World’s Largest Statue of Our Lady of Guadalupe Inspires Millions | Shalom World News
The Virgin of Chalma, also called the Monumental Virgin of Oculina or the Virgin of Ahuehuete, rises from the heart of El Ahuehuete Millennial Tree Park in Ocuilan, Mexico, drawing millions beneath the protective gaze of Our Lady of Guadalupe. Towering 33 meters high and stretching 11 meters wide, this awe-inspiring sculpture claims the title of the largest Virgin of Guadalupe statue in the world and the grandest Marian monument on earth. Crafted by Mexican sculptor Víctor Gutiérrez, it was brought to life through a government initiative to boost religious tourism, capitalizing on its closeness to the Sanctuary of the Lord of Chalma, one of Mexico’s most beloved pilgrimage sites. Since its inauguration on August 30, 2017, the monument has beckoned visitors to ascend 640 stone steps to its base, and for those seeking a higher perspective, another 760 steps lead to a viewpoint at the Virgin’s head. This climb transforms into a journey of both body and spirit, often embraced as an act of devotion or penance. Just 8 kilometers north of the Chalma Sanctuary, the site offers sweeping views of the region and is cradled by an ancient ahuehuete tree. Each year, especially on December 12, the festival day, millions flock to the Virgin of Chalma, with pilgrims arriving from every corner of Mexico.
Chalma is a small community, which is part of the municipality of Malinalco, Mexico State. Its small population is almost completely dedicated to the pilgrims[1] who come to visit the Sanctuary of Chalma, the second most-important pilgrimage site in Mexico.[2] The sanctuary is dedicated to an image of what many people describe as a "black Christ" on a cross that legend says miraculously appeared in an area cave where the worship of a deity commonly known as Oxtoteotl used to take place.[3] Some contend that as Oxtoteotl is an aspect of Tezcatlipoca, the "Smoking Mirror," then the "black Christ" is really Tezcatlipoca, which the Spanish friars superimposed on the existing representation of Tezcatlipoca in order to convert the natives. Pilgrimages to this Christian sanctuary follow many of the patterns of the prehispanic rituals, including walking the narrow paths to the town itself, bathing in the waters of a special fresh-water spring and dancing at the sanctuary.
Chalma, Malinalco - Wikipedia