Our Lady of the Rosary of Cidade Velha

Marian title of Cidade Velha (Cape Verde)

La advocación de Our Lady of the Rosary of Cidade Velha is linked to the old urban core of Ribeira Grandetoday Old Townon the island of Santiago (Capo Verde), considered one of the first colonial cities of the Atlantic and an early focus of Christianity in the region. In the context of the Portuguese expansion of the 16th century, the church dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary was linked to the religious history of the ancient Caboverdite capital.

Main data

Origin and history

La advocación de Our Lady of the Rosary of Cidade Velha is linked to the old urban core of Ribeira Grandetoday Old Townon the island of Santiago (Capo Verde), considered one of the first colonial cities of the Atlantic and an early focus of Christianity in the region. In the context of the Portuguese expansion of the 16th century, the church dedicated to the Virgin of the Rosary was linked to the religious history of the ancient Caboverdite capital.

En la documented historyhistorical tradition identifies this temple with one of the oldest colonial churches in the world in the Atlantic Lusolophone, which was erected in the 16th century. There is a long-term Marian cult, linked to the Latin Catholic presence in the ancient Ribeira Grande, where the available information is not recorded in the sources consulted. apparition or a miraculous foundation specific to this advocation in Cidade Velha.

The image and the sanctuary

A detailed iconographic description of the image holder - type, material or specific attributes - of Our Lady of the Rosary venerated in Cidade Velha. That point should therefore be given as no consta until you have a property inventory, diocesan record or documentation of the temple itself.

The cult is related to the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary, en Old Town, historical temple associated with the ancient Ribeira Grande. The accessible sources present it as an early colonial church, of great historical and religious value, but no consta in the sources consulted that have the dignity of minor basilica, ni que haya was formally erected as National sanctuary o diocesan sanctuary.

Sponsorship and coronation

There is no formal civil or ecclesiastical patronage of this advocation on the city, el Town Hall o la diocese in the canon-legal sense. The information available can only state its historical and devotional importance in Cidade Velha, without a clearly documented official declaration of patronage.

No documented canonical coronation for this image in the verified sources consulted.

Party and devotion

The litigation fiesta universal de Our Lady of the Rosary se celebra el 7 October; that is also the main reference for this Marian advocation, unless a local tradition indicated another particular date, which no consta in the sources consulted.

On pilgrimages, romaneries or concrete inflow in Cidade Velha, no constan verifiable data in the sources provided. It can be said, in general terms, that the ancient temple is part of the religious and historical heritage of the island of Santiago, so its devotion is inserted into the Christian memory of one of the oldest enclaves of Atlantic Catholicism.

Link to the Rosary

The link of this advocation with the prayer of the Rosary is the own of every image of Our Lady of the Rosary: Mary appears united to the contemplation of the mysteries of Christ through the prayer of the Rosary, a devotion traditionally spread by the Latin Church and very widespread in the Dominican sphere.

In the case of Cidade Velha, there is no exceptional particular tradition about the Rosary other than the common Marian devotion under this title. However, the very name of the advocation expresses that spiritual relationship: the Virgin is invoked as Lady of the Rosary, that is, as Mother who accompanies the meditation of Christ's life through this Marian prayer.