tHE LORD OF MIRACLES (SEÑOR DE LOS MILAGROS)
The Lord of Miracles (Señor de los Milagros) is an image of Christ on the cross painted on an adobe wall located at the main altar of the Nazarenas' monastery in Lima- Peru The image of Christ, who is considered miraculous, is venerated by Peruvians and foreigners in Peru and around the world.
The Procession of the Lord of Miracles is one of the most important religious phenomena of popular Catholicism in Peru and one of the largest processions in the world.
The Procession of the Lord of Miracles is one of the most important religious phenomena of popular Catholicism in Peru and one of the largest processions in the world.
HISTORY OF THE LORD OF MIRACLES
In the middle of the seventeenth century, Lima, had only 35,000 residents. This number increased steadily from that point onwards with the arrival of thousands of immigrants. Most of them were tribes from the Atlantic coast of western Africa such as Angolas, Carabelíes, Congos, Mozambiques, Terranovas, etc.
The Angolas were members of brotherhoods who venerated different images, carrying out related religious acts in which they remembered their freedom and nostalgically sang the songs of their ancestors in their own languages; they also tended to the sick, and gave their members a decent burial.
In 1650 the various groups of Angolas united and created a joint brotherhood in the Pachacamilla district, where indigenous people from Pachacamac had previously lived, and where stands the church and monastery of Nazarenas and the building of the brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles. Their life conditions were those of absolute poverty. In the brotherhood's house there were large mud walls; on one of these, situated in a room where the brothers used to gather daily, one of the Angolas painted in tempera, an image of Christ on the cross.
On November 13th 1655, at 2:45 p.m. a terrible earthquake changed the face of Lima and Callao, destroying churches and homes, and leaving thousands dead and homeless. The earthquake strongly affected the Pachacamilla district, and all the Angolas' houses collapsed, including that of the brotherhood; but miraculously, the wall containing the image of Christ on the cross escaped unharmed.
As a result of the earthquake, the Angolas moved to another area, leaving the wall with the sacred image in a state of dereliction. Fifteen years later, Antonio León, saw the image of the Christ on the cross painted on this wall in the same perfect condition as the first day it was done. Truly astonished, Leon tidied up the place and built an altar, until he was forced to stop work due to a strange pain that affected him. Miraculously, the pain disappeared after some days. As a sign of gratitude, he returned with harps, cajones and musicians.
According to the reports of the period, Leon was the first to take care of the place, not knowing that from that point onward intense devotion to the sacred image of the Pachacamilla Christ would start. The devotion began to grow, the believers gathered each Friday night to sing prayers to the Christ, helped by the sound of the harps, cajones and guitars.
More people were attending the meetings, often official Catholic religious practices were not followed. Therefore civil and ecclesiastic authorities forbade the gatherings and ordered that the image of the Christ on the wall should be erased. However, when the painter climbed up a ladder placed against the wall, he immediately started to experience tremors in his entire body, and was forced to climb down, helped by his companions. After a while, he tried again to climb up but became so fearful that he could not start the job, so he rapidly climbed down and disappeared. Another soldier, climbed up a ladder, but immediately climbed down, saying that he saw the image become more and more beautiful, while the crown turned green.
Because of these strange events, people started protesting loudly and the group sent to erase the image ran away. Once the Virrey knew what had happened, he decided to cancel the order to erase the image and granted people the right to venerate it instead.
On September 14th 1671, the first mass was celebrated in front of the crucified Christ of Pachacamilla, and from that day onward the number of devotees grew steadily. Soon the image started to be called the “The Lord of Miracles”.
During October 1687, a seaquake razed the city of Callao and part of the city of Lima and destroyed the chapel built in honor of the Christ image. But by a miracle, the wall containing the image of Christ remained undamaged. After this terrible event, a copy of the painting of the image of Christ was made and for the first time was carried in procession through the streets of Pachacamilla district.
On October 28th 1746, the biggest earthquake in the history of Peru and a tsunami struck Lima and Callao. However, once again the image of Christ wall did not collapse. Therefore, to commemorate the first anniversary of the earthquake of 1746, the authorities declares that October 28th will be the main festivity of the Lord of Miracles.
Since then, every October, hundreds of thousands of devotees participate in a procession honoring Christ through the streets of Lima. Boulevards are decorated in purple on October 18, 19, and 28 to celebrate the Lord of Miracles.
The Angolas were members of brotherhoods who venerated different images, carrying out related religious acts in which they remembered their freedom and nostalgically sang the songs of their ancestors in their own languages; they also tended to the sick, and gave their members a decent burial.
In 1650 the various groups of Angolas united and created a joint brotherhood in the Pachacamilla district, where indigenous people from Pachacamac had previously lived, and where stands the church and monastery of Nazarenas and the building of the brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles. Their life conditions were those of absolute poverty. In the brotherhood's house there were large mud walls; on one of these, situated in a room where the brothers used to gather daily, one of the Angolas painted in tempera, an image of Christ on the cross.
On November 13th 1655, at 2:45 p.m. a terrible earthquake changed the face of Lima and Callao, destroying churches and homes, and leaving thousands dead and homeless. The earthquake strongly affected the Pachacamilla district, and all the Angolas' houses collapsed, including that of the brotherhood; but miraculously, the wall containing the image of Christ on the cross escaped unharmed.
As a result of the earthquake, the Angolas moved to another area, leaving the wall with the sacred image in a state of dereliction. Fifteen years later, Antonio León, saw the image of the Christ on the cross painted on this wall in the same perfect condition as the first day it was done. Truly astonished, Leon tidied up the place and built an altar, until he was forced to stop work due to a strange pain that affected him. Miraculously, the pain disappeared after some days. As a sign of gratitude, he returned with harps, cajones and musicians.
According to the reports of the period, Leon was the first to take care of the place, not knowing that from that point onward intense devotion to the sacred image of the Pachacamilla Christ would start. The devotion began to grow, the believers gathered each Friday night to sing prayers to the Christ, helped by the sound of the harps, cajones and guitars.
More people were attending the meetings, often official Catholic religious practices were not followed. Therefore civil and ecclesiastic authorities forbade the gatherings and ordered that the image of the Christ on the wall should be erased. However, when the painter climbed up a ladder placed against the wall, he immediately started to experience tremors in his entire body, and was forced to climb down, helped by his companions. After a while, he tried again to climb up but became so fearful that he could not start the job, so he rapidly climbed down and disappeared. Another soldier, climbed up a ladder, but immediately climbed down, saying that he saw the image become more and more beautiful, while the crown turned green.
Because of these strange events, people started protesting loudly and the group sent to erase the image ran away. Once the Virrey knew what had happened, he decided to cancel the order to erase the image and granted people the right to venerate it instead.
On September 14th 1671, the first mass was celebrated in front of the crucified Christ of Pachacamilla, and from that day onward the number of devotees grew steadily. Soon the image started to be called the “The Lord of Miracles”.
During October 1687, a seaquake razed the city of Callao and part of the city of Lima and destroyed the chapel built in honor of the Christ image. But by a miracle, the wall containing the image of Christ remained undamaged. After this terrible event, a copy of the painting of the image of Christ was made and for the first time was carried in procession through the streets of Pachacamilla district.
On October 28th 1746, the biggest earthquake in the history of Peru and a tsunami struck Lima and Callao. However, once again the image of Christ wall did not collapse. Therefore, to commemorate the first anniversary of the earthquake of 1746, the authorities declares that October 28th will be the main festivity of the Lord of Miracles.
Since then, every October, hundreds of thousands of devotees participate in a procession honoring Christ through the streets of Lima. Boulevards are decorated in purple on October 18, 19, and 28 to celebrate the Lord of Miracles.
THE PROCESSION
The Procession of Lord of Miracles is one of the most important religious phenomena of Catholicism. The old Sacred Litter has been replaced by a sterling silver one, which is cared for by particular staff in a dedicated room in the monastery that now stands on the site of the original painting.
During the procession, male devotees organized into Carrier Committee (Cargadores), carry the heavy Sacred Litters through the streets of Central Lima. The Chairperson of the Carrier Committee (Cargadores) is responsible for organizing, directing and supervising the Carrier Committees. Each committee has its general foreman and sub-foreman.
In front of the image of Christ, march the a group sisters (Sahumadoras) waving incense burners and clad in the purple robes that mark devotion to the Lord of Miracles. Immediately behind them walk the singing women (Cantadoras), who intone the hymns and devotional songs that accompany the procession.
Many other minor figures, including penitents, musicians, vendors and peddlers, have become fixtures of the procession. Also, civilians in purple clothes, many of whom wear them as a sign of gratitude for a received miracle; some wear these clothes for up to a year.
During the procession, male devotees organized into Carrier Committee (Cargadores), carry the heavy Sacred Litters through the streets of Central Lima. The Chairperson of the Carrier Committee (Cargadores) is responsible for organizing, directing and supervising the Carrier Committees. Each committee has its general foreman and sub-foreman.
In front of the image of Christ, march the a group sisters (Sahumadoras) waving incense burners and clad in the purple robes that mark devotion to the Lord of Miracles. Immediately behind them walk the singing women (Cantadoras), who intone the hymns and devotional songs that accompany the procession.
Many other minor figures, including penitents, musicians, vendors and peddlers, have become fixtures of the procession. Also, civilians in purple clothes, many of whom wear them as a sign of gratitude for a received miracle; some wear these clothes for up to a year.
THE SAcred Litters (las sagradas ANDAS)
The Sacred Litters are stored in the Nazarena's monastery, which is under the care of a special staff. The old litter have been replaced by silver litter. Currently, the litter weights approximately 1850 kilos because of the silver poles together weighing 450 kilos, oak pieces, two paintings, accessories, floral arrangements, and candles. The Sacred Litters are carried by groups 32 members of the Brotherhood Carrier Committee (Cargadores).
There are two images that are honored every October. One, is the "Lord of Miracles", which is a copy of the painting of the image of Christ Crucified. The other image is "Our Lady of the Cloud", which is painting placed on the back of the Sacred Litters of the Lord of Miracles.
There are two images that are honored every October. One, is the "Lord of Miracles", which is a copy of the painting of the image of Christ Crucified. The other image is "Our Lady of the Cloud", which is painting placed on the back of the Sacred Litters of the Lord of Miracles.
Hermandad del Señor de los Milagros - Raleigh, NC © Copyright © 2007-2016 - All Rights Reserved