Could a simple piece of cedar hold such power? Here at the Capilla Católica Nuestra Señora del Quinche, we unravel a story of faith, miracles, and a mother’s love. The Capilla Católica Nuestra Señora del Quinche isn’t just a chapel. It’s a beacon of hope, a testament to the enduring power of belief. This sacred space holds the image of Nuestra Señora de la Presentación de El Quinche, Ecuador’s patron saint.
The story begins not here, but in the small village of Oyacachi. Commissioned by the indigenous people of Lumbisí, Diego de Robles, a renowned artist of the Quito School, carved the original image of the Virgin from cedar in the late 16th century. Unable to pay the agreed price, the Lumbisí lost the image to the Oyacachi people, who traded precious cedar planks for the Virgin. They placed her in a niche in a large rock, their first sanctuary. Soon, stories of miracles and blessings began to spread. One tale recounts Robles himself, falling from a bridge only to be miraculously saved after invoking the Virgin of Oyacachi. He returned, humbled, and built an altar for her.
In 1604, the image was moved to the village of El Quinche, where the Capilla Católica Nuestra Señora del Quinche now stands. The original church was a humble structure. However, the growing devotion to the Virgin necessitated a larger space. In 1630, a new sanctuary was built, further solidifying the importance of the Capilla Católica Nuestra Señora del Quinche. The church we see today, however, is a product of reconstruction following the devastating earthquake of 1869. The current structure, consecrated in 1928, boasts impressive dimensions. The total area is over 2,000 square meters, with a capacity for thousands of pilgrims. The design, inspired by the Basilica of Saint Mary Major in Rome, features three large naves, the central one covered by a barrel vault and the side naves by domes.
The image itself is a masterpiece. Standing at just over two feet tall, the Virgin is adorned in a luxurious robe of brocade, shimmering with gems and embroidered with gold and silver threads. Her dark, serene face peers out, a comforting presence for her devotees. In her right hand, she holds a scepter, and in her left, she cradles the Christ Child, who in turn holds a golden orb topped with a cross. The silver crescent moon and pedestal at her feet speak to the generosity of the Ecuadorian people.
Every November, thousands of pilgrims journey to the Capilla Católica Nuestra Señora del Quinche. They walk through the night from Calderón, arriving at dawn to celebrate the feast day on November 21st. They come to give thanks, to ask for favors, to feel the presence of their beloved “La Pequeñita,” the little one. The Capilla Católica Nuestra Señora del Quinche is more than just bricks and mortar; it is a living testament to faith, hope, and the enduring power of a mother’s love.