Santiago.– With a call to protect the historical legacy, strengthen the Cibaeño identity, and keep alive the faith that has marked the development of the Heart City, civil and ecclesiastical authorities and representatives of different sectors commemorated this Friday the 531st anniversary of the founding of Santiago de los Caballeros and the Day of Saint James the Apostle, patron saint of the city.
The official ceremony was held in front of the statue of Santiago Apóstol, located at the entrance of the city, where Governor Rosa Santos, Mayor Ulises Rodríguez, Senator Daniel Rivera, Auxiliary Bishop Monsignor Andrés Amaury Rosario Henríquez, members of the Ateneo Amantes de la Luz, and representatives from the business, academic, military, police, and Catholic Church sectors participated.
During the ceremony, Governor Rosa Santos stated that Santiago celebrates more than five centuries of history, consolidating itself as one of the country’s main economic, cultural, and social engines. She recalled that the city was founded in 1495, served as the capital of the Republic during the Restoration War, and was the setting for the Battle of March 30, 1844, events that, she said, strengthened the patriotic spirit of the people of Santiago.
Likewise, he highlighted that the Santiago Apóstol Patron Saint Festivities represent a space for gathering for faith, culture, art, and family coexistence, while inviting the public to participate in the traditional solemn procession of the patron saint.
For his part, Mayor Ulises Rodríguez maintained that Santiago’s 531 years reflect the greatness of a city built on work, entrepreneurship, education, solidarity, and Christian values, highlighting that the identity of the people of Santiago has been decisive in turning the province into a benchmark for national development.
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While the president of the Ateneo Amantes de la Luz, Carlos Manuel Estrella, valued the role of the Metropolitan Archdiocese of Santiago in the preservation of the patronal festivities, considering that these strengthen religious and cultural tourism, in addition to projecting the Santiago city brand nationally and internationally.
The authorities agreed that the anniversary constitutes an opportunity to reaffirm the commitment to the preservation of the history, traditions, and values that have distinguished Santiago for more than five centuries as one of the most influential cities in the Dominican Republic.
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The activity concluded with the performance of the Anthem of Spain and subsequently the Dominican National Anthem, in a solemn act that paid tribute to the historical trajectory of the Heart City and to the legacy of Santiago Apóstol as a symbol of unity, faith, and identity.
During this Saturday afternoon, parishioners will participate alongside the city’s ecclesiastical authorities in the traditional procession, the march of which will close the patron saint festivities of Santiago Apóstol “El Mayor”.
