Sainte Devote Celebration: 2007, 2008, 2009...

[Avalon]

Celebration of the Saint Devote - 2007-01-27

Prince Albert of Monaco at the celebration of the Saint Devote. The legend of Devote, the country's patron saint and founder, is a cherished part of Monegasque heritage. Every year on 26 January a torchlit ceremony is held for her at the Church of St Devote. According to the tradition, a small boat is set alight on the harbour, by the "Vallon des Gaumattes", with the participation of the Grimaldi family. This very symbolic celebration can be explained thanks to the story of Sainte Devote. She was most certainly born in Corsica, in the year 283 A.D.; she was hounded and tortured because of her Christian faith. When her wounded body was being burnt at the stake, confessors of the faith snatched it away and escaped by boat with the intention of going to Africa. Unfortunately, the winds were not favourable and the sailors fell asleep. A dream instructed them to continue their journey and follow a dove. They finally arrived near Monachon, in the "Vallon Gannates" (Vallon des Gaumattes) where the body of the martyr was laid to rest. Subsequently, a few miracles occurred, people spread the news and Devote became the Patron Saint of Monaco.

Pictures (first day):
Prince Albert
Prince Albert 2
Prince Albert 3
Prince Albert 4

Second day:
Prince Albert
Prince Albert 2

more pictures here (1st day).
and here (2nd day).

[iceflower]

Thanks for the pics, Avalon and Tosca!!
Albert looked great at Saint Devote, but I missed the whole family there or at least one of his sisters like in times when Rainier was still there..

[Lakshmi]

I was thinking the same. It would be so nice to see the whole princely family during St Devote. Maybe it'll change.

[giov]

Sainte Devote Celebration, 26 jan 2008
http://legacyeditorial.gettyimages.c...%7c0&p=7&tag=1

[goody7058]

Albert very devote to his believe. I wish his sisters was there.

[iceflower]

Prince Albert of Monaco during the Saint-Devote festivities, 27 January 2008

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 **

[LadyMacAlpine]

Originally Posted by iceflower

Prince Albert of Monaco during the Saint-Devote festivities, 27 January 2008

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 **

Thanks Iceflower it's sad to see him standing in the window alone again. I wish one of his sister's had been there.

[olga101]

Originally Posted by LadyMacAlpine

Thanks Iceflower it's sad to see him standing in the window alone again. I wish one of his sister's had been there.

He'll be okay, Lady Mac. He smiles and grins a lot. He's allowed to look serious some time, shouldn't he. Frowning or serious looking doen't necessarily mean sad. We're all on the outside looking in.

[LadyMacAlpine]

Originally Posted by olga101

He'll be okay, Lady Mac. He smiles and grins a lot. He's allowed to look serious some time, shouldn't he. Frowning or serious looking doen't necessarily mean sad. We're all on the outside looking in.

I didn't mean he was sad I meant it was sad to see him alone and not with at least one of his sisters as I said in my post. But that's okay .

[goody7058]

Do anybody know why Albert sisters don't come? Stephaine use to come.

[lazuli]

I agree LadyMac, it's such a sad, lonely image. How hard could it be fior his sisters to join him? Speaking of family unity indeed...

[Renata4711]

Thanks, Iceflower, for opening this thread on Sainte-Dévote!
Here are some more bits of info:

The SD festival and the patronage are closely bound up with the Sovereign Prince.

On June 9th, 2003, (Pentecost/Whitsun) Rainier and Albert travelled to Lucciana, Corsica, where they attended the 1700th centenary of the martyrdom of SD.
The Corsicans have SD as their patron also.

This 2003 journey was to be Rainier's last official visit to another country.

Accueil*-*saintedevotemonaco.com - sainte devote, sainte patronne de monaco et de la corse. with photos...
www.curagiu.com/saintedevote.htm (from Corsica)
Le Diocèse de Monaco
Le Diocèse de Monaco
Le Diocèse de Monaco
This site has nice pictures of SD, as well as several pretty postage stamps in her honour, and a coin. There is also the Parish of Sainte Dévote in Monaco.

One would not imagine that there could be a connection between SD and the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix, but there is indeed a bend on the course named in her honour.

The ship burning ceremony is a high profile event; apart from Albert, the front line consists of Monsignor Barsi (Bishop of Monaco), Jean-Paul Proust (Minister of State), Stéphane Valéri (presides over the Conseil National), and Georges Marsan (Mayor of Monaco). These five set the boat alight, before anyone else gets to have a go.

Nice-Matin has already got the ceremony in today's newsletter:
sainte dévote - nicematin.com

Wikipedia has a beautiful painting of SD:
Sainte Dévote - Wikipédia

Not to be outdone, the Mairie of Monaco has a richly illustrated pdf document:
http://www.monaco-mairie.mc/00_Actus...n04/devote.pdf

[iceflower]

You are most welcome, Renata4711, but one should add that
is was your idea

Prince Albert II of Monaco sets fire to a model boat during the Sainte
Devote processions on January 26, 2009 in Monte Carlo, Monaco. In
1924 Louis II, Prince of Monaco introduced the custom of setting fire
to a fishing boat on the evening of January 26 in memory of the
burning of Florentine captain Antinope's ship on the beach of Monaco,
when he was caught after stealing the relics of Sainte Devote.

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **

[anabell]

BelgaPicture - Category details

[iceflower]

Thank you anabell

Here are some additional pics from zimbio:

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 **

Ceremony of the Sainte-Devote


And here are pics from today:

Prince Albert II of Monaco waves as he leaves the cathedral after a mass as part as the Sainte
Devote ceremonies and watches the procession from a balcony of the Princely Palace on January
27, 2009 in Monaco.

** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 **
.

[lazuli]

And once again, a sad, lonely picture of a solitary prince... Princess Caroline please step forward, your people awaits you!!!

[ulisse]

I agree with you, Lazuli , why Caroline is absent again ? Since Albert's coronation I have always thought that she wouldn't take away the limelight to her brother ,but it's better she returns! Prince Albert is Peter Pan !

[Renata4711]

Postscript to the Sainte-Dévote festivities:

Yesterday (27th) Prince Albert unveiled a plaque with the name "quai Lucciana", in the presence of the Mayor of Lucciana (Corsica), the Mayor of Monaco, the Minister of State and others.
Since 2008, Monaco is twinned with Lucciana because both communities have Sainte-Dévote as their patron saint.
Monaco.maville.com La contre-jetée devient le «quai Lucciana»