Our Lady of the Pillar

The Virgen del Pilar (Spanish, virgin on the pillar ') and Nuestra Señora del Pilar (Spanish, Our Lady of the Pillar ') is a sculpture of the Virgin Mary on a pillar in Zaragoza in Spain. The statue is now in the erected around them Basílica del Pilar, the largest Baroque church in Spain. The widespread, very common in the area of Zaragoza female first name Pilar ( María del Pilar actually ) comes from the sanctuary.

Legend has it that on 2 January of the year 40 the Apostle James the Elder appeared on this column at the location of the image of Mary, the Mother of Jesus, according to Christ. The patronal feast of the Virgen del Pilar, the symbol of the first apparition of Mary in Spain, will take place on October 12. The Virgen del Pilar is the patron saint of Spain and the Hispanidad.