A festive procession in honor of the patron saint of Carovilli, Italy – Santo Stefano del Lupo – passed through the streets of Akron’s North Hill neighborhood on Sunday.
The parade, which featured the Lowellville Italian Concert and Marching Band, began after the 10:30 a.m. Mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 83 Mosser Place, and went to the Carovillese Club, 570 E. Cuyahoga Falls Ave.
The club has celebrated the saint since it was established in 1925. The procession was added to the festivities in 2010.
Founders of the local club are rooted in Carovilli, where the tradition of celebrating “La Festa di Santo Stefano” dates back centuries. The Italian event includes a morning Mass, procession and fireworks and an evening party with a band and vendors.
According to historical accounts, Santo Stefano lived in the late 1200s/early 1300s. He became a Benedictine monk and followed the doctrine of Pietro Di Murrone, who became Pope Celestine V. It is believed that Santo Stefano traveled with the pope to Rome, when he was elected.
