Chapel of Christ (The humiliation)

The Cross where Purépecha history changed forever

Located on the old royal road, this is considered the oldest chapel in Pátzcuaro. It is a site of deep religious and cultural tradition, famous for the legend that gave it its name and for the historical jewel it houses: the quarry stone cross.

The Origin of a Tragic Name The site takes its name from a historical legend that places it at a key moment in the Conquest. According to some historians, it was here that Tangáxoan Tzíntzicha, the last Purépecha Cazonci (emperor), met and surrendered to the Spanish crown, represented by Field Marshal Cristóbal de Olid. Whether or not the act of surrender at this exact spot actually took place, the name “El Humilladero” refers to this tradition.

The Christ of Humilladero The heart of the site is the stone crucifix on a quarry monolith. This is known in Spain as a humilladero: a cross erected in a public place before which the faithful kneel and “humble themselves” as a sign of devotion.

📜 A 16th Century Foundation Fact Sheet: The cross's octagonal base pedestal is a historical treasure that reveals crucial information about the founding of Pátzcuaro, commissioned to be sculpted by the man himself. Don Vasco de Quiroga. Look closely at his engravings:

• Inscription: At the front appear the insignia of the Passion of Christ.

• Fundación: En uno de sus costados se lee la inscripción de la fundación de la Capilla, fechada en 1553.

• City Coat of Arms: Elsewhere is the coat of arms of Pátzcuaro.

• Quiroga's Coat of Arms: On the back was engraved the personal coat of arms of Don Vasco with the inscription: “VaCs D Qviroga Primvs EpisCopvs” (Vasco de Quiroga First Bishop).

Syncretism and Devotion The current building, constructed in the 18th century to cover and protect the original wayside shrine, continues to demonstrate the mixture of cultures:

• Facade: On the sober facade, on both sides of a sculpted crown, the images of the sun and the moon can be seen, a manifestation of respect and syncretism with the ancient religion of the Purépecha people.

• Interior: The Chapel houses a rare and interesting collection of oil paintings and is dedicated to the Virgin of Sorrows.

✝️ Traditional Festival: The feast day of this Chapel is celebrated annually on Fifth Friday of Lent, and it is a point of special devotion to the image of Lazarus, the leper of the biblical parable, which underlines the site's connection with the tradition of village-hospitals.