Saint Januarius blood liquefies in Naples ritual, renewing faith amid debate

Naples — The blood of St Januarius liquefied on Tuesday during the city’s centuries-old vial ritual at the Duomo di Santa Maria Assunta, a development welcomed by the faithful and watched by authorities for signs of a good omen. Archbishop Domenico Battaglia said the dried blood appeared semi-liquid at 9:13 a.m. local time and fully liquefied by 10:05 a.m., witnessed by a crowd gathered in the cathedral.

The two ampoules, sealed glass vials containing the dried substance, are kept in a gold-and-glass reliquary and presented by a priest or bishop on feast days. During the ritual, the archbishop tilts the reliquary so the crowd can see the blood liquefy as prayers fill the cathedral. The reliquary is displayed for eight days, allowing worshippers to approach and kiss it while the vials are carefully tilted to demonstrate liquidity. The first recorded mention of the ritual dates to 1383, though church officials acknowledge it may have occurred even earlier in Naples’ history.

Believers view the moment as more than spectacle; they see it as a sign of divine protection for Naples. In his homily, Battaglia said, “Every drop of this blood speaks to us of the love of God,” adding that the relic is a sign of Christ’s passion. He cautioned that devotion should not be reduced to superstition, saying, “We do not have to worry if the blood of this relic does not liquefy, but we do have to worry if it is the blood of the downtrodden, the marginalized, and the poor that flows through our streets.”

For scientists and skeptics, the phenomenon has long been a subject of inquiry and debate. Some researchers say natural explanations are plausible: the material in the vials may be a substance that changes viscosity when disturbed or warmed, creating the impression of liquefaction. A 1991 CICAP experiment reproduced a red-brown, thixotropic substance that liquefies when agitated, suggesting a non-biological explanation. Earlier spectroscopic analyses, in 1902 and 1989, detected signs of blood but were inconclusive. A 2024 study by Giovanni Fazio of the University of Messina concluded there is no definitive proof that the vials contain blood, though he acknowledged that faith and tradition remain central to the ritual. He proposed further study if the Church permitted observation outside feast days or a direct comparison with past analyses, but uncertainties and controversy persist.

The ritual’s history is inseparable from Naples’ identity and legend. Traditional accounts say Januarius and his companions were martyred during Roman times and their blood was brought to Naples, where he is revered as the city’s protector. Local lore links the saint’s fate to Pozzuoli’s amphitheater and to a broader narrative of steadfast fidelity in the face of persecution. While the first written record of the ritual appears in the 14th century, officials say it likely predates that date and was transmitted through medieval devotion. The blood’s liquefaction has been described as a good omen in times of crisis and restraint in others, underscoring the tension between faith, ritual, and science.

The church observes the relic on three feast days each year, with the archbishop and other clergy supervising the display and presentation to the public. After the eight-day display, the reliquary is returned to a secure vault within the Chapel of the Treasury, until the next feast day when it is again lent to the faithful for veneration. As Naples continues to grapple with social and economic challenges, many residents view the ritual as a distinctive cultural touchstone—an emblem of resilience that can unite people across generations. While observers across disciplines may debate the relic’s true nature, the ceremony remains a centerpiece of the city’s cultural calendar and a potent symbol of faith for many in southern Italy.