The saint is one of the most highly venerated in Sardinia, but Pabillonis has its own unique ritual dedicated to Saint John.
Tradition recalls a dramatic event: the Saracen pirate raid on the village in 1584. While part of the population was captured and taken as prisoners to Africa, others managed to escape and take refuge in the dense forest of white alder trees (abiu in Sardinian) along the Riu Bellu river.
There, the survivors were saved through the intercession of Saint John. To thank the saint, ever since then, every year on August 28th and 29th, decorated carts (is carrus de sabiu), adorned with alder branches, parade through the village, accompanied by worshippers in traditional Sardinian dress.
This ritual is deeply meaningful to the community and attracts hundreds of tourists each year.
Inside the church, there is a gilded 17th-century tabernacle depicting the Baptism of Christ and the Last Supper.