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Saint Medir

Pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Medir

This more than 100-year-old tradition, which commemorates a legend from Roman times that was recovered in the 19th century, brings together several groups of pilgrims in Barcelona.

The legend of Saint Medir dates back to the 4th century AD, when Catalonia was in Roman hands and the incipient Christian church was being persecuted. The story tells that Bishop Sever was fleeing from his persecutors when, on the heights of what is today's Saint Cugat, he met a peasant called Medir who tried, unsuccessfully, to help him escape from the Romans. Both were captured, executed and went on to become saints. In the Middle Ages, a hermitage was built on the path from Barcelona to Terrassa in Barcelona, ​​and this hermitage became important towards the end of the 19th century when Josep Vidal, a baker from the neighbourhood of Gràcia, made a vow to go on a pilgrimage to the hermitage of Saint Medir if he regained his health. Since then, it has become customary for different groups of pilgrims in Barcelona to make morning and afternoon pilgrimages to the hermitage every 3 March.

This year, the pilgrimages are set to begin at 9am and 1pm from different meeting points at Gran de Gràcia, La Bordeta, Sarrià and Torrent de l'Olla, among other streets, and during the journey through the city on horses and in carriages, the pilgrims will be throwing sweets to the people lining the route. Once at the Sant Medir hermitage, in the Serra de Collserola, a mass will be said in honour of the saint.

If you want to take part in the pilgrimage, you'll find information at the following link. In the evening, the celebrations will continue in the squares of the neighbourhoods.

Publication date: Wednesday, 28 February 2018
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