Marian devotion
Our Lady of El Rocío of Biblián, venerated in the Sanctuary of the Virgin of El Rocío on the Zhalao hill in Biblián
Marian devotion of Biblián (Cañar)
La devoción a Our Lady of the Rocío of the Bible it goes back, according to the local tradition spread by the GAD of the Bible itself, to 1893, in a context of grave sequía that affected animals and sows in Biblián and in the Ecuadorian Austro. This same municipal source presents the sanctuary as the fruit of that devotion born in adverse circumstances.
Main data
Origin and history
La devoción a Our Lady of the Rocío of the Bible it goes back, according to the local tradition spread by the GAD of the Bible itself, to 1893, in a context of grave sequía that affected animals and sows in Biblián and in the Ecuadorian Austro. This same municipal source presents the sanctuary as the fruit of that devotion born in adverse circumstances.
The tradition collected by local and outreach sources indicates that the image was found on a rock towards that year, on Mount Zhalao. As a documented historical fact, what is clear is the subsequent consolidation of the cult and the sanctuary; however, precise details about the miraculous finding of the image or its exact circumstances no constan in the sources consulted.
The image and the sanctuary
The advocation is venerated in the Sanctuary of the Virgin of El Rocío o Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin of the Rocío, a Catholic temple located in the Cerro Zhalao de Biblián, in the province of Cañar, Ecuador. The sanctuary is described by the GAD of Bible as an architectural-artistic reference of Neogotic style of popular cutting, of a monumental character and placed in a very unique position on the hill.
On the image, the sources consulted do not provide a safe technical description of your material, size o detailed iconography; therefore, such data no constan with certainty in the revised documentation. The image is known popularly as the Virgin of the Rocío and that his veneration is intimately attached to the sanctuary of the Zhalao.
The sanctuary was declared Cultural Heritage of Ecuador el 31 July 2007. It is not recorded in the sources consulted which are minor basilica or national or diocesan sanctuary with a specific canonical rating.
Sponsorship and coronation
Our Lady of the Rocío is recognized as patrona de Biblián in the institutional and dissemination information consulted. There is no official patronage of the entire diocese or of a national nature in the revised sources.
About canonical coronation, does not contain a documented canonical coronation in the sources consulted.
Party and devotion
The main party is around the September 8, according to a local tourist extension source which places it as the annual date of the celebration. This same reference indicates that the advocation has maintained its festivity since 104 yearsHowever, by not providing more solid ecclesial or historical documentary support, this must be taken with caution.
Devotion is expressed at the sanctuary built on the steep Zhalao hill, where pilgrims and visitors come for both religious and tourist reasons. Local sources describe it as one of Biblián's most important attractions, with pilgrimages and popular events associated with the festival.
On influx figures, mass pilgrimages or specific popular traditions, do not contain sufficient verifiable data in the sources consulted.
Link to the Rosary
In revised sources does not contain a specific and documented historical relationship between this advocation and the prayer of the Rosary as its own practice or distinctive feature. Even so, like all Marian advocation, the veneration to Our Lady of the Roch of Bible is understood on the spiritual horizon of mystery of Christ contemplated with Marywhich is precisely the center of the Rosary: a devotion that accompanies popular faith, orders piety and leads to evangelical meditation.
A flower for the Virgin
Offer a simple prayer to this Marian devotion. Pray a Hail Mary for Ecuador and for all of America.
Pray Hail MaryDocumentary update: the image and sanctuary of the Zhalao
The official tourist document of the Decentralized Self-Government of Biblián places the Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Rocío on the hill of the Zhalao and publishes its geographical coordinates: 2 ° 43 ′ 06.99 ″ S and 78 ° 52 ′ 56.88 ″ O. converted to decimal degrees and rounded to four decimal places, correspond to -2.7186, -78.8825. It is a location of the sanctuary, not an affirmation of the exact point of a healing or a supernatural phenomenon.
The same institutional documentation describes the entronization of a small image on January 20, 1894, after the drought of 1893, and the subsequent growth of the temple through the collaboration of the faithful. The GAD collects the rain after the rogative as an account of the origin of devotion; in this form it remains a tradition and not a canonically recognized miracle.
The sanctuary was developed in several stages and was declared a Cultural Heritage of Ecuador in 2007 for its architectural and artistic values. The municipal source also recalls pastoral activity and religious celebrations that keep the veneration alive in the Bible.
Coronation and ecclesial state
The official information of the GAD of Biblián indicates that on September 5, 2019 Pope Francis delegated to the Bishop of Azogues the pontifical coronation of the Virgin of the Rocío, held on May 1, 2022. The institutional news of 2025 redocuments the Eucharistic celebration presided over by the Bishop of Azogues and the procession to the sanctuary. The previous note of this fact sheet is therefore updated: it does contain a documented coronation; this act refers to the image and does not, on its own, constitute a statement of supernatural on the account of the rain.
The cartographic and liturgical state that can be affirmed with the revised sources is permitted veneration. It does not contain a decree of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith that declares supernatural the causal relationship between the rogative and the rain of 1894. Marian veneration is understood as intercession before God, not as worship of Mary.
Verified sources of this update
- GAD Municipal of Biblián, Sanctuary of the Virgin of the Rocío.
- GAD Municipal of Biblián, Bián another town for tourism (PDF), location and coordinates of the sanctuary.
- GAD Municipal of Biblián, 2025 celebrationwith the participation of the bishop and the rector of the sanctuary.
Is the advocation of the Virgin Mary of your people missing?
Si no encuentras la advocación mariana de tu ciudad o pueblo, cuéntanosla: la investigaremos para ubicarla y darla a conocer en este mapa del amor de la Madre por el mundo.
Propose an apvocation →