San Vicente Martir in Valencia

This Catholic holiday in the city of Valencia honours the life of Saint Vincent Martir, an important patron saint and martyr of Valencia. The deacon was persecuted and detained, interrogated and tortured until his execution in the year AD 304 by the Roman emperor Diocletian for being a Christian.

Refusing to deny his faith, the Valencia cathedral writes that “Vincent suffered such an admirable martyrdom that it became known and celebrated throughout Christendom”. His left arm is even kept on display in the Cathedral of Valencia to remember him by.

He is considered a hero from the early days of Christianity before it became the official religion of the Roman Empire. He is also the reason Valencia became the final destination of one of, if not the most important pilgrimage routes in Europe.

Celebrations

The cathedral bells already ring in the festival day before with chimes at 4:30 pm followed by a full peal of bells at 7:30 pm. On the day, the chimes herald the Pontifical High Mass officiated by the Archbishop of Valencia at 9 am, which is then held in the Cathedral at 10:30 am.

The shortest procession of the year departs from the Cathedral at 11:30 am, leaving through the door of “Los Hierros”. It passes all the places associated with where the Saint suffered, following a route across Plaza de la Reina to the start of Calle San Vicente, heads towards Calle del Mar to then go down Calle Avellanas.

There, the procession passes two chapels dedicated to the saint and a small liturgy takes place before the procession returns to the Cathedral through the “Palau” door. The celebrations continue at 8 pm with a Mozarabic mass at Cristo Rey Church.

By Vincent Green, Dec 29 2025