The Royal Family cherishes the precious Monegasque spiritual tradition, a symbol of identity and communion between peoples
History
Every year, on 27 January, the Principality of Monaco stops to pay homage to its patron saint: Saint Devote. It is a celebration that unites sacredness, identity and collective memory, but which has its roots far beyond the borders of the Principality, reaching as far as the Italian coast and Corsica. Santa Devota is the symbol of a devotion that spans time and space, but is also a concrete expression of Monaco's Catholic identity, deeply embodied in the Princely Family of the Grimaldis, historically linked to the Church. Legend has it that Devota was a young Christian girl from Corsica who lived in the late 3rd and early 4th century and was martyred during the persecutions of the emperor Diocletian. To prevent her body from being desecrated, her fellow believers deposited it on a boat bound for a Christian land. According to tradition, miraculously guided by a dove, the boat landed in the Bay of Monaco. It was there that the young martyr found burial and veneration, becoming the protector of the Principality and a founding figure of its religious imagination. It is no coincidence that, according to some versions of the legend, the boat first touched land in Liguria - in San Remo or, more likely, near Ventimiglia, a city now spiritually twinned with Monaco in the name of Saint Devote. It is at this crossroads between Liguria, Corsica and Provence that a “Mediterranean” devotion developed, uniting peoples and cultures under the same sign of the Christian faith.
The memory of Saint Devote in the Principality of Monaco
But it is in the Principality that the memory of the saint lives with greater intensity. Testifying to this is the central role that the Feast of Saint Devote occupies in the Monegasque civic and spiritual calendar. Formalised in 1874, the celebration has spanned the centuries, growing stronger thanks to the constant commitment of the Royal Family, guardians of the country's Catholic tradition. On 26 January, in the presence of Prince Albert II, Princess Charlène and members of the House of Grimaldi, the traditional burning of the boat takes place, a symbolic commemoration of the martyr's landing. It is a gesture charged with meaning, involving the entire community and recalling the value of faith as the foundation of national history. The following day, the feast culminates with a solemn mass in the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, attended by the highest religious and civil authorities, together with the population. Even at this moment, the presence of the Monegasque royals is not just protocol, but represents the Monarchy's sincere adherence to Christian values. Prince Albert II, who has spoken publicly on the significance of this feast on several occasions, emphasised the importance of faith in the public life of the Principality and the deep spiritual bond with Italy, the homeland of many Monegasque citizens and the crossroads of devotion to Saint Devotee.
A bridge between territories
In Lucciana, Corsica, where the site of her martyrdom is located, there is an ancient early Christian church dedicated to the saint, living testimony of a shared veneration. Even in Italy, especially along the Ligurian Riviera, there is no lack of traces of this devotion, in place names and places of worship. Santa Devota, in this sense, becomes a bridge between territories, a symbol linking Monaco to Italy and Corsica in a single narrative of faith and identity. In a world that risks losing its spiritual roots, the Feast of Saint Devote continues to speak the language of memory, culture and solidarity. And thanks to the constant support of the Royal Family, a modern interpreter of an ancient mission of service, the cult of the saint is not only a religious heritage, but also a founding element of national identity. Saint Devota is not only the patron saint of the Principality: she is the spiritual face of a people, the living symbol of the continuity between faith, history and institutions. The editorial team of MonteCarlo Style therefore, at the start of this new and prestigious experience, unhesitatingly entrusts itself to Saint Devote's prayer to be a beacon of fraternity on the splendid coasts of the Principality of Monaco.
Church of St. Devote (@ Hans from Pixabay)
