Saints Alive

There’s anger in Bigastro after a newly-placed crown was stolen from the Virgin of Bethlehem statue in the town’s parish church, on the eve of the saint’s feast day. The Virgin is Bigastro’s patron saint, with the three-thousand euro ornament being added just days earlier to commemorate the virgin being the area’s patron saint for 300 years.  The theft took place early on Saturday morning, and the news marred the special anniversary procession and service last Sunday, where the Bishop of Orihuela-Alicante, Jesús Murgui  condemned the attack on the parish and asked “…the Lord to forgive those who acted out of ignorance and evil”.