The festivals in honor of Nossa Senhora da Orada, patron saint of fishermen, return to Albufeira between 3 and 15 August. The program includes the celebration of the Eucharist, the traditional procession across the sea, the blessing of fishermen and their boats, to thank and ask for protection from the Virgin and a good year of toil, a Marian prayer sung in the churchyard, musical entertainment and fire over the bay of Albufeira.
The City Council of Albufeira explains that «the Feast in honor of Nossa Senhora da Orada is a tradition that comes from far away and that every year gathers hundreds of people to thank and ask for the protection of the Virgin, known for blessing the fishermen of the land».
According to the local authority, «history says that the inhabitants of Albufeira, formerly a fishing village, witnessed several miracles of Our Lady, witnessed in the “ex-votos” that are kept in the Ermida da Orada. It is a religious event of great significance for Albufeires, which has been taking place for over 500 years, and which is currently part of the main religious tourism itineraries at national level».
Father Semedo Azevedo, in his work on Senhora da Orada (1956), tells that, until he came to Albufeira (August 11, 1934), he always pursued the image of the patron saint of Fishermen: «On the 14th of that month, the feast of Our Lady of Orada is celebrated. And when the image of the Blessed Virgin, amid the respect of her children who devoutly kneel as she passes through the boulevard, enters her churchyard, then, as if by enchantment, the enchanting picture of my childhood is renewed: the Great Lady , Slim, in a blue robe, she was the Lady of Orada!».
Semedo Azevedo also recalls that, until a few years after 1910, the procession of Nossa Senhora da Orada only went around the churchyard, and that «prior Romão changed this itinerary, causing the image to pass to the boulevard , then going through the churchyard on the south side and back to the church. In our time, the procession began to be brought up to the top of Baleeira».
Today, «one of the most exciting moments is the continuation of this procession by sea, along the coast», highlights the Câmara de Albufeira.
The program of festivities starts on August 3rd, at 21 pm, with the departure of the Procession of Nossa Senhora da Ermida da Orada towards the Igreja Matriz, where from August 00th to 4th the Rosary's Prayer takes place (11:18 pm) and celebration of the Eucharist (30:19).
On the 10th of August, a concert is scheduled in the churchyard of the Igreja Matriz with the musical band from Tavira “Revenge 80`s”. The Igreja Matriz continues to host the celebrations on the 12th with the Prayer of the Rosary, at 19 pm, followed by the Eucharist, scheduled for 00 pm. Then, at 20 pm, the Procession of Our Lady leaves the Matriz to the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Orada.
On August 13, at 21 pm, the Marian Prayer is sung in the hermitage.
The highlight of the program is reserved for August 14th, with the celebrations starting at 16:15 pm, at the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Orada, with the prayer of the Rosary.
At 17:00, the Eucharist is celebrated, followed by a Procession across the sea, accompanied by the Paderne Philharmonic Band. At night, at 22 pm, the Al-Mouraria perform in the hermitage's forecourt and, at midnight, there will be the usual fireworks, which «promises to scratch the skies of Albufeira, in a magnificent spectacle over the bay».
The celebrations in honor of Nossa Senhora da Orada end on August 15th, the day of the Solemnity of the Assumption of Our Lady, with the Eucharist being celebrated in three different places: Igreja Matriz (10:00), Balaia (11:30) and Ermida da Orada ( 19:00).
The event is jointly organized by the Municipality and the Parish Church Factory of Albufeira.
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