Our Lady Of Coromoto

Our Lady Of Coromoto is a holiday that falls on the Monday that falls on September 11th or falls around it. This holiday is observed by Christians in Venezuela and is dedicated to the patroness of Venezuela. Although it’s not a public holiday, it is celebrated extensively across Venezuela, and banks are usually closed on this day. It’s also a day on which a mass is held for the Lady of Coromoto and people travel to see the Virgin of Cormomoto at Guanare, Venezuela.

The History Of Lady Of Coromoto

In 1591, when the city of Guanare was founded, the indigenous tribe that lived in the region called the Cospes fled into the jungle. This prompted the Roman Catholic Church to begin to evangelize to them, but their best efforts were resisted at first. According to legend, this is when the Virgin Mary appeared to the chief of the tribe not just once, but twice.

The first time the Virgin Mary supposedly appeared to the chief, it was in 1651 and she appeared to him in a river canyon. This is where she allegedly told him to be baptized. The second time it occurred was on September 8, 1652, when she is supposed to have appeared in his hut. According to this story, when the tribal chief attempted to grab her, she disappeared in an instant—leaving him holding nothing but a small painting of her. This became known as the Virgin Of Coromoto.

The Virgin Of Coromoto is 10.5-inches high and 8.5-inches wide. It’s made from a parchment material and features the Virgin Mary holding her infant son Jesus in her lap. In 1942, the Venezuelan episcopate declared her as Patroness of Venezuela.

Interesting Facts About Venezuela

Since this holiday takes place in Venezuela we thought it might be fun to go over some of the fun facts we’ve learned about this country while we were researching Our Lady of Coromoto. So sit back, grab a drink and let’s learn a few things about this South American country.

The southern part of Venezuela is the northern part of the Amazon Basin.
Venezuela is one of the most biodiverse countries on the planet.
In Venezuela, there are over 3,900 different fungi species.
Petroleum accounts for 80% of Venezuela’s exports.
Other exports for this country include cement, steel, aluminum, and agricultural products.
Venezuela has a hot and dry season and a hot and wet season.
Approximately 96% of people in Venezuela are Roman Catholic.
Spanish is the official language of this country.
In 1999, Venezuela adopted its most recent constitution.
There are over 25,000 different species of orchids in this country.

Observing The Lady Of Coromoto

This holiday is observed with a celebration and veneration of the Lady of Coromoto. People will usually go to church, go see the relic of the Virgin Of Coromoto, or spend the day in prayer. There is also usually a parade where the image of the Sacred Virgin travels the streets of Gunare in a vehicle to bless people and their homes.