Tenerife today celebrates the festival of the Virgen de Candelaria, officially declared an island holiday 18 years ago. A fact that contributed to rescue the liturgical festival of the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands, turning it into another date of massive pilgrimage to the Villa Mariana. But this year, like last year, the restrictions imposed by the evolution of the pandemic make it impossible to celebrate one of the most popular events on this day: the procession of the image around the square.
As is tradition, at 12:00 noon the main Eucharist will begin, which will be presided over by the Bishop of the Diocese of Nivariense, Bernardo Álvarez, and which will be sung by the Orfeón La Paz de La Laguna. On this occasion, Mírame Televisión will broadcast it live. The anti covid-19 measures also have an impact on this religious act. It will have a marked solemn character that will be attended by the mayor of Candelaria, Mari Brito, with official representation being restricted to the presidents of the Parliament and the Cabildo of Tenerife, Gustavo Matos and Pedro Martín, respectively; the sub-delegate of the Government, Jesús Javier Plata; the mayor of Teror, Sergio Nuez; the Lieutenant General Chief of the Canary Islands Command, Alejandro Escámez, and other military authorities, as well as the dean of the Accredited Consular Corps, Juan Carlos Díaz Lorenzo.
This is the main act of the day, which on this occasion coincides with the fact that it will be the first public appearance of the Bishop of the Diocese after the controversy over his statements about homosexuality and that the Prosecutor’s Office confirmed yesterday the opening of proceedings informative for them.
It should be noted that, in the afternoon, the Tafuriaste Cultural Association will make the offering of drumbeats and pay their respects to the Patron Saint of the Canary Islands. It will do so at 5:00 p.m., while at 5:15 p.m. the prayer of the rosary will take place and at 6:00 p.m., another Eucharist.
The programming will continue tomorrow, coinciding with the festival of San Blas, with masses in the Basilica (8:00 and 18:00) and the recitation of the rosary (17:15). On Saturday, the Old Cinema Cultural Space will host (8:00 p.m.) the Agustín Ramos Chamber Music Festival, and on Sunday, the La Candelaria Artistic-Musical Group, from Arafo, will hold a parade (11:00 a.m.).
