The Basilica of the Virgen de los Desamparados finalizes the preparations for the traditional public Besamanos before the image of the Patron Saint of Valencia that will take place this Wednesday, May 18, a day whose donations will go to the "Crown of Charity" that the Archdiocese will give away to the Mare de Déu on the occasion of the Centenary of the Canonical Coronation.

“In the collection of the Missa d'Infants, a celebration in which the opening of the Jubilee Year of the Centenary of the Coronation took place, the amount collected was 10,155 euros that are already part of this 'Crown of Charity' that will serve to promote the social work of the Basilica directed to the MAIDES Foundation, Villa Teresita and the Valencian association Provida, among other projects, an initiative to which we encourage all devotees to collaborate”, they highlight from the Basilica of the Virgen de los Desamparados.

The Besamanos before the pilgrim image of the Mare de Déu, which will be placed in front of the main altar, will begin this Wednesday at 7 am and access to the temple will be through the bronze door, enabling a fence in the Plaza de la Virgen in “ zig-zag” to facilitate the entry order in the queue that will be formed.

The exit door will be the closest to the store, the Basilica that overlooks the Plaza de la Virgen and the door on Calle de la Leña "will be enabled as preferential access for people with wheelchairs or reduced mobility, and with carts of babies”.

The original image that presides over the main altar will be turned towards its dressing room, where ordinary worship will take place throughout the day. In this regard, the door closest to the Sacristy that leads to the Plaza de la Virgen will be only to access the Camarín or the Chapel of the Communion, but not for the Besamanos.

In addition, that day “the 10:30 a.m. mass, which is broadcast daily by La Ocho Mediterráneo, will not be celebrated. Instead, a meditated Rosary will be performed while the faithful pass by.

From the Basilica they indicate that "in this Besamanos 2022 there are no capacity limitations or special measures in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, but to access the temple we recommend the use of a mask, use the hydroalcoholic gel dispensers and keep a safe distance".

In the Plaza de la Virgen "there will be a Red Cross medical emergency checkpoint and we will have the collaboration of workers from the City Council for the placement of the fences, the presence of the Local Police and Civil Protection volunteers."

In the same way, during the day "we will distribute bottles of water and a stamp to the faithful who come to the Besamanos and the MAIDES Foundation will install its traditional 'paraeta' in the Plaza de la Virgen to inform about the work they carry out in caring for and accompanying seriously mentally ill and at risk of social exclusion.

The Basilica will close its doors this Wednesday “when the last person in the queue passes to perform the Besamparados, which will consist of bowing before the pilgrim image of the Virgen de los Desamparados, which cannot be kissed,” they specify.

As in previous years, the Followers of the Virgen de los Desamparados, the Court of Honor and the Eixidors del Trasllat will collaborate in the organization and control of access to Besamanos.