Our Lady of Charity

The Virgin of Charity of Cobre ( Spanish: Virgen de la Caridad del Cobre ) is a revered since 1612 wooden figure of a saint and the most important object of pilgrimage in Cuba. It was in 1916 by Pope Benedict XV. declared a Cuban patron after they had been true for the beginning of the insurgency of the Cubans against the Spanish colonial rule in 1868 as the patron saint and symbol of Cuban identity, earning her the nickname " La Mambisa " - Mambí was the name for insurgent Cubans - earned.

History

According to legend, the statue was found in 1612 by three hunters ( the two brothers Juan and Rodrigo de Hoyos and Juan Moreno, two Indians and a then ten- year-old black slave ) in the Bay of Nipe. They had been sent by the Rinderzuchtgut in Barajagua inland to a supply of salt for preserving meat from a saltern located on the island in the Bay Cayo Francés. Later the figure was brought to El Cobre, the center of the royal copper mining, owned the Rindergut.

1686 was the Sanctuary. On August 12, 1898, the last day of the Spanish - American War, a thanksgiving service for the liberation from Spanish colonial rule took place. 1915 ended up asking the veterans of the War of Pope Benedict XV. about explaining the Merciful Virgin of El Cobre patroness of Cuba. Pope John Paul II crowned and blessed them in 1998 during his visit to Cuba. As a symbol of Cuban Nationality, she is now also respected by many non-believers. On March 27, 2012 Venerable Pope Benedict XVI. the Virgin of El Cobre on the occasion of the four hundredth anniversary of the anniversary of its discovery a Golden Rose during his pilgrimage to Cuba.

The Sanctuary with its richly decorated holy figure is located between Santiago de Cuba and Bayamo in the Archdiocese of Santiago de Cuba in the province of Santiago de Cuba in addition to a copper mine (Spanish: = Cobre copper). The church houses an impressive collection of votive offerings, mostly, but not exclusively, have religious background; among others can be found here and the Nobel Prize medal of Ernest Hemingway.

The patron saint is venerated by both Catholics as well as by the syncretic Santería religion. In Santería, she has the name Ochún and is the goddess of rivers and love. The anniversary of the Virgen de la Caridad is celebrated in Cuba on September 8; on the same date also celebrate the supporters of the Afro-Cuban religions have their Orisha Ochún.