The Church is in the pit - Las-Lajas Bashny.Net

The neo-Gothic Cathedral of Las Lajas (Santuario de Nuestra Señora de las Lajas), overlooking the river Guaitara, resembles a castle-fortress. One of the most visited churches in Colombia is framed by rock icon Senora de las Lajas — the miraculous icon of the virgin. In 1794, was built the first chapel, where the faithful could bring flowers and candles.


But he is famous not because of its magnificent neo-Gothic architecture that distinguishes the Cathedral of Las Lajas from thousands of Colombian churches. It attracts crowds of pilgrims from all over the world, in the canyon of the river Guaitara, just for the sake of rock icon of Nuestra Senora de las Lajas that is hidden behind the openwork walls of the Cathedral. The icon of Nuestra Senora de las Lajas is a picture of a woman with a baby in her arms. Who is the author of the virgin painted on a rock, still remains a mysterious mystery. However, local legend tells that the face during a lightning storm manifested itself. The rock icon first found hopelessly deaf and dumb girl, which is a clear Spanish told about his miracle discovery.


The Cathedral of Las Lajas, three times rebuilt, acquired in 1948; then was built the 30-meter arch bridge over rocky gorge. The splendid temple in neo-Gothic style serves as a bridge and in a more global sense: the Cathedral — the symbol of peace and harmony between the Ecuadorian and Colombian peoples. Near the Church on the rocks, you can find hundreds of plaques thanking her for healing and assistance.


Currently, concerns about the temple are two Franciscan communities, one Colombian, the other is Ecuadorian. Thus, the Cathedral of Las Lajas became a pledge of peace and Union between the two South American Nations.

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