Feast of St. Dévote (Monaco)
The Feast of St. Dévote, celebrated annually on January 26 and 27, is a significant public holiday in Monaco, a small city-state on the Mediterranean coast known for its stunning scenery and vibrant tourism. This observance honors St. Dévote, the patron saint of Monaco, who was martyred in the early fourth century due to her steadfast Christian faith. According to legend, after her death, her body was transported by ship to what is now Monaco, where a miraculous dove calmed a storm to ensure their safe arrival. The celebrations commence with morning religious services on January 26, followed by various festivities over the two days. Traditions include the ceremonial release of doves, the burning of a decorated ship symbolizing her journey, and colorful fireworks displays. This cultural event not only reflects the deep-rooted Christian heritage of the Monegasque people but also invites tourists to engage in the local traditions, offering a glimpse into the community's reverence for St. Dévote and their shared history.
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Feast of St. Dévote (Monaco)
Feast of St. Dévote (Monaco)
January 26–27 of every year are public holidays in the tiny city-state of Monaco on the Mediterranean coast of France near the city of Nice. Monaco is known primarily as a tourist spot for people seeking to enjoy the region's beautiful scenery and pleasant climate, and it features the famous casinos of Monte Carlo. It was independent until 1793, when it was annexed by the new revolutionary government of France, but its freedom was restored in 1815 by the Treaty of Vienna. Monaco has a constitutional monarchy and, despite its size and its dependence on France (which surrounds it on all sides except for the Mediterranean coastline), it is a member of the United Nations.
The patron saint of the nation is St. Dévote, a young Christian girl whose real name was probably Dévota and who lived on the Mediterranean island of Corsica near Monaco. In the early fourth century a.d. she was martyred by Barbarus, the Roman governor of the island, during one of the several periods of Christian persecution. According to tradition she was killed because she refused to recant her faith, and afterward a small group of her fellow Christians took her body aboard a ship bound for North Africa for a proper Christian burial. A violent storm arose during the journey, but the legend states that a dove emerged from the dead girl's mouth to calm the storm and lead the vessel safely to port at what is now Monaco. The date of the ship's arrival is known to be January 27 in the modern calendar, but whether the exact year was 304 or 312 or some other date in the early fourth century is not certain. Dévote's corpse was buried in the valley of the Gaumates, and in the centuries that followed many miracles were said to occur in her name. The people of Monaco, known as Monegasques, came to revere Dévote as their patron saint. Today, they honor her memory beginning on January 26 of every year with religious services in the morning. Afterward, on both the 26th and 27th, celebrations include the ritual release of doves in Dévote's name, the burning of a decorated ship representing the vessel in which her body was transported and symbolizing the cleansing of her martyrdom, fireworks displays, torchlight processions, and many other events for both the Monegasques and tourists who visit for the occasion.