“Virgen de Cocharcas” by Escuela Cuzqueña

The veneration of the virgin of Cocharcas began at the close of the 16th c. An indigenous man, Sebastian Quimichi, devoted to the cult of the statue of the Virgin of the Sanctuary of Copacabana experienced a miraculous healing and in gratitude brought a painting of the statue to the andean village of Cocharcas. From this village the painting takes its name, Our Lady of Cocharcas. This 18th c. original painting was donated by RLH in 1932 and is one of the most representative images of Our Lady of Cocharcas. Since 2009 the Festival of the Virgin of Cocharcas has been celebrated as part of the Cultural Patrimony of the Nation.