Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Olatz, Medieval hermitage church in Azpeitia, Spain.
The Hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Olatz is a religious building in Azpeitia situated along the road leading toward the Sanctuary of Loiola. The structure features a semi-circular entrance door and a wooden choir gallery inside.
The structure dates back to medieval times and served as a gathering place for religious and administrative purposes in the region. Until the early 1700s, local assemblies used this site as their meeting location.
The Virgin of Olatz was crowned canonically on 21 September 1952 and named patroness of all Azpeitians; a novena leads up to the feast of the Coronation on 18 December, with Mass at 8 am and the novena closing at 5 pm with rosary and Mass. Mothers bring newborn children under her protection, and women hoping for a family leave children's clothes that are later given to those in need. When a resident dies, the hil kanpaia death bell is rung.
The hermitage stands in the Izarraitz district of Azpeitia, a few metres from the Sanctuary of Loiola on the old road linking the town to Loiola. Stone plaques along that path mark where Ignatius of Loyola used to walk past the chapel. The building is cared for by the Community of Damas Catequistas of the Congregation of Dolores Sopeña, whose convent adjoins it; between the chapel and the so-called Casita lies their small private cemetery, where Dolores Rodríguez Sopeña's tomb and the niches of many catechists can be seen.
The Virgin of Olatz was canonically crowned on 21 September 1952 and named patroness of all Azpeitians. Each year a novena leads up to the feast of the Coronation on 18 December, beginning with Mass at 8 am and closing at 5 pm with the rosary and Mass. When a resident dies, the hil kanpaia death bell is rung.
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