PHOTOS: Sergio Betancort
The residents of the municipality of Yaiza began to celebrate from the early hours of this Monday the big day in honor of their patron saint, Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios. At 10:00 a.m. the doors of the church were opened to give way to the pilgrims, who throughout the day came to visit the Virgin and to fulfill their promises.
At 7:00 p.m. and with the church packed with parishioners, the Solemn Function began, presided over by José Benito Gallego Marchante, parish priest of Teguise, and assisted by Berto Martín, former parish priest of Yaiza, and the current head of the parish, Sixto Álvarez. The municipal choir of Yaiza, directed by professor Nuvi Tavío, was in charge of enlivening the songs for this special celebration.
Once the distribution of communion was finished, the poet from Yaiza, Antonio Gutiérrez Reyes, recited a poem to the Virgin. Immediately afterwards, the choir performed the Hymn to Nuestra Señora de Los Remedios, thus ending the Solemn Function.
Next, the processional retinue was set in motion. As soon as the image of the Virgin appeared in the portico of the church, she was received with applause, cheers and the municipal band, directed by professor Ricardo Viñas, paid her honors. Subsequently, the procession began to parade through the streets of Yaiza, accompanied by the officiating priests, the civil and military authorities, presided over by the mayor of the municipality, Gladys Acuña, residents of Yaiza and many devotees from different parts of the island.
The municipal band of Yaiza performed several musical compositions typical for these processional parades.
