Saint Teresa 5"

In Yoruba Santería, Saint Teresa of Jesus (or of Ávila) is one of the figures syncretized with the orisha Oyá (Yansá) , the deity of winds, storms, and lightning, associated with the Niger River and cemeteries. This syncretism, which unites African deities with Catholic saints as a survival strategy during slavery, allows practitioners to honor Oyá in the guise of Saint Teresa, sharing attributes such as strength and passion, although there are debates about the depth and authenticity of this syncretism. 3+

Saint Teresa of Jesus, also known as Saint Teresa of Ávila, was a 16th-century Carmelite nun, mystic, writer, and reformer of the Carmelite Order. She founded more than 30 convents, spearheaded the Carmelite Reform, and became one of the most important figures in Christian mysticism. In 1970, she was declared the first woman Doctor of the Catholic Church.