Marian devotion
Our Lady of the Assumption of Elche
The Virgin of the Mystery of Elche
Patron saint of Elche, Our Lady of the Assumption is the heart of the Misteri d'Elx, the medieval sacrolyric drama about the Dormition and Assumption of Mary, Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, which is performed every August in the Basilica of Santa María.
Origin and history
Devotion to the Assumption was promoted by James I after the conquest. The image was enthroned in the old hermitage of San Sebastián and in 1648 was moved to Santa María; the current basilica was built between 1673 and 1784. The original image disappeared in the fire of 1936 and was replaced by a carving by the Valencian artist José Capuz.
Tradition tells that on December 29, 1370, an ark carrying the image of the Assumption and the script of the Misteri d'Elx arrived on Tamarit beach, floating on the sea. The Arrival is commemorated on December 28-29. The Misteri d'Elx, a sacred-lyric drama in two acts performed on August 14 and 15, is an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It was canonically crowned in 1970.
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