Walter Bustamante

One afternoon in 1591, two strangers arrived in the town and, seeking lodging, ended up at the home of the mestizo parish priest, José Cárdenas Romaní, who lived with his employees, María and Facundo. Once settled in, the guests demonstrated their artistic talents: they were musicians and sculptors. Then, overnight, the visitors (in truth, two angels) vanished, leaving behind a beautiful sculpture of Jesus in the town's chapel. Later, the image performed several miracles (curing a possessed teenager and freeing the town from a drought) and was eventually venerated by large crowds during the now traditional and world-renowned "Ayacucho Holy Week."