Places to see in ( Asturias - Spain ) Santa Cueva de Covadognga
Places to see in ( Asturias - Spain ) Santa Cueva de Covadognga
The Santa Cueva de Covadonga is a Catholic sanctuary located in Asturias, northern Spain. It is a cave in the Picos de Europa mountains, which gives its name to the parish of Covadonga in the municipality of Cangas de Onís.
The meaning of the name Covadonga likely derives from the Visigothic/Old Germanic Cofa Weorðunga, meaning Cave of Worship, and refers to its shrine dedicated to the worship of the Virgin of Covadonga.
The origin of the cave as place of cult is controversial. It seems to have been originally another place of confluence of Pagan Cult (in this case a fountain and cave together, seen as holy sites) as the Wilweorthunga, meaning well of worship had been in Prehistorical times and still during the Roman Empire occupation. The Christian tradition has it that Pelagius, chasing a criminal, who had taken refuge in the cave, meets a hermit who was venerating the Virgin Mary. The hermit asked Pelagius to forgive the criminal, since the criminal had resorted to the protection of the Virgin, and says that one day that he too would need to seek shelter in the Cave. Some historians say the most plausible is that Pelagius and the Christians refugees in the Cave of the Muslims, they will bring them an image of the Virgin and leave her there after his victory at the Battle of Covadonga, the origin of the Reconquista.
Muslim chronicles about the Battle of Covadonga say that in this cave fled Pelagius forces, feeding on honey bees left in the crevices of the rock. Christian chronicles claim that the miraculous intervention of the Virgin Mary was crucial in the victory, repelling attacks against the cave.
The first construction in the Holy Cave dates back of the reign of Alfonso I of Asturias, who, to commemorate the victory of Pelagius to the Muslims, built a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary, that would give rise to the invocation of the Our Lady of Covadonga (popularly known as La Santina). In addition to the altar dedicated to the Virgin built other two for Saint John the Baptist and Saint Andrew. Alfonso make delivery of this church to the Benedictine monks.
The cave was covered with wood, and in 1777 a fire destroyed the original carve of la Santina. The current carve is of 16th century and was donated to the Sanctuary by the Cathedral of Oviedo in 1778. The carving of the Virgin is painted wood, sweet features, holds the Child and a golden rose. During the civil war the Virgin image disappears and is found in the Embassy of Spain in France in 1939. The present chapel of Romanesque style is work of Luis Menéndez-Pidal and Alvarez.
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La Santa Cueva de Montserrat Secret Room was Visited by a Group of Filipino Pilgrims
We joined an excursion to Montserrat organized by Jhen Villanueva. As soon as we arrived at about 8:30 in the morning, our group decided to visit first the Cave where the image of the Blessed Virgen was said to be found in 880. We arrived too early as it opens only at 10:30, but we opted to stay and wait. The administrator came on time, and let us get in. An area in the chapel where we usually leave an object and make a wish is already closed, but we were given a chance to visit because we came first and there were not much tourists. Muchas gracias!