Virgin of Orito

Orito · Monforte del Cid (Alicante) · One of the smallest images in the world

En Orto, the pedany of Monforte del Cid, venerates the Virgin of Orito, a tiny size of only 42 mm alabaster - one of the smallest Marian images in the world - attached to the memory of San Pascual Bailón. It was canonically crowned in 1998.

Main data

History and origin

According to the chronicles, 1555 The religious merchant, Fra Jorge Martínez, found the small image in the body by preparing to celebrate the Mass. She was called first. Virgin of Loreto, name that popular devotion eventually transformed into "Orito." Around it grew the sanctuary, very linked to the memory of San Pascual Bailónwho lived in the nearby convent.

The image

Labrada in alabastro in the 16th century, measures only 42 million metres, which makes it one of the smallest Marian images that receive public veneration in the world.

The festival and the traditions

The main holiday is the September 8with annual procession, solemn mass, pasacalles and the concert of the local band "La Lira"; among its gastronomic traditions are the sweets called "doves and canaries." On May 17, Orito also celebrates the Romeria of San Pascual. Historically, processions and begging for rain were organized, and the favors attributed to the Virgin were already collected in a book of 1716 by the friar Pedro Ortega.

The canonical coronation

The Virgin of Orito was canonically crowned the 6 September 1998.

Favors and popular devotion

Small in size but great in devotion, the Virgin of Orito has received the supplications of her faithful for centuries, who attribute to her numerous favors cherished in the grateful memory of the region. Such testimonies belong to popular piety and not to a formal ecclesiastical declaration.

Mary, small and great

In the humility of a minuscule image, Valencian piety recognizes the greatness of the Mother of God. She goes with him. Holy Rosarythe simple prayer with which Mary always leads to Christ.