Next Wednesday, January 22nd will be a public holiday in Valencia. The city will celebrate the feast of St. Vincent Martyr, patron saint of the city. “De cruces para dentro”, January 22 is always a holiday and this 2025 will not be less.
Throughout the day, Valencia will pay tribute to the saint, who in the year 304 arrived in Valencia from Zaragoza fleeing persecution by the Roman Empire. His unwavering faith made his figure become a symbol of veneration and even James I himself attributed the successful capture of the city to the saint’s intercession.
History of Saint Vincent Martyr
During the persecution of the Roman Empire, the young Vincent was subjected to burns, tears and other tortures before being transferred to a prison. This fact created great fervor among the population because he never renounced his faith. He died in prison on January 22, 304.
After throwing him into a garbage dump of the time, where he was defended by a raven from other carrion birds, he was ordered to be thrown into the sea. However, his body survived the waves and appeared in present-day Cullera until it was officially buried in 313.
It is said that his body was later transferred to the cape of San Vicente in Portugal after the Muslim invasion of Valencia, where it was lost track of. After the reconquest, James I identified him as the patron saint in the recovery of Valencia for the Christians and from then on he became a legend of the city.
There are Vincentian places today that receive visits from devotees. This is the case of the Church of Santa Monica, where the column where the saint was tied before entering Valencia or San Vicente de la Roqueta is located.
Also, the Cathedral of Valencia keeps one of the relics that remember the saint: his incorrupt left arm. The relic is located in the Chapel of the Resurrection, located behind the High Altar.
Today, St. Vincent Martyr is also the patron saint of the Guild of Tailors and Dressmakers and, during the days before and on the 22nd, events are held in Valencia to commemorate the figure of the saint as the procession of St. Vincent Martyr (which starts at the Cathedral), the procession of the Guild of Tailors or the procession of the baptism of St. Vincent.
Events planned for St. Vincent the Martyr in Valencia
Next Wednesday, January 22, 2025, several masses and processions will be celebrated in the streets of Valencia in honor of the patron saint.
The most important will take place at 10:30 am in the Cathedral of Valencia. At the end, the procession will take place from the Plaza de la Reina, in the direction of Calle de la Mar and end in Plaza de la Almoina. This central act will conclude with a small mascletá in the Plaza de la Reina at 1:00 pm.
At 8 p.m., the church of Christ the King will host a special ceremony: a Mozarabic mass, one of the two celebrated in Spain (the other one is in Toledo). It is an ancient rite that preserves the Visigoth tradition.
You can consult the complete program of events at this link.