{"id":1839,"date":"2025-01-28T18:18:17","date_gmt":"2025-01-28T16:18:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/monacoembassy.orderofmalta.int\/?post_type=news&p=1839"},"modified":"2025-01-28T18:29:38","modified_gmt":"2025-01-28T16:29:38","slug":"feast-of-sainte-devote-patron-of-the-principality-of-monaco","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/monacoembassy.orderofmalta.int\/en\/news\/feast-of-sainte-devote-patron-of-the-principality-of-monaco\/","title":{"rendered":"Feast of Sainte D\u00e9vote: Patron of the Principality of Monaco"},"featured_media":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-1839","news","type-news","status-publish","hentry","news_tags-evidence"],"acf":{"news_cover":{"id":1832,"url":"https:\/\/monacoembassy.orderofmalta.int\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2025\/01\/IMG_6185-scaled.jpg"},"news_content":"

Monaco, 26<\/b>th<\/sup><\/b> and 27<\/b>th<\/sup><\/b> January\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

The History and Legend<\/b>
\nIn Corsica, at the beginning of the 4th century, the Roman emperor Diocletian ordered a violent persecution against the Christians. Among the victims was a young Christian woman, D\u00e9vote, who was arrested, imprisoned, and tortured. She died without ever renouncing her faith. After her death, the governor ordered to burn her body, but some Christians managed to save it and placed it on a boat bound for Africa, where she could receive a proper Christian burial.<\/p>\n

However, during the journey, a violent storm struck the boat. A dove, which emerged from D\u00e9vote\u2019s mouth, miraculously guided the boat to Monaco, where it ran aground in the Gaumates valley (the current site of the Church of Sainte D\u00e9vote) around 27th<\/sup> January. Many faithful came to pray at her tomb, and the first miracles were recorded.<\/p>\n

Later, a man stole the relics of the Saint, intending to profit from them. He was quickly stopped by a group of fishermen who pursued and captured the thief with just a few strokes of their oars. The thief\u2019s boat was burned on the beach as an act of penance.<\/p>\n

According to tradition, in the 16th century, during a war against the Genoese and the Pisans, Sainte D\u00e9vote protected Monaco from enemies besieging the fortress. For over six months, the attacks were repelled by the Monegasques, reassured by the Saint\u2019s apparition, promising divine protection and victory. On 15th<\/sup> March 1507, the Genoese abandoned the siege.<\/p>\n

Since 1924, every evening on 26th<\/sup> January, a boat is burned in memory of these events.<\/p>\n

Program for the Feast of Sainte D\u00e9vote<\/b>
\nA rich program of celebrations and traditions has been organized for 26th<\/sup> and 27th<\/sup> January:<\/p>\n

Sunday, 26th January<\/b><\/p>\n