Observed by Andorra Frequency annual Phone +376 851 253 | Date 8 September Address AD100 Meritxell, Andorra Subject Mary | |
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Also called Diada de Meritxell, festivitat de Nostra Senyora de Meritxell Next time 8 September 2017 (2017-09-08) Location The Sanctuary of Meritxell Similar Sant Joan de Caselles, Casa de la Vall, Lake Engolasters, Església de Sant Serni de, Església de Sant Miquel d | ||
Marian route adds new stop andorra s sanctuary of our lady of meritxell
Our Lady of Meritxell (Catalan: Mare de Déu de Meritxell, [ˈmaɾə ðə ˈðew ðə məɾiˈtʃeʎ], [ˈmaɾe ðe ˈðew ðe meɾiˈtʃeʎ]) is an Andorran Roman Catholic statue depicting an apparition of the Virgin Mary. Our Lady of Meritxell is the patron saint of Andorra. The original statue dated from the late 12th century. However, the chapel in which it was housed burned down on September 8 and 9, 1972, and the statue was destroyed. A replica can be found in the new Meritxell Chapel, designed in 1976 by Ricardo Bofill.
Contents
- Marian route adds new stop andorra s sanctuary of our lady of meritxell
- Today in history our lady of meritxell day andorra s national day 8 sep 2011
- Legend
- Influence
- References
The Catalan philologist Joan Coromines says that "Meritxell" is a diminutive of merig, from the Latin meridiem (midday in English). Merig is a name used by shepherds to denote a pasture with lot of sun.
Today in history our lady of meritxell day andorra s national day 8 sep 2011
Legend
In the late 12th century, on January 6, a wild rose in bloom was found by villagers from Meritxell going to Mass in Canillo. It was out of season and at its base was found a statue of the Virgin and Child.
The statue was placed in the Canillo church. However, the statue was found under the same wild rose the next day.
The statue was taken to the church of Encamp. However, as before, the statue was found under the same wild rose the next day.
As in similar legends elsewhere, the villagers of Meritxell took this as a sign and decided to build a new chapel in their town after they found an open space miraculously untouched by the winter snows.
Influence
The feast day of Our Lady of Meritxell is September 8 and the Andorran National Holiday.
The image is also mentioned in the anthem of Andorra.
"Meritxell" is a relatively frequent female name among Andorran women and other Catalan-speaking women. Examples are: