The Guanches returned yesterday to the Historical Site of Chinguaro, on the occasion of the III Lustral Pilgrimage of the Virgin of Socorro. They were in charge of receiving the image, which arrived at the place yesterday, around seven in the afternoon, accompanied by a good number of faithful with candles or lanterns in their hands, after leaving the hamlet of El Socorro, where it remained since on Wednesday when he arrived from San Pedro at the beginning of the pilgrimage.
The Chinguaro ravine was the scene where the transfer of this image from Chimisay beach was recreated, where it appeared to the Guanches back in the year 1400, as narrated by Friar Alonso de Espinosa. The Guanches recreated the atmosphere that existed at the time of the appearance of this virgin, as well as the visit of the rest of the Menceyes of the Island and of Antón Guanche -the Christianized Guanche-, who revealed to them the identity of the image.
After the ceremony, the Virgin of Socorro was transferred to the cave-hermitage, where she will remain until today afternoon, as she will leave the premises to go to the parish of Santo Domingo, although before that she will make a stop at the municipal cemetery, where she will will proceed to a Eucharist for the deceased.
This Sunday the return of the image to the main parish of San Pedro Apóstol will take place. At 11:00 a.m. the arrival is scheduled for San Pedro Square where the bishop of the Nivariense Diocese (Tenerife), Bernardo Álvarez, will preside over the Eucharist, thus ending the third edition of the Lustral Pilgrimage of the Virgin of Socorro, more collected and religious than the annual Bajada.
