Saint Devote, patron saint of Corsica

In Corsica, it was only in the 17th century that the cult of Saint Devote became more important on the island where relics of the martyred woman were sent from the Principality: one was sent in 1637 and was exhibited in the church of Saint Ignace of Jesuits and the other was received in 1728.

1727 – 1751: Three attempts were set about

In 1731, Devote was already chosen as the protectress of Corsica.

Cathédrale Canonica

Patron saint of Corsica by the decree of the Congregation of Rites on March 14, 1820

In 1820, the first bishop of the diocese of Corsica gathered the six former dioceses of the island and proclaimed both Saint Devote and Saint Julia of Nonza to be principal patron saints of Corsica according to the decree of the Congregation of Rites on March 14.

Pietranera, the first church dedicated to Saint Devote

In 1893, for the first time, the church, which was rebuilt in Pietranera, was dedicated to Saint Devote. Until 1936, it would remain the only Corsican place of worship under the protection of the martyred young woman.

Today, if the feast of Saint Devote remains on January 27, the solemnity has been reported to the following Sunday, whereas the feast on Whit Monday gathers numerous brotherhoods of penitents who join in the procession from the cathedral of the Canonica. The official texts read during the religious service were approved on March 18, 1984 by the bishop of Ajaccio and by the Congregation for the divine cult on August 11 the same year.

The cries for “Saint Divota”

Saint Devote armed the Corsican’s arms against the Genoese invaders. It was told that under Giampetro Gaffory and then under Pascal Paoli, the Corsican ejected the Genoese thanks to cries for "Saint Divota!"

The fervour of the Corsican people towards Saint Devote has always been important. Her popularity even reached the playwrights. In 1912, at the theatre, Ghjuvan Petru Lucciardi wrote and directed the play “U martiriu di Santa Divota” (The martyrdom of Saint Devote).