On the occasion of the 230th anniversary of the Founding of the Parish of Our Lady of Candelaria (1796 - 2026), the municipality of Tías has launched a broad program of commemorative events that aims to recall the history, faith, and rich religious heritage of one of the most emblematic parishes in Lanzarote.
Last Thursday, July 2, at 8:00 p.m., the inauguration of the Sacred Art exhibition took place, installed in the Exhibition Hall of the Hermitage of San Antonio, in Tías. The event was presented by Rafael González, a resident deeply committed to parish life, who welcomed the attendees and highlighted the importance of this exhibition for knowing and valuing the historical legacy of the parish.
The exhibition brings together an extraordinary collection of pieces belonging to the liturgical heritage of the Parish of Our Lady of Candelaria, preserved since its foundation thanks to the meticulous care of Lázaro Martín Bermúdez and the family members who preceded him in this commendable work. For more than a century, these valuable items remained carefully guarded in the drawers and rooms of the parish church's sacristy, preserved for future generations.
Those who visit the exhibition will have the opportunity to contemplate authentic relics that could well be part of a sacred art museum. Among them are chasubles, dalmatics, cope cloths corresponding to different liturgical seasons, stoles, rochets, albs, cinctures, sacred cloths, altar cloths, sacred vessels, ciboria, patens, cruets, and other objects used in religious celebrations from the 19th century until the end of the 1960s, before the liturgical renewal promoted after the Second Vatican Council. Among the pieces of greatest historical and sentimental value is the first mantle worn by the image of Our Lady of Candelaria, an authentic jewel of the parish heritage.
The inaugural event was attended by the Episcopal Vicar of Lanzarote, La Graciosa, Fuerteventura, and parish priest of San Ginés, Juan Carlos Medina; the Archpriest of Lanzarote and parish priest of Ntra. Sra. de los Remedios, Jonathan Almeida; the parish priest of Tías, Leonardo Graterol; the mayor of Tías City Council, José Juan Cruz; the councilwoman for Festivals, Miriam Hernández, as well as numerous residents and visitors who did not want to miss the opportunity to contemplate this exceptional historical and religious legacy.
The exhibition will remain open to the public until July 17, offering a unique opportunity to discover part of the parish's history through its artistic and liturgical heritage.
The commemorative program will continue on Tuesday, July 14, with a conference by the former parish priest of Tías, Domingo Rivero, who will offer a retrospective on the celebration of the Parish's Bicentennial in 1996, sharing experiences and memories of that event.
Subsequently, on Friday, July 17, at 7:00 PM, an emotional ceremony will take place in the parish church to recognize Lázaro Martín Bermúdez, in gratitude for his exemplary dedication to the conservation of the parish's historical and liturgical heritage.
The commemorative days will conclude on Saturday, July 18, with the celebration of a Solemn Eucharist, at 12:30 PM, presided over by the Auxiliary Bishop of the Diocese of the Canary Islands, Monsignor D. Cristóbal Déniz Hernández.
In this way, a golden touch will be added to a day full of history, faith, and gratitude, which not only commemorates the 230 years of life of the Parish of Our Lady of Candelaria, but also highlights the effort of so many generations who have contributed to preserving its identity and heritage.
This commemoration transcends the strictly parochial sphere to become an event of relevance for the entire municipality of Tías and for the island of Lanzarote, inviting residents and visitors to reconnect with an essential part of their history, traditions, and spiritual legacy.