Modica celebrates the rediscovery of the Teleri of the Passion

In the climate leading up to Holy Week, Modica is preparing to celebrate the definitive return of one of its most significant artistic and devotional heritages. The Telers of the Passion, monumental paintings depicting episodes of the Passion of Jesus, have returned to public enjoyment in the Church of Carmine starting from Ash Wednesday, accompanying the community's Lenten journey.

To complete the recovery and enhancement project, two events are planned in the same church, designed to offer a dual interpretative key: on one hand, the spiritual aspect, linked to the symbolism of the liturgical time; on the other hand, the historical-artistic deepening, focusing on the technical details and the results that emerged during the conservation intervention.

The first meeting, scheduled for Friday, March 27 at 7:30 PM, will be dedicated to Lenten Catechesis. The parish priest, Fr. Antonio Sparacino, will guide attendees in a meditation on the depicted scenes, tools that have traditionally supported the contemplation of the faithful during the time of Passion.

The second event, Saturday, March 28 at 5:00 PM, will constitute the technical and institutional moment of the review. The historical and artistic research will be presented, along with the complex restoration methodologies applied to the Lenten Telers. Prof. Maria Terranova, a professor of Art History, and Dr. Gaetana Ascenzo, responsible for the conservation intervention, will speak.

Contributions from Msgr. Ignazio Petriglieri, Vicar of the Diocese of Noto; Hon. Ignazio Abbate, a member of the ARS who sponsored the restoration request to the Sicilian Region, promoting the recovery of the works with determination; Maria Monisteri Caschetto, mayor of Modica; Dr. Antonino De Marco, Superintendent of Environmental and Cultural Heritage of Ragusa; and Fr. Stefano Modica, director of the Cultural Heritage Office of the Diocese of Noto, are also announced.

The works will remain accessible in the Church of Carmine until Friday, April 3. Subsequently, they will be transferred to another location to ensure accessibility throughout the year, with particular attention to the summer period with high tourist influx.