Alfio, St.
Part of The Encyclopedia of Southern Italy.
Alfio, St.: (fl. AD 3rd / 4th centuries). Martyr. Since his first historical mention only dates from the 8th or 9th centuries, there is a good probability that he is fictitious. His story also suffers from the fact that these earliest sources are unreliable and give conflicting facts about him. In general, his legend states that he traveled from Rome to Puteoli (Pozzuoli), and then continued on to Sicily. On the island he visited Tauromenium (Taormina), Catane (Catania), and Leontinoi (Lentini). In most sources, it is claimed that he died in Leontinoi during the reign of the Emperor Licinius (r308-324). An alternate version, however, believes that he martyred in AD 251.
Alfio is usually mentioned with his brothers S. Filadelfio and S. Cirino. In 1517, three ancient burials discovered near Lentini were identified by the church as those of the brothers. Alfio is a patron saint of the Sicilian towns of Lentini (SR) and Trecastagni (CT).
Alfio’s cult has wide popularity in eastern Sicily. As part of the ceremonies connected with cult, on the night of May 9/10followers traveled from Catania up the slopes of Mt. Etna to a site near Trecastagni. They made their return trip to Catania in the afternoon in a procession of traditional decorated carts.