Virgin of Azahar is one of the invocations of Mary, having her origin in the Spanish city of Beniaján, near Murcia. Beniaján is known worldwide by the abundant production of citrus fruits that its factories export around the world. Citrus is the most important industrial activity in this town.
The sculpture receives cult in a small hermitage erected in city's outskirts, in a fecund place called Rincón de Villanueva. Her name comes from the natural citrus blossom branch (Azahar in Spanish) which is on the Virgin's hands. Orange citrus and lemon trees are around this small church.
Read more about Virgin Of Azahar: Festivity
Famous quotes containing the word virgin:
“Our own country furnishes antiquities as ancient and durable, and as useful, as any; rocks at least as well covered with lichens, and a soil which, if it is virgin, is but virgin mould, the very dust of nature. What if we cannot read Rome or Greece, Etruria or Carthage, or Egypt or Babylon, on these; are our cliffs bare?”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)