The Institute is placed under the patronage of Our Lady of the Rocks - Our Lady of the Rocks is a church on a small island in front of Perast, Montenegro. In 1452 two sailors from Perast happened by a small rock jutting out of the bay after a long, successful day at sea and discovered an icon of the Virgin Mary and Child perched upon the rock. Around this rock, citizens of Perast began to sink old ships and transport stones to the site for over 200 years, creating the Adriatic Seas only artificial island where they subsequently built the chapel of Our Lady of the Rocks (Gospa od Skrpjela) in 1630. The original Icon is placed on the main altar of the church. The people of Perast hold a traditional event in Kotor called“”Fashinada” which takes place on July 22nd each year. The event celebrates the finding of the icon of the Mother of God. At sunset on this day, the citizens of Perast, their boats loaded with rocks and decorated with flowers, sail out towards the shrine on the island of the Lady of the Rocks (“Gospa od Skrpjela”) in order to, once more, fulfill the vow of their ancestors. Participants of this boat-convoy are men, who sing old Perast “bugarstice” songs. The first boat carries the most prominent citizens of Perast, representatives of authority and the church. Upon their arrival boats are untied and citizens lay rocks in the sea. The aim of this ritual is to “prolong the life of the island and fortify its’ strength. There is an unwritten vow for Perast’s seamen: before every departure, they sink new stones on the island, in order to strengthen the foundation for the church of the town’s patron saint. Only men are allowed in these boats and they are all ancestors of famous seamen, from Perast’s renowned families. Women greet the convoy from the shore. At twilight on July 22nd of each year, boats with oars, floating to the sounds of local music, sail in the direction of the island, in order to place stones on the island which was built in 1452 when the original church was also built. This church grew with the island. The existing church was built in 1630. Feast day - July 22
Posted on: Mon, 27 Oct 2014 03:07:50 +0000
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