Our Lady of Chiquinquirá (Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá) is a blessed image who is the patron saint of Colombia and Maracaibo, Venezuela. Her feast day is July 9. It commemorates her canonical coronation in 1910, which wasn’t made official until 1919.
Our Lady of Chiquinquirá
The original Virgen de Chiquinquirá is a damaged portrait that underwent a miraculous restoration in 1586. The Virgin’s miracle is that her image survived over 400 years of use. Today she is damaged again by age and light. She is still beautiful though.
You can see the very long rosaries hanging from the Virgin’s hand and the hand of the Baby Jesus. She is standing between Saint Anthony of Padua and Saint Andrew.
Learn more about her (in Spanish) on the Basilica de Chiquinquirá website virgendechiquinquira.com
Baltasar Vargas de Figueroa painted his version of Our Lady in 1660. It is venerated in Maracaibo, Venezuela as “La Chinita.” 🇻🇪
Chiquinquirá
Chiquinquirá is a mountain town in Boyacá Province. It’s about three hours drive north from Bogotá.
The Basílica de Chiquinquirá holds Our Lady. The faithful gather to her every July 9.