2. Chiquinquira, Colombia
In the Center of
Colombia, in the
department of Boyaca is the
old city of Chiquinquira
In the indigenous
language, of the
Muisca, Chiquinquira
means “place of worship
for the gods.”
It has and continues to be
considered the religious
capitol of Colombia and a
pilgrimage site.
3. 1560 – Antonio de Santana
was given an encomienda in
that area of Colonial
Colombia and the Dominican
friars were given missions in
the area.
1562 - Friar Andres Jadraque
build a chapel and
commissions Alonso Narvaez
to paint a picture of el Virgin
del Rosario
1574 - the friars abandoned
the chapel. Moisture and
deterioration ruined the
painting and almost erased
the image.
4. EL IMAGEN
The image that was
commissioned was painted on a
cloth woven by the Indigenous
community. It is the picture of the
Virgin of the Rosary flanked by St.
Andrew on the left (Fr. Andres’s
patron) and St. Anthony of Padua
on the right (Patron of Antonio de
Santana)
5. El Milagro
• 1585 - it was moved to a room in
Chiquinquira that was used to dry grain
and periodically as a chapel.
• December 26,1586 – Isabel, an
indigenous woman, and her son
witness the painting glow brilliantly, as if
on fire, and the image was miraculously
restored.
• They contact a devout spanish
woman, Maria Ramos, who was
married to Pedro de Santana, the
brother of Antonio. The tell the news of
the miracle and the devotion of the
Virgin de Chiquinquira begins.
• Archbishop Luis Zapata commissions
an investigation, January 10, 1587 the
miracle is confirmed and a temple is
commissioned. Her feast day is July 9th.
6. LA PATRONA DEL PUEBLO
In 1794 after an earthquake and a
humid climate ruin the original temple,
a Basilica was commissioned.
May 5, 1816. During the war of
independence. An infantry commander,
Manuel Roergas de Servies, had his
army take the Lady of Chiquinquira
with his army under protest of the
religious and local community. It is
surmised that he took it to grant his
army victory.
In 1825 the Basilica is built and it
becomes a national place of
pilgrimages including viceroys, bishops
and politicians such as Simon Bolivar.
In 1916 the nation of Colombia
enshrines the Virgin of Chiquinquira as
the Patroness of Colombia.
7. Oraciones e Intercesiones
Besides being a place of pilgrimages, Our Lady of Chiquinquira
has been a patron for peace and success for both Colombia
and the Church.
As with the rest of Latin America Mary is given a special
recognition of her protective, healing and intercessory power.
In 1967 a Papal Nuncio places a lit candle below the imploring
for the success of the Second Vatican Council.
In 1986 Pope John Paul II prays at Chiquinquira for peace in
Colombia and in 1999 the image is taken to Bogota for a
national prayer for peace.
Holy Week is celebrated with particular fervor in Chiquinquira.
