The Institute of St. Sybian, Calabria, Italy

Among the orange groves and gardens near the site of ancient Sybaris in the region of Calabria, the St. Sybian Institute flourishes in its efforts to spread the message of St. Sybian and promote official recognition of her Sainthood. It sponsors many educational programs including a summer-long youth camp, and multiple seminars in the arts including music, dance, photography, the culinary arts and wine tasting. The Institute operates two seminaries leading to priesthood for young women, one on the grounds of the Institute and the other on the Sybian Estate, a retreat center outside of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States (more information on the Estate below.)




Recent Activities at the Institute

This year, we initiated what we hope to be an annual festival dedicated to St. Sybian, held on her feast-day, the day of the summer solstice. Among the events:



The young girls of Sybaris, re-enacting the “Dives of Sybian”, by which she sacrificed her own life to save the city. It is a contest among the girls to see who can stay submerged the longest.


Inaugural Performance at New Amphitheatre


Dancers at the performance of the music pageant,“MALOCCHIO DEL AMORE”, by Felix Sebastian Culpa. Years ago, the premiere performance of this composition caused a police riot, and led to the trial, conviction and banishment of the composer. This year’s performance was dedicated to the late Patrick Lockwood, who worked for the Institute as scribe and musicologist, helping to piece together the scraps of the musical score destroyed by the Poliza.


The Institute's Museum and Archives are now open!!

Also new to the Institute is the museum, featuring images of St. Sybian by artists through the ages, as well as objects of art suggestive of the “Vita Voluptua” way of life of the saint. Following are some examples:







The archives, which consist of the original manuscripts of Felix Sebastian Culpa, as well as correspondence between Felix and Mia, Maxine and Pedro, the transcript of Culpa’s trial, and his eventual pardon, is open to researchers by prior appointment only.