Our Lady Odigitria is among the most famous icons of the Mother of God, venerated in the East and in the West.
In the fifth century, Theodosius II (408-450 A.D.), with his sister Pulcheria, erected in Constantinople three basilicas Marian in these places:
- Blacherne;
- Chalcopratia
- Odeghi od Odigoi (guides).
The icon "Mother of God" (Theotokos, as had called the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D.) of the Odigìtria type, was precisely preserved and venerated in the church of Odigos (guides) who they were in charge of accompanying the sick eye in a not distant source, which was expected to return the gift of sight.
But the name Hodegetria could also be turned to our Lady who pushes the apostles after Pentecost, to go for the world to bring the word of God: in this sense l`Odigitria (in its variant Latin process iter/ itineris) symbolizes the way.
To increase the worship in Constantinople contributed the same Empress Pulcheria, who wished to establish a special devotion to the Mother of God in Tuesday: this is because the dogmatic definition of the Divine Motherhood seems to have occurred on Tuesday and also because on Tuesday (though that after Pentecost), through the intercession of Our Lady, the people of Constantinople would have a victory over the Persians who had placed l`assedio the city.
Image of it remained several replicas made at different times and venerated in many churches and dell`Oriente dell`Occidente (France, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Poland and, of course, in Italian). iconoclasm.
In some centers where it is alive or the cult of the Madonna dell`Itria, Easter Monday is celebrated on Monday dell`Angelo not, but the next day, on Tuesday.
And `quite curious that this event is called Tuesday dell`Itria (in various dialects: "U marti re the Itria" in Modica, "U marte de l`Itria" in Nicosia) ...
... And that, picnics in the open country, took place (and in some cases still take place) in the countryside near a church called the dell`Itria Madonna and wells with spring water.
It is so in Modica, where the inhabitants on that day converge in thousands dell`Itria at the church, on a rocky spur facing east (bringing meat to roast, eggs, cheese and wine, to be consumed near the church).
It is so in Nicosia, where Easter was spent on the following Tuesday to Thursday dell`Angelo in front of a campaign to wells of spring water, with in front of a massive sandstone over who was un`antica church dedicated to Our Lady dell`Itria .
In reference to the construction of the church dedicated to Our Lady Nicosiana dell`Itria, the Book of Grace and privileges, stored in the NCB, the sheet 308 thus reads:
1570, construction of the church to Our Lady at the tip of the panels Grutti city of sepulchres vicinu them lu puzzu and lands of them Spaniards dead ... a church under the title of Mo prioratu of Maria Santissima ... grant alu priori terri them close more headlights in the festival day of Mo Tuesday dopu Easter each year.
Another example we find in Novoli (Lecce), where it is venerated the Virgin of Cutura (Bread) celebrated in ancient Easter Tuesday.
Also in Lecce there is the day after Easter Monday, the so-called small meeting, a day to spend with all the family in the outdoor picnics.
Similar holidays we find in Castrovillari (Cosenza), Pallagorio (Crotone), Venafro (Isernia), Noicottaro (Bari) and Francavilla Angitola (where on Tuesday the party is called "martingala").
Why Tuesday?
Why the name Itria-Idra?
In Constantinople l`imperatrice Pulcheria had established a special devotion to the Mother of God in Tuesday is due to the dogmatic definition of the Divine Maternity which the Council of Ephesus in 431 A.D. said to have happened on Tuesday and because of Tuesday (though that after Pentecost), through the intercession of Our Lady, the people of Constantinople would have a victory over the Persians who had placed l`assedio the city.
This reflection could be traced back to the Byzantines l`origine of Mardi dell`Itria holidays in centers where it is practiced, and thus be such indirect evidence dell`origine Nicosia Byzantine.
