The Royal Parish of Santos Juanes bears in its name the mark of its two patrons: Saint John the Baptist and Saint John the Evangelist, whose lives, messages, and symbols inspire the spiritual and artistic identity of the temple. Alongside them, Our Lady of the Forsaken, patroness of Valencia, and Saint Rita of Cascia, advocate for impossible causes, hold a special place in the devotion of the faithful and in the living history of this church.
Saint John the Baptist
Precursor of Christ and witness to the Spirit, Saint John the Baptist represents the voice calling for conversion and preparing the way of the Lord. In the iconography of Santos Juanes, he is recognized by his skin cloak and the lamb he holds in his arms, a symbol of Jesus as the Lamb of God. His figure invites us to look with humility, to speak with truth, and to renew life through faith.
His birth is celebrated on June 24 and his martyrdom on August 29, remembering his faithfulness unto total surrender. In the church, the Baptist is the sign of the word that awakens the conscience and of the inner fire that purifies and renews.
He inspires us today to live with consistency, to not remain silent in the face of injustice, and to maintain hope even in difficult times.
Saint John the Evangelist
Beloved disciple of Jesus, author of the fourth Gospel and the Book of Revelation, Saint John the Evangelist represents contemplative faith and faithful love. He is identified with the eagle, an emblem of the gaze that rises toward the divine. His feast day is celebrated on December 27, remembering his testimony of light against the shadows of the world.
In the decoration of the temple, his presence is essential: the great vault painted by Antonio Palomino is inspired by his visions of the Apocalypse, with the Celestial Jerusalem as an image of glory and eternal hope.
He inspires us today to look with depth, to live the faith with intelligence, and to keep the heart open to the mystery of God.
Together, they point to the double dimension of faith: the invitation to the path and the vision of glory. The sculptures flanking them on the facade facing the Plaza del Mercat, the rose window known as “the O of Sant Joan,” and the great interior vault painted by Antonio Palomino underscore this symbolic responsibility. Accompanied by them, faithful and visitors can contemplate a sacred narrative that unites the Old and New Testaments, earth and heaven, history and the present.
Our Lady of the
Forsaken
The Mare de Déu dels Desamparats, patroness of Valencia, is the mother and comfort of those who suffer. Her devotion, born from the care for the most needy—the “innocents, folls i orats”—symbolizes Mary’s tender and protective love for all her children. In Santos Juanes, her image reminds us that the Church is also a home where no one is forgotten.
Every second Sunday of May, the parish joins the city’s fervor to celebrate her feast day, which illuminates the temple with flowers, songs, and prayers.
She inspires us today to live with compassion, to trust in her intercession, and to practice charity with the most vulnerable.
Prayer to Our Lady of the Forsaken
O Virgin of the Forsaken,Mother of mercy and comfort,look upon your children who come to You.Protect those who suffer, strengthen the weak,guide our families in faith and in peace.Obtain for us from your Son the grace we needand a generous heart to serve.Holy Virgin, pray for us. Amen.
Saint Rita of Cascia
An Augustinian nun from the 15th century, Saint Rita is known as the advocate of the impossible and an example of forgiveness and patience. She was a wife, mother, and later a nun, and in each stage, she lived the Gospel with a serenity that made her a model of reconciliation. Her iconography shows her with a thorn in her forehead—a symbol of her union with the Passion of Christ—and with roses, a sign of the grace that blooms after suffering.
Her feast day, May 22, gathers devotees around the blessed flowers that recall her persevering love.
She inspires us today to forgive, to maintain faith when all seems lost, and to trust in divine providence.
