LORD OF MIRACLES

ANA LA SNCHEZ VSQUEZ

Middle of seventeenth century,

Lima

Immigrants were from the

Atlantic coast of western
Africa.

These groups consisted of

tribes
such
as
Congos,
Mantengas,
Bozales,
Cambundas,
Misangas,
Mozambiques,
Terranovas,
Carabeles, Lcumos, Minas
and Angolas.

In 1650 the various groups of Angolas united and created a joint

brotherhood in the Pachacamilla district, where stands the
church and monastery of Nazarenas and the building of the
brotherhood of the Lord of Miracles.

On the afternoon of 13 of November 1655, at 2:45 in the

afternoon, a terrible earthquake changed the face of Lima and
Callao, destroying churches and homes, and leaving thousand of
dead and homeless.

September of 1671 by a group of people among

whom were a representative of the local
archbishop, a notary, an Indian painter and the
captain of the Viceroy army, Don Pedro Balczar,
escorted by two groups of soldiers in case of
trouble from the curious people who crowded the
place.

On 14 September 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 or of Wonders'.

During October 1687 a seaquake razed the city of

Callao and part of the city of Lima and destroyed
the chapel built in honour of the Christ image. But
by a miracle, the wall containing the image of
Christ remained undamaged.

The Lord of Miracles is one of the most important religious

phenomena of popular Catholicism. However, although the first
mass was celebrated in 1671, organized by the new brotherhood
of the Lord of Miracles of the Nazarenas, it was only in 1940 that
religious historians started to be interested in it, due to the
number of devotes and the interest it had generated.

The procession attracts hundreds of thousands

celebrants, who crowd through the streets of the
dancing, while vendors sell spiritual trinkets
together with a wide variety of typical dishes and
Turrn de Doa Pepa, a delicious soft and sweet
eggs, butter, flour, anis and fruit syrup.

of devotees and
city, singing and
and medallions,
sweets, including
paste made with

THANKS!