By Xela In Focus Editorial Staff / Archive Image (2026) by Xela In Focus

The Origin of Faith: The History Behind the Holy Christ of Esquipulas

Devotion to the "Black Christ" of Esquipulas is, without a doubt, one of the pillars of spiritual identity in Central America. What we know today as one of the largest pilgrimages on the continent was born more than four centuries ago from a community effort and an artistic contract that changed the region's history forever.

A Commission Born of Gratitude

Following the conquest of Esquipulas in 1530 and the subsequent evangelization process, the Catholic faith began to take deep root in eastern Guatemala. In 1594, driven by a prosperous cotton harvest, the community decided to invest its resources in a sacred image: a crucified Jesus that would become the center of their devotion.

To fulfill this wish, Don Cristóbal de Morales hired the renowned Portuguese sculptor Quirio Cataño, then a resident of Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala. The commitment was sealed in a historical document that, despite the passing of centuries, was preserved thanks to the foresight of Bishop Fray Andrés de las Navas, who ordered a copy to be made due to the deterioration of the original.

Excerpt from the Original Contract (August 29, 1594):

"In the City of Santiago de Guatemala... Cristóbal de Morales, Provisor of this Bishopric, arranged with Quirio Cataño, master sculptor, to make for the Town of Esquipulas a Crucifix of a yard and a half, very well finished and perfected... for which he shall be given one hundred tostones of four silver reales each."

The First Pilgrimage

The artist completed his work on October 4 of that same year. According to oral tradition, the journey of the image back to its new home became the first spontaneous pilgrimage. Inhabitants of the towns along the route, marveled by the beauty of the carving, pleaded for the image to stay overnight in their communities. Finally, the Christ made its triumphant entry into Esquipulas on March 9, 1595.

The Mystery of Its Color: Dark Wood or Time?

For generations, popular belief held that Quirio Cataño had intentionally used dark wood so that the Christ would resemble the skin of the inhabitants of the Chortí ethnic group.

However, contemporary studies and restoration processes led by experts such as architect Eduardo Andrade have revealed a different technical truth: the image was originally finished with light tones. The iconic jet-black color we venerate today is, in reality, the result of centuries of exposure to candle smoke and the physical contact of millions of faithful who have placed their faith and their hands upon the wood.

Today, more than a piece of sacred art, the Lord of Esquipulas represents the fusion of history, the resilience of a people, and a faith that, much like its color, has strengthened over time.