Museo de la Virgen de la Asunción

Religious

The Museum of the Virgin of the Assumption, Patroness of Elche (MUVAPE) tells us through sculptural, pictorial, goldsmith and textile pieces, dated between the sixteenth and twentieth centuries, the history of the Virgin Mary and the history of the image of the Patron of the city. Some elements used by this image stand out during the celebration of the Mystery of Elche, Intangible Heritage of Humanity since 2001. The first years of Maria's life and her relationship with her son Jesus are narrated with some wood carvings and ivory of the centuries XVII and XVIII. Other pieces bring us closer to the Christian tradition, gathered in the Mystery of Elche, according to which Mary lived in Jerusalem her last years. There she died assisted by the apostles, but she was resurrected and ascended to heaven body and soul. The Holy Trinity crowned her as Queen of Creation. Mantles Devotion to the Assumption of Mary was introduced to our lands by Jaime I the Conqueror. The local tradition tells that on December 29, 1370, an ark arrived at one of the beaches of Elche, inside of which was found the image of the Virgin and the consueta of her Mystery. The figure was enthroned in the hermitage of San Sebastián where the Brotherhood was in charge of promoting their cult and in 1648 it was definitively moved to the church of Santa María. Between 1673 and 1784 the current Basilica was built, in whose central dressing room the figure of the Patron is venerated. The devotion of the ilicitanos has given rise over the centuries to numerous donations. Mantles and vestments, crowns and jewels, furniture and real estate form the rich patrimony of the Virgin of Elche, which are exhibited in the museum. A special section is dedicated to José Tormo y Juliá, bishop of Orihuela between 1767 and 1790, whose memory remains among the ilicitanos. In addition to providing the city with drinking water, the chapel of the Communion of Santa María was completed at its expense. On October 3, 1784 he consecrated the temple and on the episcopal palace that he built for his stays in Elche, now stands the parish house of Santa María. The central point of the feigned chapel of the museum is dedicated to the Dormition of the Virgin and shows the impressive bed that in the octave of the Assumption, between August 16 and 22, after the celebration of the Mystery, stands before the altar Mayor of Santa Maria and becomes for eight days in the devotional center of the city.