Cotoca - History of the Virgin Morena
Cotoca, Santa Cruz, Bolivia · 1799
Our Lady of Cotoca is the patron of Bolivia. His image was found by an indigenous in 1799 and has witnessed countless miracles.
The discovery
In 1799, an indigenous Guaraní named José Mendoza found a wooden image of the Virgin Mary on the Pirai River, near the town of Cotoca. The image was 40 centimeters high and represented the Immaculate Conception.
«El indígena encontró la imagen en el río. La llevó a su aldea y la veneró.»
— Bolivian chroniclerMiracles
La imagen ha sido testigo de numerosos milagros: curaciones, Conversiones, protección en sequías e inundaciones. Los fieles la llaman «La Morenita de Cotoca.»
La patronalidad
In 1929, the Virgin was declared patron of Bolivia. The feast of the Virgin of Cotoca is celebrated on December 8 and is a national holiday.
The sanctuary
The Cotoca shrine is located 18 km from the city of Santa Cruz. Every year, millions of pilgrims come to the sanctuary, especially during the patron's feast.