Marian devotion
Our Lady of the Lion Market
León, Nicaragua
The Virgin of the Merced was the protector of the captives during the colony.
The merchants arrived in León in the 16th century with the mission of protecting the indigenous people from slavery. The Virgin of the Merced was her lawyer and protector.
Tradition tells that Our Lady released captives who were being held prisoner by Caribbean pirates. The merchants rescued hundreds of slaves thanks to the intercession of the Virgin.
Today, the Church of the Merced in Leon is a colonial temple that keeps the image of the Virgin and the memory of those who fought for freedom.
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