HOUSE OWNER REFUSES PERMISSION TO REPLACE SAN SEBASTIAN IMAGE
Plans to replace the image that disappeared a year ago have been scuppered.
San Sebastian is the patron saint of Xàbia and consequently there are no less than two niches in the town which host his image, one in Carrer Sant Sebastià Patró de Xàbia (behind the post office building) and the other in Carrer Major, a few metres from Placeta del Convent, the original and oldest dedicated to him. His feast day is January 20th and the people of Xàbia have long venerated the images with decorations and flowers.
After last year’s festivities which honour the saint, the image that occupied the ornate stone niche in Carrer Major disappeared. Initially, it was supposed that it was stolen by a gang that was known to steal religious imagery in the region but the mystery grew when it was realised that whoever removed the statue did so without forcing the lock, also removed the vases and decorations, and then carefully closed the door again. Nothing was damaged during its removal. A mystery indeed.
However, it’s one that seems to have been resolved. This year, the fiesta commission of San Sebastián had planned to replace the image in its niche with a new sculpture and it was blessed by the parish priest on Thursday, ready to make the short journey down accompanied by the traditional music of the Grup de Danses Portitxol. However, for the time being, it will remain in the historic church for the owner of the house where the niche is located has refused permission for the act to take place.
Much like any other town and village in Spain, many if not all of the streets of historic Xàbia have their own niche and their own saint or religious icon. They are protected architectural elements, part of a municipality’s historical and artistic-religious heritage, that belong to the residents for shared devotion on the feast days if they so wish. But the façade of a house is private and it appears that the house owner can refuse permission for them to be used.
The councillor responsible for Fiestas, Mavi Pérez (CPJ) admitted that the fiesta commission is unhappy and confirmed that the town’s niches are protected cultural assets. She also confirmed that she plans to meet with the house owner to try and ask him to accept that an image can be placed in the niche again. If not, then a saint – not just any saint, but the patron saint of Xàbia – could be looking for a new home.
