Virgin of Surumi, venerated in the Sanctuary of Manciri

Marian Invocation of Manquiri (Potosí)

As regards documented history, el Maquiri Sanctuary is a church of style barroque mestizo del siglo XVIII, located about 25 km east of the city of Potosí, in the rural district No. 18 of the municipality of Potosí, province Frías, department of Potosí. The church rises in the middle of a break, on an artificial platform on the edge of a ravine, at the foot of a mountain. The documentation available is focused on the architecture of the temple and does not explicitly specify the historical origin of the "Virgin of Surumi" advocation in Maquiri and its chronological development as its own cult.

Main data

Origin and history

As regards documented history, el Maquiri Sanctuary is a church of style barroque mestizo del siglo XVIII, located about 25 km east of the city of Potosí, in the rural district No. 18 of the municipality of Potosí, province Frías, department of Potosí. The church rises in the middle of a break, on an artificial platform on the edge of a ravine, at the foot of a mountain. The documentation available is focused on the architecture of the temple and does not explicitly specify the historical origin of the "Virgin of Surumi" advocation in Maquiri and its chronological development as its own cult.

La tradition y la popular Andean piety in the Potosí region they know various Marian claims linked to apparitions, rain miracles and protection of indigenous and mining communities. In other areas of the north of Potosí and in nearby localities (such as Surumi, in the municipality of Colquechaka) the veneration of a Our Lady of Surumi identified with Our Lady of Guadalupewith strong roots in the rural world of Quechua, and very popular celebrations between August and September. This tradition speaks of a Marian presence that blesses the fields, intercedes through the rain and brings together pilgrims from various departments. However, not in verified sources who directly describe a concrete "apparition" or a precise foundational account of the Virgin of Surumi in the Sanctuary of Manquiri itself, or who detail specific rain miracles associated with this place.

The reference to the construction of the temple "on an ancient place of preHispanic veneration (huaca)" is credible in the Andean context, where many colonial shrines were erected on previous sacred spaces, but No explicitly stated in the documentary sources consulted on Manciri. This point should therefore be considered as probable historical-cultural scenario, in the way historically established.

The image and the sanctuary

On the imagen marian concrete venerated as Virgin of Surumi in Manciri no detailed and documented description (type of size or painting, material, precise style, iconographic features). News sources dealing with the Virgin of Surumi in other locations point out that, in some cases, it is iconographically identified with the Virgin of Guadalupe (mantle adorned, image enriched with gold and jewels by popular devotion), but these descriptions refer to another shrine of Surumi (municipality of Colquechaka) and do not specify the image of Maquiri. Therefore, no con seguridad the image of Manquiri is identical or similar in material and composition to that representation.

El Maquiri Sanctuary is a one-ship church, with double dome (one cylindrical and one elliptical) and canyon vault cover. Presents a three-body facadewith two towers and a central arch of carved stone that covers the cover as a baking, all of it set in the baroque mestizo style. The temple stands on a platform that dominates the break and is integrated into a square square closed by an arcade, configuring a remarkable colonial architectural set. The main altar of the temple is dedicated to Christ Crucifiedaccording to the architectural description available.

The sources consulted do not indicate that the temple currently has the official title of minor basilica, National sanctuary o diocesan sanctuaryIt is simply called “Santuario de Manquiri” as a traditional and heritage name. Therefore, no consta a special canonical recognition beyond its historical and devotional importance.

Sponsorship and coronation

No official documentation has been found to declare the Virgin of Surumi of Manciri as patron canonical of the city of Potosí, of the municipality or of the diocese. In the north of Potosí and nearby areas, the Virgin of Surumi (especially in the shrine of Surumi, municipality of Colquechaka) enjoys a great local devotion and calls for pilgrims from many provinces and departments, which indicates a popular and regional patronagebut no consta a formal proclamation of diocesan or national patronage in relation to Manquiri.

As regards a possible canonical coronation, the sources consulted (including heritage information on the Manciri Sanctuary and chronicles of Marian devotion in the region) no canonical coronation decree recorded given by the Holy See or by pontifical delegation for the Virgin of Surumi of Manquiri. It is therefore appropriate to indicate:

> There is no documented canonical coronation.

Party and devotion

In the Andean tradition linked to the Virgin of Surumi, the main party is held around the September 8, coinciding with the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. In other sanctuaries of the same title (for example, Surumi in Colquechaka), the holiday extends from August to September and is considered one of the region's longest and most attended religious celebrations, with the presence of pilgrims from different departments (Cochabamba, Chuquisaca, Potosí, Oruro, among others). For the Sanctuary of Manciri it can be said, with caution, that the Marian devotion around that date is part of the local religious calendar, but no specific and documented data or detailed descriptions of the processions of Manquiri.

En el ámbito de la devoción popularOur Lady of Surumi is especially invoked as of the Andean peoples y mediator before God to get rain and good cropsaccording to the legends and testimonies gathered in other places of the same advocation. They mention pilgrimages, accompanied by indigenous music and dances, aylus that come in community and a strong expression of popular religiosity that integrates indigenous and Catholic elements. However, the specific sources on Manciri do not describe in detail these practices in that particular sanctuary; therefore, all that concerns processions, promises, "rain miracles" and flow must be considered. as general features of devotion to the Virgin of Surumi in the regionwithout being able to document in a precise way their particular development in Manquiri.

Link to the Rosary

The sources consulted do not explicitly collect a relationship between the Virgin of Surumi of Manquiri and the rezo of the Holy Rosary (for example, the Rosary's cofradies, specific promises to pray, own indulgences, etc.). It should therefore be noted that:

> There is no specific and documented link between the advocation of the Virgin of Surumi in Maquiri and the Rosary.

However, as in most Marian shrines in the Andean region, the Rosary usual part of it traditional Marian piety: families, peasant communities and pilgrims pray it as simple and contemplative prayer to meditate on the mysteries of Christ's life with Mary. In contexts where the Virgin is invoked by rain, peace and the protection of peoples, the Rosary becomes a subsidiary trust school: in repeating the "God save you, Mary," the faithful are recognized to be accompanied by the same Mother who, according to the faith of the Church, intercede for the specific needs of each community. This way, although it does not exist