Sacred tree planting - 03.07.2009

Last week in Granadilla saw the planting of a tree with apparent medicinal properties at the cave of San Pedro, Tenerife’s saint. Many attended the ceremony including the Rector, Macario Lopez; the Mayor, Carmen Nieves Gaspar Rivero, and councillors of agriculture and services, Antonio Cabrera and Jose Manuel Garcia Mendoza, as well as a large representation of parishioners.

The purpose of the planting was to perpetuate the memory of the Holy Brother Pedro through the tree which is linked to the history of his life.
Hermano Pedro de San José Betancurt, made his way from his native village of Vilaflor (Tenerife's highest village), down to his cave near the coast at El Médano. There is a statue of Hermano Pedro in the village of Vilaflor.
 
The tree was originally planted on 31st March 1657 La Antigua Guatemala and since then has been known as a sacred tree – San Pedro lived and died in La Antigua.
Interestingly the University of La Laguna are currently carrying out tests to identify the exact medicinal properties that the tree possesses.
The ceremony coincided with the day of Tenerife’s Patron Saint – Peter, San Pedro.