Basílica de San Agustín de Hipona (Annaba)
The basilica of Saint Augustine, the prochastedral of the diocese of Constantine, rises on a hill that dominates the ruins of Hipona, the city of which Augustine was bishop from the year 396 until his death in 430, during the siege of the vandals. It was built between 1881 and 1900 and was consecrated on March 29, 1900.
🌹 Wonders and anecdotes
- In the altaro-monument, a lying statue of St. Augustine in marble keeps a glass relic with the cube of his right arm, returned to Annaba in 1900 from Pavia, where his remains rest.
- It was built near the vestiges of the Basilica of Augustine himself, who died in Hipona while the vandals besieged the city.
- Restored between 2010 and 2013 with funds from Algeria, France and a personal donation from Benedict XVI; the inhabitants of Annaba call it with affection "Lalla Bouna," a symbol of shared memory between Christians and Muslims.
- On April 14, 2026 Pope Leo XIV celebrated Holy Mass in this basilica during his apostolic journey to Algeria.
Saint Augustine of Hipona
Annaba keeps the memory of Augustine and his mother, Saint Monica, whose persistent tears and prayers accompanied the conversion of his son. The basilica is not a Marian sanctuary, but it is one of the spiritual tops of Africa.
"St. Monica, a perseverant mother in prayer, and St. Augustine, a restless heart who rested in God, pray for us.
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