of great thunder, who around this worldly wheel shone with such clarity that the night of darkness vanished and the clouded minds of gentilesm were enlightened. I would as well spread myself to all power in thy praises but by the multitude and greatness of thy prerogatives overwhelmed I remain. I therefore keep silent and only beseech thee, O our most benign Protector, to make us placated God and with all solicitude obtain for us all to be admitted to the participation of the Heavenly glory.” 

Reflecting then the most religious Bishop (Benedetto Jeraci) that in his diocese no solemn mention was made of Saint Agathon first bishop of Lipari (among those of whom we have news, the memory of the other antecedents having been lost both because of the insults of the times and of the various accidents to which that City was subjected) he applied himself with all his strength to revive the glorious memory of the Bishop so holy. Hence he first obtained from the Supreme Pontiff (Innocent X) the faculty of being able to celebrate each year in the Church of Lipari the feast of S. Agathon on the anniversary day of his death, which followed on June 27 in the year 313, as we said in his place, and then he stimulated the City to celebrate in perpetuity sollenissima festa on the aforesaid day with a stable oath, as appears by the public acts of the Apostolic Protonotary and Canon of the Catedral of Lipari Don Niccolò Arcondìa in the following form:

“Alli 28 del mese di Giugno 1654 in Lipari.

Since it is sufficiently well known to all those who have news of the history of the past seocles to what devastations and misfortunes the City of Lipari has been subjected to because of wars and other strange accidents, it is no wonder that the notiia of those illustrious men who formerly lived on this island or who with blood illustrated the Christian faith in those early times has been late in coming to us. It being therefore a just and fitting thing to the glory of God, to the increase of Christian piety and to conciliate us with Mercy, to make remembrance of those holy Men who by doctrine and holy operations cultivated the holy faith almost falling away in the most turbulent times of persecutions and maintained the new shoots of the most fervent Blood of Jesus Christ Our Lord. Therefore with reason Ill.mo and Rev. Sig. D. Benedetto Iraci, Bishop of this noble and most faithful city of Lipari with his Rev. mo Chapter and with all the clergy and with the estimable Alessandro Canale doctor of the one and the other law, Pietro Montonaro and Pietro Alconada jurors of the same Noble and Most Faithful City, one with the majority of the Patricians and citizens of the aforesaid City; having obtained Saint Agathon a man by doctrine and sanctity of life illustrious, to have been the first bishop, whom this Church founded by the Apostles, governed in the years of the Lord 255 reigning Decius and Valerian, fierce persecutors of the Christian name, and more about those times having said Holy Bishop received at the shores of Lipari the Body of the Most Holy Apostle Bartholomew, landed by the disposition of God and by angelic ministry. All assembled in this Cathedral Church of the same St. Bartholomew, with every affection and greater devotion on behalf of the University elect and receive for perpetual Patron and Protector in the sight of God the Holy Bishop Agatho, and having obtained from the Holy Roman Church the power to celebrate his feast, they promise and by oath undertake to celebrate it solemnly in perpetuity on the anniversary day of his death.”