26 Jan
St Devota's Day Festivities in Monaco
Monaco's patron saint will be celebrated on 26 and 27 January 2015
Celebrations for St. Devota, patron saint of Monaco, will take place on Monday 26 and Tuesday 27 January 2015.
According to legend, Devota (Dévote in French) a young Christian woman and native of Corsica, was martyred by the Prefect Barbarus under the Emperors Diocletian and Maximian at a date that we can estimate at between 303 or 304 AD. During the night, her body was stolen by believers, put in a boat and transported to Monaco, where it was buried in a chapel in a valley known as the "Gaumates," near the port, on 27 January of the same year.
Under Honoré II, in the 17th century, Saint Devota became patron saint of Monaco.
The tradition has been perpetuated each year since 1874 – a boat is burned on a pyre in the presence of the Sovereign and the Princely Family, accompanied by Monegasque dignitaries.
Once the boat has been burned, fireworks are let off on Port Hercule.
On 27 January, the Feast Day, a Mass is celebrated in the Cathedral by the Archbishop of the Diocese, in the presence of the Prince's Government and numerous elected representatives. The ceremony is followed by a procession, in which the penitents of the Brotherhood of Mercy take part.
To find out more, see: www.saintedevotemonaco.com
St Devota Celebrations:
Monday 26 January 2015
10.30 a.m. Eglise Sainte Dévote (Church of St. Devota): Mass of the Traditions, in Monegasque.
Blessing of the Sea
* * *
6.00 p.m. Port Hercule: Homage to Saint Devota
Arrival of the symbolic boat in front of the Yacht Club of Monaco, release of a dove and start of the procession.
* * *
6.30 p.m. Arrival of the Symbolic Boat - Vallon des Gaumates (Valley of the Gaumates)
The procession will halt for the blessing of the relics
Presentation of the relics
***
6.45 p.m. from the Avenue Président J.F. Kennedy:
St. Devota Procession
* * *
7 p.m. Eglise Sainte Dévote: Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, in the presence of H.S.H. Prince Albert II and the Royal Family and presided over by His Grace Msgr. Bernard Barsi, Archbishop of Monaco.
* * *
7.30 p.m. Forecourt of the Eglise Sainte Dévote: Burning of the Symbolic Boat by the Princely Family and Monegasque dignitaries.
* * *
Afterwards, from the Quai Rainier III: Musical fireworks presented by the " Flash Art Monaco Entertainment" company.
Musical entertainment, Avenue d'Ostende and in front of the Princess Grace Theatre.
Tuesday 27 January 2015
9.50 a.m. Cathedral: Welcoming the Relics by members of the Clergy and the Venerable Brotherhood of Mercy.
* * *
10.00 a.m. Cathedral: Pontifical Mass presided over by Msgr. André Marceau, Bishop of Nice
* * *
11.15 a.m. Monaco-Ville: Solemn Procession of the Relics, presided over by Their Excellencies