Black Christ

The Black Christ is a significant religious site located in Esquipulas, Guatemala. This pilgrimage center is renowned for a spectacular statue of the Black Christ, carved from dark wood in 1594 by Quirio Cataño. Commissioned by Spanish conquistadors, the figure was first housed in a local church in 1595 and is now adorned with jewels and dressed in white satin.12

Esquipulas itself is a town in southeastern Guatemala, situated in the central highlands near the borders of Honduras and El Salvador. Its importance stems largely from the magnificent colonial church built in 1737 to enshrine the Black Christ, making it Central America's greatest pilgrimage center. Major religious processions take place on January 15 and during Holy Week. While Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in Guatemala, the Black Christ of Esquipulas is its most important shrine, attracting many visitors.12