Our Lady of Africa

Marian vocation of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Tenerife)

Our Lady of Africa is a Marian advocation venerated in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the area of the old harbour district, next to the known market of Our Lady of Africa. The advocation is historically linked to and the relationship of the Canary Islands with North Africa through the port of Santa Cruz, and is a Marian title extended in other Spanish squares, such as Ceuta.

Main data

Origin and history

Our Lady of Africa is a Marian advocation venerated in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, in the area of the old harbour district, next to the known market of Our Lady of Africa. The advocation is historically linked to and the relationship of the Canary Islands with North Africa through the port of Santa Cruz, and is a Marian title extended in other Spanish squares, such as Ceuta.

The details of the foundation of the temple (ancient convent of the clears) and the arrival of the image no constan in the sources consulted.

The image and the sanctuary

Se venera en la Church of Our Lady of Africain Santa Cruz de Tenerife, linked to the old convent of the clarisas and located next to the market bearing the same name. The concrete description of the image (authorship, time, materials) no consta in the sources consulted.

Sponsorship and coronation

It is traditionally revered as a patron of the old harbour district where the temple is located. A concrete civil patronage no consta in the sources consulted, and there is also no documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

The holiday of the Virgin of Africa is often celebrated on 5 August in various places, although the exact local date in Santa Cruz de Tenerife no consta clearly in the sources consulted. The devotion is linked to the world of the port and the maritime trade of the old harbour district.

Link to the Rosary

There is no direct historical link of this advocation to the Rosary in the sources consulted. As in all Marian devotion, the prayer of the Holy Rosary is the simplest and most rooted way to honor the Virgin under this title, accompanying with the prayer of the Avemaria the trust of the faithful in his intercession.