Sainte Dévote described by Monegasques for two days and in comics too!
Every year, the celebrations of Sainte Dévote, Patron Saint of Monaco, take place on January 26 and 27. An ancestral tradition that honored a young saint who was martyred.
VSe Wednesday 26 January and this Thursday 27 januaryr, one of Monaco’s oldest traditions will be provided Fr Principality.
This tradition comes from a legend transmitted by a medieval document, a moment holding a privileged place in the heart of Monegasques and attested in a permanent way over the centuries in the history of the city.
It is under Honoré II, son of’Ercola Grimaldi, lord of Monaco who took the first the ttitle of Prince of Monaco fr 1612, than Sainte Devote became patroness of Monaco.
Since 1874, every year the same tradition continues: a boat on the stake is burned in the presence of the Sovereign and the Princely Family, accompanied by Monegasque personalities.
The chapel dedicated to him is located near the port, district of the Sainte-Dévote ravine:
Before devening the patroness of Monaco, born in Corsica Saint Devota (Devoted) had collidedand a a wave of persecution from the prefect Rdomain Barbaric Fr 303 AD.
It is because this Christian refused to renounce her religion that she had been martyred on the site of Mariana, a Roman city that became Lucciana in Haute-Corse. A town twinned with Monaco since 2008.
In the night that followed his martyrdom, shis body, stolen by the faithful, was put in a boat on board which they prI rent The direction of South Africa North.
Still according to the legend, a dove came out of its mouth and their said of follow it to reach the valley “des Gaumates” in Monaco on January 27 where she is buried and where theSainte-Devote Church is then built as a tribute.
► Wednesday, January 26:
From 10:30 a.m., a traditional mass will be given In language monegasque at Sainte Devote church. Then at 6:40 p.m. will take place the departure of the procession followed by arrival of the boat to Platform Jarland before the blessing of the relics. Finally the beginning of Most Blessed Sacrament will take place in the Sainte Dévote church, in the presence of the Prince Albert, and from his family.
► Thursday, January 27:
This second day of commemoration will be marked by a solemn mass andn the cathedral referenced by the archbishop of the diocese. Assistedront at this ceremony, the Princely family, the Princely government, the elected assemblies and the constituted bodies as well as the faithful.
After the ceremony, a procession with the participation of penitents of the Archconfraternity of Mercy takesra the direction of palais Prince with the shrine containing the relics escorted by the Prince’s Carabinieri.
The procession stopsra on the Palace Square.
For the most passionate, know that a work dedicated to this personality of Catholicism, this symbol of martyrdom, that which continues to inspire thousands of Monegasques to exist.
“The legend of Saint Devote”, written by Louis notary and published in 2014. For the 90th anniversary of National Committee for Monegasque Traditions, he was reissued.
It took two years of work for the team, the patrons Roger Rossi and Guy Boscagli, the authors Yvon Bertorello (also author of “La Tempête” on the stricken valleys), Eric Stoffel (script and drawings), Frédéric Allali (drawings ) and Bruno Pradelle (colours), as well as Sylvana Santino Rossi and Stéphan Maggi, to edit the first comic strip on the devotee.
Her name ? Devotee.
Published by Éditions du Rocher, this 54-page album is prefaced by Prince Albert II and Mgr Dominique-Marie David, Archbishop of Monaco. The comic traces the life of this virgin.