Virgen de la Candelaria and Sanctuary church facade Puno Peru

The statue of the Virgen de la Candelaria / Our Lady of Light / Our Lady of Candles in the entrance to the Sanctuary (church) in Puno (southern Peru)... more

by James Brunker

Title

Virgen de la Candelaria and Sanctuary church facade Puno Peru

Artist

James Brunker

Medium

Photograph

Description

The statue of the Virgen de la Candelaria / Our Lady of Light / Our Lady of Candles in the entrance to the Sanctuary (church) in Puno (southern Peru) where she resides. Puno's celebrations for the Virgen de la Candelaria are one of Peru's largest festivals, take place at the start of February (the 2nd is the official saint's day) and last for nearly 2 weeks. She is always carried out of the Sanctuary each year for the dance parades so the dancers and devotees can pay their respects. The festival was added to the UNESCO's List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in November 2014.

Candlemas (also known as the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ and the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary) is a Christian feast day commemorating the presentation of Jesus at the Temple and is one of the oldest feasts of the church. The Virgen de la Candelaria is the patron saint of the Canary Islands and one of the most venerated forms of the Virgin Mary in Latin America; many Canary Islanders sailed on ships to the Americas during the Spanish conquest and colonisation of the continent.

Photograph © James Brunker. Reproduction, transmission or publication in any form without prior written permission strictly prohibited.

Uploaded

February 6th, 2024