On Wednesday, January 28, 2015, Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain attended the opening of the 35th Edition of the Feria Internacional de Turismo-FITUR held at the Feria de Madrid.
This three-day trade show is a global meeting point for tourism professionals and the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound Ibero-American markets.
On January 27, 2015, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway attended the Norwegian commemoration of International Holocaust Remembrance Day held at the Akershuskaia in Oslo.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images/R.Singsaas
On the morning of January 27, 2015, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco celebrated Mass, presided over by Archbishop André Marceau, at the Cathédrale de Monaco in celebration of day two of the Fête (Feast) of Sainte Dévote.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images/D. Baverel
On January 27, 2015, Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended the Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony held at the Central Hall Westminster in London, England.
On Tuesday, January 27, 2015, Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium, Their Royal Highnesses Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume and Hereditary Grand Duchess Stephanie of Luxembourg, Her Royal Highness Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark along with dozens of dignitaries from around Europe as well as survivors of the Holocaust attended a solemn ceremony marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau, in Poland.
On the evening of Monday, January 26, 2015, Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco attended a special Mass at the Eglise Sainte Dévote in celebration of the Fête de Sainte-Dévote. Sainte-Dévote is the patron Saint of the Princely Family of Monaco, the Monégasques, and the Diocese of Monaco.
Here is the story/legend of Sainte-Dévote:
Tradition holds that she was a Corsican woman born around 283 AD at Mariana. A young virgin, she had decided to devote herself fully to the service of God. By order of the prefect Barbarus, she was imprisoned and tortured for her faith. She was martyred at Mariana by being stoned to death.
After her death, the governor of the province ordered for her body to be burnt to prevent its veneration. However, it was saved from the flames by Christians. Her body was placed on a boat bound for Africa. Gratianus (Graziano), the boat’s pilot; Benedict (Benenato), a priest; and Apollinaris, his deacon; believed it would receive proper Christian burial there. However, a storm overtook the boat and a dove flew out from the mouth of the saint. The dove guided the boat to present-day Les Gaumates, today part of the Principality of Monaco, where a chapel dedicated to Saint George already stood.
Her body was discovered by fishermen. In her honor a chapel was built, which stands in Monaco still. Traditionally, flowers are said to bloom before their season on January 27, the Saint’s Feast Day.
After the Mass the princely couple along with Archbishop Bernard Barsi, members of the Diocese of Monaco, various Monégasque government officials as well as citizens participated in the traditional burning of the boat in front of the Eglise Sainte-Dévote.
Tomorrow — per tradition — the princely family will attend a traditional Mass at the Cathédrale de Monaco then a balcony wave from the Palais Princier de Monaco.
If you missed this evening’s Mass you may watch it again here.
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Photo courtesy of Getty Images/V.Hache
On Sunday, January 25, 2015, His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco attended the 83rd Rallye Automobile de Monte-Carlo award ceremony held at the Palais Princier de Monaco.
Photo courtesy of Getty Images/V.Hache
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