I am Maxine Culpa. Along with my late daughter Mia, I first became aquainted with Saint Sybian through our husband, Composer Felix Sebastian Culpa. He was born and raised in Calabria, Italia, near the site of the ancient Greek settlement of Sybaris, in the last century. When he was thirteen, Sybian began to appear to him, initiating him into her spiritual and sensual world. Felix, who was forced to disappear after unfortunate and definitely unsaintlike events , told us of Sybian's devotion to the pleasures of the father's creation: food, drink, the arts (particularly music and dance) all nature ---especially the body!! With the help of American Musicologist Patrick Lockwood, I have written these entries. Now, He also has been taken from us. Our new Scribe is Daniel Pierce, and our new Goddesss is Esperanza, whom Sybian herself has ordained. I hope that all who view this site will be encouraged to let their minds and senses wander to discover the voluptuous gifts the father freely gives us. Newcomers are urged to go to the earliest postings.

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Initial Posting from Daniel Pierce




This is my first posting as “Scribe” for The Sybaris Institute ( Calabria, Italy) and the Sybaris Estate (Chicago) since taking over for the late Patrick Lockwood. I will try to follow his example of scholarly research and faithful reporting.
I have accompanied Milo and Maxine back to Italy, along with Esperanza, the leader of this “Sybari-Nova” group, followers of the teachings and example of “Saint Sybian (not recognized by the Vatican, but certainly venerated in the hearts of people in the Calabria region of Italy and the Chicago area of the U.S.)
And just as I showed Milo around Chicago, he has been returning the favor, showing me some of the ruins of old Sybaris and the surrounding area.




We have only been in Italy for 6 days. We were welcomed here with what Americans would call a “picnic”, except it lasted for three days and nights and I’m suspicious that somewhere in one of the gardens here it might still be going on. There were close to a hundred people on the grounds of the institute which they share with the Bergamot Orange Presses ---“The Scent of the Saint” ----so you can imagine the aroma.
There has been an abundance of fresh fruits, cheeses, breads, and wine---lots of wine. No hangover, though, because in Sybari everyone can sleep until noon. Back before its first destruction in 720 B.C., the Sybarites passed what amounted to Western civilization’s first “noise ordinance”, barring noisy crafts such as carpentry and smithery ---- even roosters! –from the village. They continue to enforce that ordinance today.

These are people who indeed know how to enjoy what “The Father” has given them, something they refer to as “THE GIFTS.” There has been much singing and dancing, with a lot of couples (and trios, and quartets!) wandering off into the groves and nearby hillsides. (I must admit to all of you up front that Esperanza took me back there several times----- and several other ladies of the village also.) This has been no “Cum-bay-ah” cookout like back in Cedar Rapids, Iowa!
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