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Devotees Flock to Christ in Abyss

On the last Saturday of July, a most unusual festival takes place off the coast of Genoa near to the town of Portofino.

Small fishing boats carrying divers will have to dodge swimming brides in the water as a religious procession takes place that has its object of devotion 60 feet below the waves, on the sea bed.

The Christ of the Abyss is a nine foot high statue, created by an Italian artist out of melted anchors and war medals after World War II. It was sunk to the bottom of the sea to provide a representation of the protectorate of divers, sailors and the underwater world.

Every year for the festival, divers take a sacred crown down to the figure and place it on his head. More recently, a tradition has sprung up around newlyweds who offer a wreath in the sea. 'Sposa bagnata, sposa fortunata,' they say ("A soaked bride is a lucky bride!").

The ceremony was enlivened even further in 2004, when the statue was re-sunk after suffering minor damage from the anchor of a large boat.

Writing for Divernet, Zac Macaulay described the incredible and moving experience of seeing the statue return to its rightful place, followed by the spectacle of a topless miss in a speedboat zooming past a line of assembled smirking dignitaries on board ship!

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Updated: Wed, 19 Jul 2006 00:00:00

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