Nativity of the Virgin Mary and Vow of the Aldermen

In the 17th century, plague was rampant in Lyon. Faced with this scourge, on September 8, 1643, the feast of the Nativity of the Virgin, the Provost of Merchants (equivalent to our mayor) and his 4 aldermen (deputies), accompanied by a crowd of Lyonnais, went in procession to Fourvière. They vowed to go up to the Virgin’s chapel each year to hear mass, offer 1 candle of 7 pounds of white wax and a golden shield, if Lyon was spared. Soon afterwards, the evil receded and their vow was granted.

Since that historic date, the Vœu des Echevins has been commemorated every year at a major ceremony attended by elected representatives from the Lyon metropolitan area and region.

This year, the ceremony will take place on Sunday, September 8, 2024 at 5:30pm in the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière.

Find the Fourviere anthem