Virgen del Socorro, 450 years as Tíjola’s patron saint: devotion to her receives the province’s Gold Shield
Devotion to the Virgen del Socorro, who marks 450 years as patron saint of Tíjola, receives the province's Gold Shield in the midst of the patron saint's festivities.
Automatic translation: this article was translated with artificial intelligence from the original in Spanish. Read the original
This year, the patron saint’s day in Tíjola was a golden day, in every sense. Almería Provincial Council presented the Escudo de Oro de la Provincia (Gold Shield of the Province) this Tuesday, 15 September, to devotion to the Virgen del Socorro, who in 2026 marks 450 years as patron saint of the town. The ceremony was held in the parish church of Santa María, after the procession and the Mass in honour of the Virgin.
The president of the Provincial Council, José Antonio García Alcaina, placed the shield and a parchment in the hands of the head of the Brotherhood of the Virgen del Socorro, Miguel Ángel Pozo, in the presence of the mayor of Tíjola, José Juan Martínez, the vice-president of the Provincial Council, Almudena Morales, members of the town council and civil and military authorities, as reported by the provincial institution.
The oldest documented patronage
And the history of this devotion goes back a long way. García Alcaina recalled that the patronage of the Virgen del Socorro over Tíjola, which dates back to 1576, is the oldest documented in the province, and highlighted the Brotherhood’s 425 years of history since its first documentary mention, in 1601. “This patronage has been a source of hope for the people of Tíjola and of Almería,” said the provincial president, who also recalled how the devotion managed to overcome the destruction of the image during the Civil War.
Recognition for an entire town
For the mayor, 15 September is the most important day of the year for the people of Tíjola, and in 2026 it also has a special significance: “It is 450 years since our Virgin was proclaimed advocate and succour,” he recalled. Martínez stressed that the shield recognises an entire town and the generations who, for centuries, have kept alive their devotion to their patron saint.
The head of the Brotherhood, Miguel Ángel Pozo, expressed his gratitude for the distinction to his “mother and patroness” and highlighted the uniqueness of Tíjola’s image, which he described as “the only advocation of the Socorro that has endured through the centuries”.
The Gold Shield, the most prestigious honour awarded by the Provincial Council, comes in the midst of the patron saint’s festivities and underlines the weight of a tradition that, according to the institution itself, transcends the boundaries of Tíjola and has become established as a point of reference for the whole of the Almanzora Valley.
From elValle Actualidad, we can only join in the celebration: congratulations, Tíjola! May devotion to the Virgen del Socorro keep passing from generation to generation, as it has done for centuries.
