Photos: Sergio Betancort
The church of San Ginés was adorned this Thursday with the best finery for the celebration of the Patron Saint, Bishop of Clermont Ferrand. All the arrangements have been carried out by Francisco Hernández and his family. They are the ones who make sure that everyone who comes to share the celebration of the Holy Mass can appreciate the simple and elegant touch of the floral ornamentation of the image of the Patron Saint as well as the architecture of the church itself.
At 11:00 in the morning and with the three naves of the temple crowded by the parishioners, the Solemn Celebration began, presided over by Eloy Alberto Santiago, parish priest of San Pedro in La Isleta Gran Canaria and Informed of the Diocesan Seminary of the Canary Islands. Santiago was assisted by 18 fellow priests, some residing on the island and others arriving from other parts of the Canary Islands and the peninsula, among whom was the head of the parish of San Ginés, D. Miguel Hernández Suárez. Hernández was very happy for the attendance of so many people and fellow priests.
The songs of the celebration were in charge of the Polyphonic Choir of the Orfeón La Paz of La Laguna Tenerife directed by Juan Ramón Vinagre Delgado, professor of the Professional Conservatory of Music of Tenerife. Choir that has been directing for 25 years.
Once the Holy Mass was finished, the traditional procession took place, when the image of San Ginés crossed the portico of one of the doors of the church, it was received in a scent of crowds. With the ringing of the bells, the firecrackers, applause and cheers, the processional retinue was launched, headed by the 40 members that make up the Music Band "La Unión Musical de Lanzarote", directed by Professor Pepe Ártiles. The image of San Ginés followed very closely, behind the clergy, civil and military authorities and all the numerous public attending. With a morning marked by high temperatures, the Patron Saint of the capital of the island toured several streets of the city.
Historical Review: The image of San Ginés, Bishop of Clermont Ferrand was donated to the hermitage of his name by Captain D. Ginés de Castro y Estévez on the occasion of his designation as a parish in 1798
