Other Black Christ sanctuaries Cristos Negros of Central America and Mexico

the image in el sauce, nicaragua

the sanctuary of chalma 1 of most-visited pilgrimage site in mexico, second behind basilica of our lady of guadalupe, on 2 million visitors each year. of these come central , southern mexico, site has received visitors on world. cristo negro in sanctuary said have come nearby cave, had been center worship of god called ostoc teotl. legend states idol of pre hispanic deity replaced black crucifix. pilgrimage site includes participating in pre hispanic dance @ church atrium.

the cristo negro of el sauce, león department, nicaragua, known our lord of miracles, commemorated 290 years of existence in 2013. name of town, means “the willow,” commemorates finding of image here under type of tree. image in esquipulas, feast day january 15 , house in national sanctuary of our lord of miracles.

the cristo negro shrine in arena blanco, el progrago, yoro, honduras major pilgrimage site january 15, attracting 10,000 people, image here recognized replica of 1 in esquipulas. event attracts visitors various countries in central america , puerto rico , spain.

the black christ of otatitlán

the cristo negro of otatitlán in parish church of town. there 2 stories of origin of particular image. 1 states spanish king philip ii had 3 black christ images commissioned, went on current locations. story says image found on day of cross indigenous person @ foot of tree in village of puctlanzingo, claimed mazatecos of region. later moved on papaloapan river on raft current location. during cristero war in 1930s, image taken men allied governor of veracruz, adalberto tejada, tried unsuccessfully burn it. instead decapitated. headless image returned otatitlán , replacement made. in 1950, original head found , returned, replacement head kept in glass case. devotion image syncretism. not unusual there mass followed ritual cleansing local “brujo” (roughly witch doctor). major feast day image may 3, day of cross, events beginnings on april 28 , extending may 7. event can attract 150,000 people veracruz , other parts of mexico.

the señor de tila cristo negro images link esquipulas image, sharing same feast day of january 15, same sanctuary design , many of same rituals followed pilgrims. instead of made wood, made stalagmite nearby cave. story residents of san cristobal de las casas came sack town, image “ran” , hid in cave. when “rescued” years later, had turned black. sanctuary gained fame in colonial period , has remained important regional pilgrimage since, attracting visitors far tabasco , campeche . important image in chiapas in zinacantán, said have been found in sacred cave , related extraction of salt in area.

the huichol community of huaynamota in el nayar municipality of nayarit has cristo negro venerated mix of catholic , pre hispanic rites. feast day attracts hundreds of pilgrims. origin of image unknown there various stories appearing thin air being brought jesuits in 18th century, possibly guatemala. has been said sweat , bleed cure sick.

inside chapel of sanctuary in chimayo

el señor de la paz, called cristo negro of san pablo anciano near acatlán de osorio, puebla introduced between 1824 , 1830 local priest. @ time various indigenous peoples in conflict on resources. image took on significance in mixtec lore tells of various indigenous deities in conflict , role of cristo negro intermediary. cristo de las ampollas cristo negro image in mérida, yucatán, since colonial times has been important population, mayan ethnicities. originated in village of ichmul in 17th century, cowboy , peasants reported bright lights tree near village parish priest. priest had tree cut down , brought parish , announced have sculpted image of virgin mary. young man appeared , said sculpt it. asked locked workshop no tools , day later, disappeared, leaving behind cristo negro. image moved church , after pilgrims began visit. later, church burned ground, reducing ashes except image, blackened. despite protests, image moved again cathedral in mérida in 1645. in 1915, during mexican revolution, cathedral sacked , soldiers tried burn image, not. instead moved military base , not seen again. replica made in querétaro , consecrated in 1919. feast day of image day of cross, may 3. in addition, image central festivals related various main segments of mérida society on different days, considered unofficial patron of city.

the chimayo sanctuary in new mexico in honor of esquipulas image, established bernardo abeyta. important catholic pilgrimage center in united states, attracting 300,000 visitors per year . site related deposit of clay said have medicinal qualities.