This year's Saint Devota celebrations

The celebrations in honour of Saint Devota, patron saint of Monaco, will take place on Sunday 26 and Monday 27 January.

Do you know what this tradition is about? The “Legend of Saint Devota” tells the story of Monaco’s patron saint.

Advertising

According to the legend, Devota, a young Christian woman from Corsica, was martyred by Barbarus, who was the Prefect under Emperors Diocletian and Maximian, placing the events around 303 or 304 AD.

Her body was stolen the following night by fellow believers, and put in a boat. The boat was meant to take her body to Africa but was blown off course by a storm. Guided by a dove to European shores, the boat landed at what would later become Monaco, a port of call in Roman times. She was taken to be buried in a chapel in the “Vallon des Gaumates”, near the port, on 27 January of the same year. Under Honoré II, in the 17th century, Saint Devota became the Patron Saint of Monaco.

The tradition has continued every year since 1874: a boat is burnt on a pyre, with the Sovereign and Princely Family in attendance, along with leading Monegasque figures. This is the schedule for 2025’s celebrations:

Sunday 26 January:

10.30 am : Traditional mass in Monegasque at Sainte-Dévote Church.

This year, the public can follow the festivities live on big screens. Two secure zones will be accessible from 5.30 pm, on: the Place Sainte-Dévote espalanade and the Quai Albert I^er, next to the swimming pool. The live broadcasts are as follows:

6.30 pm : The Saint Devota relics procession
7.00 pm : Blessing of the Holy Sacrament
Around 7.45 pm : The boat is set alight
From 8.15 pm : An 8-minute drone show will illustrate key moments from Saint Devota’s life, from the faith through her suffering to her death, and her canonisation with a Sanctus.

Those who are on the Church esplanade and wish to go on to the Quai Albert I^er to see the boat set alight and the drone show, should follow the underground corridors to the left of Sainte-Dévote Church and at the bottom of avenue d’Ostende.

Monday 27 January at Monaco Cathedral

10 am : Pontifical Mass, officiated by Paul-Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States within the Holy See’s Secretariat

The Princely Family, Prince’s Government, elected officials and institutional representatives, as well as many worshippers, will attend the Mass.

A procession including the Penitents of the Archconfraternity of Mercy will head towards the Prince’s Palace with the reliquary containing the relics, escorted by the Prince’s Carabinieri.