Saint Cecilius, patron saint and first bishop of Granada

According to tradition, Saint Cecilius was a disciple of the Apostle James. His teacher sent him to evangelise the southern part of the Iberian Peninsula, and he eventually settled in Granada, establishing his missionary work here in the earliest centuries of Christianity.

The story goes that he and his disciples used to meet in what we now know as the catacombs of the Sacromonte. There, they were one day caught by the Romans, arrested and martyred, sealing the Christian faith in these lands with their blood — lands that would later spend eight centuries under Muslim rule.

The saint is considered one of the 7 Apostolic Men according to the Catholic Church, a group of evangelisers sent directly by the apostles to bring Christianity to Hispania. This designation gives him particular significance in the history of Spanish Christianity.

Saint Cecilius is also regarded as the first bishop of Granada, establishing the episcopal see that has continued through history to the present day. This status as first bishop reinforces his importance as the founder of Granada's Christian community.

The catacombs of the Sacromonte, where he is said to have been martyred, can be visited, offering a direct connection to the origins of Christianity in Granada.

The festival in honour of Saint Cecilius begins with the Mozarabic Mass on 1 February at the Abbey of the Sacromonte. This Hispanic-Mozarabic rite connects with the peninsula's oldest liturgical traditions, predating the Roman reform.

There is also a special Mass at the church of San Cecilio in the Realejo. Until 2020, it was customary to hold a procession with the saint from this church, but the brotherhood decided to discontinue it due to a shortage of members, reflecting changes in religious participation today.

The main day is 2 February, the official feast day of the patron saint. This date marks the saint's martyrdom and forms the centrepiece of Granada's religious calendar dedicated to its patron.

However, it's on the first Sunday of the month that the traditional romería to the Sacromonte is held, a tradition dating back to the 17th century. This flexibility around the date allows for greater public participation, as it coincides with the weekend.

On the first Sunday of February, the romería to the Sacromonte is held, the high point of the patron saint's festivities. This centuries-old tradition turns the hills of the Sacromonte into a pilgrimage destination for thousands of locals and devotees.

Alongside the various liturgical celebrations that take place, the main one being the midday Mass at 12pm, during which the city renews its vows to the saint, the atmosphere combines religious devotion with popular celebration.

The renewal of vows represents Granada's annual commitment to its patron saint, keeping alive the special relationship between the city and Saint Cecilius established centuries ago.

Regional dances are a common feature, especially la Reja, performed thanks to various cultural associations. This traditional Granada dance adds a folkloric element to the religious celebration, rounding out a complete cultural experience.

La Reja is one of Granada's most characteristic dances, with choreography that symbolises the rural and agricultural elements of Andalusian popular tradition.

The City Council hands out the traditional broad beans (habas) and salaíllas, food that connects the celebration with Granada's popular winter cuisine — and people tend to eat them right there, turning the romería into a full communal experience.

Broad beans are one of the most typical products of Granada's market gardens in February, while salaíllas (small salted breads) are a local speciality associated with religious celebrations.

The catacombs where the saint's remains lie can be visited free of charge during the afternoon of the romería. Opening hours are usually from 4pm to 5:30pm, allowing public access to this sacred site.

Tradition has it that there are two stones there, one white and one black. Girls who wanted to marry would climb up to touch the white stone; those who wanted to avoid marriage touched the black one.

This piece of folk tradition shows how religious spaces become enriched with popular beliefs that add a human, everyday dimension to places of devotion. The white stone symbolises the search for marital love, while the black one represents the freedom of staying single.

This tradition of the stones keeps alive the connection between religious devotion and personal hopes, a hallmark of popular Andalusian Catholicism.

The Abbey of the Sacromonte is the nerve centre of the celebrations, housing both the original catacombs and the main liturgical events. This monumental complex is one of the most sacred sites in Granada.

The Mozarabic Mass celebrated on 1 February connects with Spain's oldest liturgical traditions, predating the unification of the Roman rite. This Hispanic-Mozarabic rite survives in very few places in Spain today.

The Mozarabic Choir that takes part in these celebrations preserves chants and musical traditions of great antiquity, offering a unique liturgical experience that transports you back to the earliest centuries of Hispanic Christianity.

The church of San Cecilio in the Realejo also maintains a special devotion to the patron saint and traditionally hosts complementary celebrations. Its location in the historic Realejo neighbourhood makes it easily accessible for devotees from central Granada.

Until 2020, it was customary to hold a procession with the saint from this church, a tradition that linked the Realejo with the Sacromonte. The brotherhood decided to discontinue it due to a shortage of members, reflecting the challenges traditional religious organisations face today.

This change illustrates how religious traditions have to adapt to contemporary social circumstances, keeping their devotional essence while changing the forms they take.

The figure of Saint Cecilius as first bishop establishes Granada's Christian continuity from the earliest centuries right through to today, spanning the Andalusi period and the Christian reconquest. His patronage represents the city's deep religious identity.

Historically, devotion to Saint Cecilius intensified with the discovery of the Lead Books on the Monte de Valparaíso (Sacromonte) during the 16th century, although the Church later declared them apocryphal. This episode shows just how deep local devotion runs.

Saint Cecilius's patronage over Granada offers a form of spiritual protection that locals renew every year during the romería. This bond between patron saint and city is one of the oldest ties in the local religious identity.

The broad beans handed out by the City Council during the romería are one of the most typical products of Granada's market gardens in February. This legume, traditionally grown in the Vega de Granada, links the religious celebration with local farming.

Salaíllas are small salted breads specific to Granada's religious celebrations. Their handmade preparation keeps alive a baking tradition going back centuries.

This traditional food turns the romería into a fully sensory experience, where devotion is accompanied by distinctive flavours that locals associate specifically with Saint Cecilius.

Trying the broad beans and salaíllas during the romería is an essential part of the experience, connecting with culinary traditions enjoyed only on this date.

The Sacromonte neighbourhood becomes the clear star of the Saint Cecilius festivities. This traditionally Romani neighbourhood of cave dwellings hosts the devotion to the first bishop, creating a unique fusion of popular religiosity and flamenco culture.

The Monte de Valparaíso, on which the Sacromonte sits, forms the natural stage for devotion to Saint Cecilius. This landscape of hills and caves provides the perfect setting for a celebration that combines pilgrimage, nature and tradition.

The Abbey of the Sacromonte crowns this sacred hill, visible from all over Granada and a constant reminder to residents of the protective presence of their patron saint.

COMPLETE YOUR VISIT WITH TOURS OF THE ALBAICÍN, THE ALHAMBRA AND MORE

During the Saint Cecilius festivities, Granada offers ideal conditions for combining religious devotion with visits to its historic monuments. Our Alhambra tours provide the perfect context for understanding the historical continuity from early Christianity through to the present day.

The Free Tour of Granada includes references to the first bishop and his importance in shaping Granada's religious identity, which survived even through eight centuries of Muslim rule.