Timeless beauty whispers from the aged stones of Nuestra Señora de los Remedios. This isn’t just a church. It’s a living testament to faith resilience and the enduring spirit of a people.
Nuestra Señora de los Remedios stands as a silent guardian. It holds centuries of prayers and hopes within its walls. Its history is rich and complex. Some believe its origins lie in Northern Europe. Others suggest Seville. Still others point to a distinctly Canarian origin. A debate persists about the exact origins of its iconic statue. The statue itself is dated to 1500. It originally depicted the Virgin Mary in expectation of childbirth. The baby Jesus she now holds was added much later in the 18th century. The Virgin officially assumed the title of “Santa María de Los Remedios” on April 21 1515. This was after the creation of her original hermitage which later became a parish and finally a cathedral in 1819.
The devotion to Nuestra Señora de los Remedios was immense during the 17th and 18th centuries. It was considered one of the island’s three most important devotional figures. This was after the Virgin of Candelaria and the Christ of La Laguna. This high status earned it the title of patron saint of Tenerife and its bishopric. That title is little known now more popularly attributed to the Virgin of Candelaria. However the Virgin of Candelaria remains the main devotional figure of the island and the archipelago. It is also the patron saint of the Island Council of Tenerife.
The creation of the Diocese of San Cristóbal de La Laguna in 1819 by Pope Pius VII solidified the Virgin’s role. The Pope established Nuestra Señora de los Remedios as the principal patron saint of the newly created Nivariense Bishopric. This bishopric encompassed the province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The papal bull also established San Fernando Rey and Santa Isabel de Portugal as co-patrons. This diocesan patronage was requested from the Holy See in 1818. It was effective the following year when the Diocese was created.
The statue itself is a masterpiece. It’s a full-bodied figure meant to be adorned. The Virgin holds the Baby Jesus. His body seems to almost float in his mother’s arms. The Virgin’s face is full her eyes almond-shaped. She looks slightly to her left away from the Child. There are inscriptions on her body. No expert has yet deciphered them.
The Virgin and Child wear permanent crowns. The Virgin’s attire consists of a mantle a rostrillo a tunic and a saya. The Child wears a tunic. He is also given silver and gold shoes on special occasions. He carries a rosary. The Virgin’s attire reflects Baroque tastes. She also wears rings and rich jewels hanging from her mantle and rostrillo.
Our Señora de los Remedios is not just a statue. She is the heart of this place. She represents hope. She symbolizes faith. She embodies the enduring spirit of La Gomera. May your visit here be a reminder of these things.