Shrine of the Triumph of Our Lady of Patronage - Seville

The shrine dates from 1756 and is located in the Plaza del Triunfo, behind the Archivo de Indias and opposite the monument of the Inmaculada.

It contains an image of Our Lady of Patronage on a Baroque column, in gratitude for Seville's good fortune during the Lisbon earthquake of November 1, 1755. This caused a fire and a few minutes later a tidal wave which, although it extinguished the flames, destroyed almost everything that was still standing in the lower part of the city.

This earthquake struck numerous churches and temples in the diocese of Seville. It happened about noon on the feast of All Saints, while a solemn pontifical service was being held in the cathedral, so that the ceremony had to be concluded outside the church.

The cathedral chapter took a perpetual vow to sing a solemn "Te Deum" in thanksgiving every November 1 , which has been repeated every year since. And it agreed to erect an altar in honor of Our Lady for her help, right on the spot where the church services of that day that have been remembered ended.

Willem Vandenameele