Saint Barbara Takes to the Skies as COVID Hits Italian Town's Annual Religious Procession

A statue of Saint Barbara, the patron saint of firefighters and the Italian town of Rieti, was hoisted into the air by a fire service helicopter on her feast day, December 4, as COVID-19 measures curtailed the town’s usual procession.

Traditionally Rieti’s firefighters open their barracks so citizens could thank them for their work, according to a local report, and they then take part in a parade.

This year, however, firefighters were not able to complete the parade, so flew the statue of Saint Barbara over the town instead. Credit: Vigili del Fuoco via Storyful