Prayer, conviviality and culture in Florence
On 18 December 2021, the customary Christmas Mass of the Tuscan Delegation of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy was held at the Church of SS. Michele e Gaetano in Florence, promoted in conjunction with the Inspectorate for Tuscany of the National Institute for the Guard of Honour to the Royal Tombs of the Pantheon.
The diplomas of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy, which were awarded in Geneva during the last General Chapter, were handed out in the austere sacristy, together with their insignia, to those who were unable to attend the ceremonies in Switzerland.
On the sidelines of the ceremony, it was communicated that the knight Pierluigi Pucci had been appointed as Vice Delegate for Tuscany of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House of Savoy.
Afterwards, the opening procession of the Holy Mass was formed and all those present took part in the Sacred Rite which, by ancient tradition and concession of the ecclesiastical Superiors of Florence, Rev. Don Pozza celebrated according to the Vetus Ordo in Latin in an evocative atmosphere.
A gathering for the exchange of Christmas greetings was later held with a large number of participants.
There was a large turnout with around forty Dames and Knights in their robes at the Holy Service and around one hundred and fifty people in the church, followed by around one hundred at the following cocktail party and Christmas concert.
Two cultural events took place afterwards: first a guided exhibition of some superb uniforms of the Royal Navy, Royal Army and Royal Guardia di Finanza, enriched by the technical but universally understandable description by the kinght Cav. M.llo G.d.F. Gianluca Zagarri, followed by a concert for harp and voice given by Prof. Elena Maria Gaia Castini and tenor Cav. Prof. Claudio Sassetti, who carried the audience into a warm Christmas atmosphere by performing traditional music and songs.
On the same day, elections were also held for the provincial delegates of Florence, Prato and Pistoia of the National Institute for the Guard of Honour to the Royal Tombs of the Pantheon. Marco Passeri and Pierluigi Pucci (respectively) were elected.
