The Sensa, an ancient Venetian tradition of marriage with the sea, has been handed down since the Middle Ages.

His Excellency Patriarch Francesco Moraglia of Venice underlined that “the sea is not a border that separates, but a bridge that unites, and so these historical episodes are welcome in our memory and above all as a stimulus to consider how much our present needs to meditate, to live and above all to find ways, even on a personal, social and political level, capable of generating peace”.

The Sensa, an ancient Venetian tradition of marriage with the sea, has been handed down since the Middle Ages.

His Excellency Patriarch Francesco Moraglia of Venice underlined that “the sea is not a border that separates, but a bridge that unites, and so these historical episodes are welcome in our memory and above all as a stimulus to consider how much our present needs to meditate, to live and above all to find ways, even on a personal, social and political level, capable of generating peace”.

Every year for centuries, in the stretch of water in front of the Church of San Nicolò del Lido (where the Dalmatian Pillars are also located ), the lagoon receives the Doge's golden ring to celebrate the Ascension of Jesus Christ into heaven and as a sign of Venice's bond with the sea.

The Sensa originated following the memorable doge's enterprise of the year 1000, that of Pietro II Orseolo (26th Doge of Venice) to help Dalmatia threatened by the Slavs.

Doge Pietro II Orseolo is considered the founder of the Maritime State . A skilled diplomat, he brought together all the Venetian nobility and then established collaborative relations with the Western and Eastern Empires.

The Doge of Pietro II Orseolo consolidated and developed the Venetian Republic's maritime influence over Istria and Dalmatia, establishing alliances with the Greeks. He freed the Dalmatian populations from Slavic slavery and defeated the Narentine pirates when, with the support of Byzantium, the banner of Saint Mark was raised for the first time.

The Doge's naval operations were highly successful at Poreč, Pula, Osor, Cres, Krk, Rab, Zadar, Šibenik, Trogir, Split, Korčula, Lastovo, and Dubrovnik. Byzantium awarded the Doge the title "Duke of Dalmatia." This was followed by the marriage of Giovanni and Maria, the son of Peter II Orseolo and the granddaughter of the Byzantine Emperor Basil II.

YouTube Video: Venice Lido, His Excellency Patriarch Moraglia at the Dalmatian Pillars

by Vittorio Baroni – 16/05/2021

Source: Lido Oro Benon