The Municipality of Distomo – Arachova – Antikyra is taking another step towards openness and international cooperation by proceeding with the twinning of the Community of Steiri with the city of Trani, Italy. The decision comes to seal a relationship that is founded on historical, religious, and cultural ties and has its roots in the 11th century.
As announced in an official letter from the President of the Committee for the Celebrations of the Patron Saint of the Municipality of Trani, the Mayor of the Italian city enthusiastically accepted the proposal for twinning, recognizing the importance of this relationship based on the common spiritual symbol of the two regions: Saint Nicholas the Exile, also known as Saint Nicholas the Pilgrim.
The Saint, born in 1075 in Steiri, left at a young age for a long pilgrimage that led him to Trani, where he died in 1094 at the age of just 19. The Catholic Church canonized him by decision of Pope Urban II, and his memory is honored every year on June 2, while Trani has declared him its patron saint. The annual procession and events in his honor culminate in the last week of July.
This twinning is based on a long dialogue that began in 1993, when the Trani ecclesiastical council sought to establish contact with the birthplace of the Saint. Today, 25 years later, the discussion is reviving dynamically, with the aim of officially establishing twinning ties and active cooperation between the two Municipalities. The areas of envisaged cooperation are very broad and include, among others, the promotion of cultural heritage and local history, the exchange of good practices, the organization of joint events and actions in the fields of tourism, culture, education, health, and social cohesion.
Particular importance is attached to the participation of the local community – cultural associations, voluntary groups, schools, and institutions. As underlined in the relevant memorandum, twinning cannot function as a simple institutional act, but must constitute a common experience, a point of reference, and a tool for creating real bonds between citizens.
The Community of Steiri, through this process, is expected to acquire added value as a destination of cultural and religious interest, projecting its special historical imprint at an international level.
