Festivity of the Virgin of Chapi

The feast of the Virgin of Chapi is one of the oldest religious ceremonies in Peru. The first record of its existence dates back to 1655, and by 1709, the image already had a legion of believers. Since then, this tradition has been transforming alongside society and its popular fervor.

In its beginnings, she was known as Virgen de la Candelaria and it was the Jesuits who built the first temple for her as part of their evangelization project in the towns of Churajon in Moquegua. When this religious order was expelled from the Hispanic territories, the chapel became in charge of the Franciscan Fathers and they decided to move the Virgin to the town of Chapi.

Faithful people gather to venerate the image of the Virgin. ©Arzobispado de Arequipa

The last journey of the Virgin of Chapi

After a few years in Chapi, it was decided to move it to Sogay. According to tradition, it did not move beyond the first hill or ascent because it became heavier inexplicably, and no human force could move it. The settlers claimed to have heard a voice, which they attributed to the Virgin, saying: Chaypi, Chaypi which means "Here, here".

This event would have motivated the image to stay there and be renamed as Our Lady of Chapi. A temple was built there, and thousands of people passed through it, stopping to pray and thank the Virgin. This would be the starting point of the pilgrimages.

Over the years, the chapel suffered strong natural onslaughts and was destroyed by the earthquake of 2021. Currently, a Sanctuary is being built with great infrastructure suitable to receive the faithful followers and pilgrims who gather year after year around the revered image.

Celebration calendar

Although the central day of the Feast of the Virgin of Chapi is May 1, the activities last for about three days. On April 30, everything starts with a welcome procession, and Polobaya begins to receive thousands of people. During these three days, in addition to religious events, processions, and masses, one can also find delicious gastronomy, fireworks, popular music, and much more.

The Feast of the Virgin of Chapi is "an expression of cultural and social identity, which has great significance for the dissemination of traditional values of popular religiosity transmitted orally from generation to generation through language, popular knowledge, and ancestral knowledge," as indicated in the resolution of the Peruvian state that declared it Cultural Heritage of the Nation in 2012."