Basilica of Our Lady of El Valle
The Basilica of Our Lady of El Valle[1] (Spanish: Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora de El Valle)[2] It is a Gothic basilica located in El Valle del Espíritu Santo a town on the island of Margarita, of Nueva Esparta state, in northwestern Venezuela.[3]
Basilica of Our Lady of El Valle | |
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Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora de El Valle | |
Location | Margarita Island |
Country | Venezuela |
Denomination | Roman Catholic Church |
Its name is in honor of the patron saint of the town and the Venezuelan Navy: the Virgen del Valle.[4] After being founded the church San Nicolás de Bari, it was declared Basilica of Nueva Esparta state, on September 8, 1955, so that from that date its festivities are held; beginning with the descent of the Virgin on 8 September each year, which is placed where the public can see it up close. On 8 December is the rise of the Virgin, which is placed on an altar located at the top where the priest officiates masses.
Initially, it was a small church modified several times, one of them, coordinated by Father Philip Martinez in 1733. It was declared a Minor Basilica by Pope John Paul II in 1995.
See also
- Roman Catholicism in Venezuela
- Virgen del Valle
References
- Basílica Menor Nuestra Señora de El Valle, Isla de Margarita
- Rangel, Román (2002-01-01). Venezuela, una joya para el mundo (in Spanish). BPR Publishers.
- Kohnstamm, Thomas; Kohn, Beth (2007-01-01). Lonely Planet Venezuela. Lonely Planet. ISBN 9781741045451.
- Fleury, John (2006-01-01). Historia de Nuestra Senora: la Virgen de Altagracia (in Spanish). Editora Corripio. ISBN 9789945140118.