In 1985 the Ruins of what was once the Church
of the Pure Conception of the rescue of
Ujarrás, known as the Ujarrás
Ruins, are declared a national monument.
Ujarrás is the second region of the
province of Cartago.
Legend
Our Lady of the Clean Conception of the
Ujarrás Rescue. The oldest image
of the Virgin in Costa Rica is known by
this title.
Ujarrás Rescue is the most proper,
the most original, and the one title that
most clearly reunites the cultural, social
and religious roots of our country.
Since 1561, the image of the Immaculate
Conception and the Catholic Church began
the path to the fifth century of the evangelization
of America. They were accompanied by the
Indian, the Spaniard, the Indian/Spaniard
(mestizo) and every Costa Rican citizen.
This image is the first to announce her
son Jesus in Costa Rica, illuminating the
devoted Franciscans.
This beautiful, original image is over four
hundred years old and is worshipped in the
Sanctuary of Paradise; it is of Spanish
confection, with very fine features and
is well preserved in the face and hands.
However, a legend exists about it; it tells
about an Indian that finds it in a box on
the Mother of God riverbank. He carries
it on his shoulders to Ujarrás, from
where it is impossible for him to move it.
Because of this, the Franciscans decide
to put up a straw hermitage for it, turning
her into what the first dwellers called
The Queen of the Valleys.
But this legend has its hold on what the
real population was in that time:
Boats entered through the Matina River,
and riverbanks were used as roads; the Indians
of Ujarrás were a small population
by the Reventazón River that served
as a lodge on long walks.
There
are many prodigies known about the Virgin
of Ujarrás, but the most important
one is the miracle of Quebrada Honda
in 1666, when the neighbors of Cartago
and Ujarrás rejected pirates
seeking treasures and domination.
The people give thanks to the Virgin
for freeing their land. From this date
on, each year the people of Cartago
go down to the Valley to give thanks
and take part in what is known as the
Mass of the vote, or the Sworn Mass.
Still today, April 16th of each year,
the towns of Paraíso, almost
in its totality, along with many Costa
Ricans, go on a pilgrimage accompanying
the image on a very nice walk and party
to remember their origins and give thanks
to the Virgin.
It is very convenient that the people
of Cartago retake this great happening
of our history. We are told that six
temples are dedicated to the Patroness
of Paradise. Three in Ujarrás,
the third is now the Ruins of Cal y
Canto, which is still conserved today.
Three more are in the Plains of Santa
Lucía, now called Paraíso.
The third one is called Our Lady of
Ujarrás Sanctuary, built in 1960.
We must remember that the town of Ujarrás
was moved to the Plains of Santa Lucía
(Paraíso) in 1833, by a decree
of the Boss of State of that time, don
José Rafael Gallegos.
Location: Paraíso
How
to get there?
By bus: take the bus to Cachí,
located behind the Iglesia
del Convento (on Cartago town),
it leaves each hour, every
day, and costs 240 colones.
By Car: 10 km east to Paraiso
Fire Station
Entrance:
Free. Everyday: 7 a.m. to
5 p.m. There's a little
river and green areas.
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