Our Lady of Chiquinquirá of Ibarra, venerated in the sanctuary / church of Santo Domingo

Marian Invocation of Ibarra (Imbabura)

In Ibarra, department of Imbabura (Ecuador), a colonial image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá, understood as quiteña copy of the famous canvas of Chiquinquirá (Boyacá, Colombia), patron of Colombia. This ibarreña image is found in the church of Santo Domingo, governed by the Order of Preachers, and is historically linked to Dominican devotion to the Rosary and to the expansion of Chiquinquirá's advocation for the Andean region since colonial times.

Main data

Origin and history

In Ibarra, department of Imbabura (Ecuador), a colonial image of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá, understood as quiteña copy of the famous canvas of Chiquinquirá (Boyacá, Colombia), patron of Colombia. This ibarreña image is found in the church of Santo Domingo, governed by the Order of Preachers, and is historically linked to Dominican devotion to the Rosary and to the expansion of Chiquinquirá's advocation for the Andean region since colonial times.

As regards local traditionit is said that the painting of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá of Ibarra miraculously survived the great earthquake of 1868 - which destroyed much of the city - and that, from that fact, it was considered in a special way as an amparo and patron saint of Ibarra (data consistent with the strong devastation documented by historiography about this earthquake, although the specific sources of the sanctuary are not easily accessible online). [no specific direct source] This link between the protection of the Virgin of Chiquinquirá and the reconstruction of the city remains alive in the ibarrian devotional memory.

From the perspective of documented historythe advocation of Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá is consolidated in Colombia between the 17th and 19th centuries, until it is officially declared Patrona de Colombia (1829) and canonically crowned in 1919. The presence of a Quiteña copy in Ibarra is part of this broader context of dissemination of the original image, but no reliable data (precise date of arrival, author, notarial or ecclesiastical documents) have been found online to enable the exact reconstruction of the chronology of the ibarreña image; therefore, no consta a detailed and documented chronology for this copy.

The image and the sanctuary

The venerated image in Ibarra is, according to local tradition, a lienzo de estilo colonial which reproduces the iconographic model of Virgin of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá: The Virgin Mary standing, with the Child Jesus in her arms, in a clearly rosarian context, following the scheme of the original Alonso de Narváez of the 16th century. A complete technical description (dimensions, exact support, conservation status, restorations) is not available online, so these specific data no constan.

The place of worship is the church of Santo Domingo de Ibarra, historical temple entrusted to the Dominican friars. [no official information sheet available] It is a conventual church of the Order of Preachers, of colonial style with subsequent reforms, very linked to the preaching of the Rosary and to the dissemination of the Dominican Marian asvocations in the Andean region. In this temple the image of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá of Ibarra is publicly venerated. It is not clear from the sources consulted that this church has been raised to minor basilica or having the official title of National sanctuary; therefore, for the purposes of this document, it can be designated as local or parish sanctuary of devotion to Our Lady of Chiquinquirá in Ibarrawithout a special legal title recognized in accessible documents.

Sponsorship and coronation

En el ámbito localOur Lady of Chiquinquirá of Ibarra is recognized in tradition as devotional patron of the city of Ibarraespecially for the memory of their protection in the 1868 earthquake. [no official online decree] No episcopal or municipal decree has been found online to formalize this patronage in canonical or civil legal terms; it is therefore indicated that it is a patronage devotional which has popular roots, but whose policy formulation requires no consta in the sources consulted.

On a canonical coronation specific to the image of Our Lady of Chiquinquirá of Ibarra, with pontifical bull, date and delegate, does not contain a documented canonical coronation in accessible sources. The canonical coronation of the Virgin of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá refers safely to the original canvas of Chiquinquirá in Colombia, crowned in 1919 as Queen and Patrona of Colombia, not to the copy of Ibarra. Therefore, any local coronation or homage ceremony in Ibarra, if any, is not documented with the pontifical canonical coronation range.

Party and devotion

The fiesta principal de Our Lady of Chiquinquirá of Ibarra se celebra el first Sunday of July, according to the local devotional tradition. [data provided in consultation; not corrected by sources] This date is distinguished from the Colombian national feast of the Virgin of Chiquinquirá, celebrated liturgically the 9 July. Around that first Sunday of July, solemn liturgical acts in the church of Santo Domingo and popular manifestations of Marian devotion are organized in Ibarra.

Although official flow figures are not available, the model followed by other Chiquinquirá shrines in the world shows a dynamic of regional pilgrimages, no preparatory, processions with the image through the streets of the city and expressions of gratitude for favors attributed to the intercession of the Virgin. The memory of the 1868 earthquake and the survival of the canvas, according to tradition, reinforces a devotion marked by confidence in the protection of Mary in times of trial; however, a detailed description of the customs of Ibarra (specific romaneries, popular promises, dances, etc.). no consta in the sources consulted.

Link to the Rosary

La advocación de Our Lady of Chiquinquirá is in its origin a particular form of Our Lady of the Rosary. The complete denomination - Our Lady of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá - stresses that it is the Virgin of the Rosary in a specific geographical place of devotion (Chiquinquirá, Colombia), whose iconography and dissemination are deeply linked to Dominican spirituality and the prayer of the Rosary. This same rosarian identity is transmitted to colonial copies, such as the one venerated in Ibarra, and explains its presence in a Dominican temple.

Although there are no specific rules on the Rosary in the church of Santo Domingo de Ibarra, is consistent with the tradition of the Order of Preachers and with the own advocation that the rezo of the Holy Rosary have a central place in this devotion: Novies prayed with the Rosary, processions in which the mysteries and personal and family consecration are meditated to the Virgin of the Rosary of Chiquinquirá. Where Our Lady of Chiquinquirá is honored, the Rosary presents itself as a simple way to contemplate with Mary the mysteries of Christ and to welcome, in everyday life, the maternal protection that this advocation has historically symbolized for cities like Chiquinquirá in Colombia and, in a similar way, for the city of Ibarra.