Photographs and Words by Sam Wright
Each year in May, the pilgrimage of Saint Sara draws Roma from across the world to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, a small town in the Camargue region of southern France. The spiritual and communal gathering is a vivid expression of faith, heritage, resilience, and an enduring affirmation of Romani identity.
Known as Sara la Kali or Sara the Black, Saint Sara is revered as the patron saint of the Romani people. Legend says she was a servant or companion to the Three Marys—Mary Magdalene, Mary Salome, and Mary Jacobe—who arrived by boat on the southern coast of France after fleeing persecution in the Holy Land. Her legendary arrival is reenacted each year in a procession that carries a statue of Saint Sara, depicted with dark skin and dressed in brightly colored robes, from the local church to the sea.
The pilgrimage combines Catholic ritual with Romani music, dance, and costume, creating a festival that is at once solemn and celebratory. Though the Catholic Church has never formally canonized her, Saint Sara endures as a powerful symbol of devotion and belonging for Roma communities: a reminder of survival through faith and shared history.
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For Roma Pilgrims, a Journey of Faith and Belonging
For Roma Pilgrims, a Journey of Faith and Belonging
