Maracaibo hosts traditional festivities for Virgin of Chiquinquirá

The religious festivities for the Virgin of Chiquinquirá, the patron saint of Zulia state, officially began in Maracaibo with the traditional Bajada de la Virgen. The ceremony, presided over by Archbishop José Luis Azuaje Ayala, drew over 30,000 faithful to the Basilica of San Juan de Dios and Chiquinquirá.

The event faced weather challenges when heavy rains forced the Servidores de María to protect the sacred relic and return it to the temple during the procession. Despite the interruption, the festivities continue with a scheduled lacustrine procession through the coastal communities of Zulia, which will last 16 days.

Local authorities, including Governor Luis Caldera and Mayor Giancarlo Di Martino, participated in the ceremonies. The celebrations, marking 317 years of the miraculous renewal of the image, include various religious and cultural activities throughout November and early December.