Special rites and prayers were held for Saint Rita, also known as the Saint of Impossibilities, on Friday, May 21 at Kadıköy Surp Levon Church, and on Saturday, May 22 at Taksim Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Church.
Der HaygAram Çekiç, Subordinate Diyakon Jan Acemoğlu and readers attended the special service presided over by the Chief Priest of Taksim Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Church, Vartan Kazancıyan.
Taksim Surp Hovhan Vosgeperan Choir sang hymns in the special ceremony, under the direction of Chief Zaven Agay. The rituals were held closed to the congregation due to the pandemic.
Who is Saint Rita?
Saint Rita, whose real name is Margherita, was born in Cascia, Italy in May 1381. In her youth she wanted to become a nun and devote her whole life to God, but her family would not accept it. They force her to marry. She suffers a lot of torment from her rude and domineering husband. The husband of Saint Rita, who has twin children, gets murdered and dies. Rita, who was left alone after her twins died as well, wanted to enter the Monastery and become a nun again. She is not admitted to the monastery at first, but when the image of Rita miraculously appears next to them while the choir is singing, they accept her into the Monastery.
After living in the monastery, she lived according to the rules of St. Augustine, serving the poor and the sick. One day, while she was praying, a ray of light emerged from the appearance of Jesus on the Cross, and a stigma appeared on Rita’s forehead. It is told that many miracles happened with her prayers, especially in overcoming the wishes that are very difficult to come true and difficulties that seem impossible.
In 1628, 171 years after Saint Rita’s conversion to the Lord, she was declared a Saint by Pope Urbain VIII and her name day is celebrated annually on her death day, May 22. The incorruptible body of St. Rita is found in the temple named after her in Cascia.
