The Lord of Huanca is an advocation of the martyred Christ who is venerated in the Peruvian town of Huanca, in Cuzco for being considered miraculous.
When the Spaniards arrived, Cusco declined its political importance, but knew how to maintain its dignity in the midst of the vicissitudes during conquest. In a short time the dominance of the Spaniards was felt in a cruel and humiliating way, the Viceroyalty imposed the mita and subjected the aborigines of the Incario to forced labor in the mines.
However, with the Spaniards, evangelization also arrived, which was welcomed as a hope and a palliative of suffering. In a short time the Incas identified themself with the God who suffered just like them. Thus arose many cults of Christian characters throughout Peru. Cusco would not be the exception and in a place near the town of San Salvador, one of the most famous Christian cults was born.
Huanca is a beautiful place located in the foothills of the Pachatusan mountain (Pachatusan means The One that sustains the world), almost on the banks of the Vilcanota River near San Salvador.
In the year of 1675 the Marquis of San Lorenzo del Valleumbroso discovered a rich vein in the Yasos mine, as a tradition mistreatment of the Incas could not be absent. Diego Quispe was a humble peasant subjected to forced labor. On one occasion a Spaniard punished with a whip to an Indian, Diego Quispe seeing this situation came out in defense of the unjustly punished man. The Spanish foreman without hesitation ordered Diego to be locked up, giving the order that the next day Diego should be severely punished. During the night Diego thought about the harsh punishment he would receive, and chose to escape, for this he had to cross the mountains of Huanca, meanwhile the light of day threatened to betray him. So he sought refuge in some rocks that agglomerated as a kind of safe cave. Diego, still afraid of the punishment he would receive if they found him, prayed the "Our Father" all day long. During the day the footsteps of the Spaniards who were looking for him were felt, only the power of God made Diego not be found, until finally the night arrived and Diego prepared to leave, observing the sky he realized that there was no Moon. Suddenly, a light dazzled him, before his eyes an unknown clarity illuminated a surprising scene.
Jesus Christ was bleeding from the blows received, Diego was seized by a divine emotion and remained motionless, almost beside himself, worshiping his Redeemer. In that, Jesus Christ gave a message to Diego: "Diego ... Diego ... I have chosen you to be a dove, a pigeon messenger of my kindness and mercy, this place has been chosen to be a volcano of love and a refreshing spring of forgiveness, go to your village, introduce yourself to the priest, make your communion and come back I will be here.
Diego fell asleep, exhausted by fatigue, hunger and the accumulation of emotions.
At dawn .... Jesus Christ spoke with Diego: Diego ... get up ... go to your town ...
Taytay! It has not been a dream. This is real Christ is here ... I am your humble servant. Take this gift, Tayta Dios. A simple cross of silver left at the foot of our Lord, was the first adoration of the Christ of Huanca. With the passage of time, numerous pilgrimages would come from the most remote places to place their faith in God.
Relay of the Lord of Huanca
In June of the same year, Diego Quispe fulfilled his mission. A small group of people left Chinchero. Diego led the priest of Chincheros, Urioste de la Borda, to Huanca. In the retinue there were also some relatives of Diego, only they had deserved the honor of knowing the details of the divine revelation. Diego had fled a mine, so he kept silent so as not to reveal his presence in the town. The small caravan went down to the Calca ravine, crossed the farms of Villar and Uchumaca and started up the Huanca hill. Cura Urioste stopped the caravan halfway. While Diego showed him the place of the apparition. The priest ordered Diego to enter the cave and ensure the presence of Christ, Diego soon called the priest and indeed Christ was in the cave with fresh wounds after being flagellated, while Diego called the others to be witnesses of the Apparition. This was the first pilgrimage to Huanca a handful of humble indigenous, simple, began a cult that eventually converge to thousands of souls in search of peace. Thus, in time, the Lord of Huanca will be the father and doctor who comforts all pains.
The lands of Huanca were property of the religious order of the Mercedarians of Cusco, for that reason Diego Quispe considered that it was necessary that they knew of the extraordinary event. The Commander of the religious order accepted the word Diego and decided to send a painter to Huanca.
One of the most famous painters of the Cusco school was chosen for this privileged work. Diego Quispe informed the Painter of all the details of the apparition and painted on the living rock the figure of Christ, in doing his work it seemed that a divine hand was guiding him. Thus, the portrait of El Señor de Huanca initiated a pious tradition that some indigenous people of the place would perform almost in secret. At that time Bishop Manuel Mollinedo y Angulo governed the church of Cusco, everything seems to indicate that the prelate could not confirm the veracity of the appearance, Cura Urioste Borda knew the truth but had already died before confirming the appearance. So it was decided to remain silent but the church tolerated the cult of the Lord of Huanca and allowed that in some times of the year the holy mysteries were celebrated in the small chapel. A few devotees, mostly indigenous from Chincheros, still came looking for the Lord of Huanca, their fame did not yet reach the present borders.