October is unique in my native country of Peru, especially in the capital Lima. Religious fervor increases, many people wear purple habits with thick white cinctures, processions take place and special foods are eaten. These commemorate the patron of the city, El Señor de Los Milagros (The Lord of Miracles), who since 1715 has been the official patron of Lima and since 2010 the Patron of Peru as proclaimed by ex-president Alan Garcia.
The Lord of Miracles is a simple depiction of Christ crucified with his mother and Saint John standing at his side. Above the cross descends the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove and farther above is a bearded God the Father blessing Christ and holding an orb. The image was painted on the adobe wall of a storehouse in 1651 by an unknown Angolan slave. In 1655 an earthquake shook Lima killing thousands and destroying much of the city. The storehouse containing the image collapsed entirely except the wall with El Señor de los Milagros.
Soon miracles were reported to happen at the site so a small chapel was built. In 1671 a Mass was celebrated at the chapel with the presence of the viceroy, the representative of the King of Spain in Peru. An earthquake and tidal wave in 1687 destroyed the original chapel, yet the adobe wall remained intact. A Church was built at the site, incorporating the adobe wall so Christ would be behind the high altar. Since 1771 the care of Lima’s most recognized religious icon has been entrusted to the Nazarene Sisters who live at the convent adjacent to the church.
Throughout October processions take the official replica of El Señor de Los Milagros throughout the city. On October 18th, the mayor of Lima renders homage to Our Lord at the city’s center square in the name of the nine million inhabitants of Lima.
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