The Black Madonna of Tindari is a sacred statue representing the Virgin Mary with the Baby Jesus. Venerated in the Basilica of Tindari, belonging to the Patti hamlet, in the province of Messina, the wooden sculpture is considered one of the oldest and most venerable Marian images in southern Italy to which the faithful turn with great devotion. There is no certain information on the origins of the cult. It dates back to the period of the iconoclastic persecution.
Thousands of pilgrims visit the Basilica of Tindari annually to pay homage to the Black Madonna, participate in religious celebrations and ask for her intercession. The solemn celebration in honor of her occurs every 7 September. For the occasion, the statue is carried in procession through the streets of the town, followed by a crowd of faithful illuminated by candles.
The arrival in Tindari
The Black Madonna of Tindari is considered a symbol of protection and hope. It is said that the statue was carved from cedar wood and that its dark color is due to the fire that destroyed the city of Constantinople in 1453. There is no certainty as to how it arrived in Tindari.
According to tradition, it arrived there by means of a ship returning from the East, hidden in the hold so that it could be saved from iconoclastic persecution. While sailing the waters of the Tyrrhenian Sea, the ship was suddenly hit by a violent storm and forced to stop in the bay of Tindari, today Marinello. When the storm finally subsided, the sailors were unable to move the vessel which remained stranded in the port. They then thought of lightening the load, but the ship only moved when the crate containing the sacred sculpture was brought ashore. When the sailors opened it, they were amazed to see the simulacrum which was taken to the Tindari hill, where a Christian community had long existed.
Sculpture
The statue depicting the Black Madonna of Tindari may have been created between the 5th and 6th centuries, in the East. The Virgin has a long face and is represented as the "Queen sitting on a throne", holding the Baby Jesus in her lap with her blessing right hand. On the base of the statue is written “Nigra sum sed formosa”, an expression that means “Brown I am but beautiful”, which can be read in the Song of Songs.
The Black Madonna of Tindari is also a figure of great cultural and historical importance, which embodies the identity of the Sicilian people and their profound religious faith. Her presence in the Basilica of Tindari is a reminder of the ancient Christian tradition and the spiritual roots of the island. The sanctuary that houses it today stands on the ruins of an ancient church destroyed by pirates, rebuilt in the 16th century in Baroque style, and subsequently enlarged in the second half of the 20th century.
(Photo: Tindari Sanctuary, Facebook Page)
