An ancient Marian devotion
The Virgin of the Immaculate Conception in Conkal church receives the devotion of the faithful with a zeal going back to the second half of the 16th century, when the monastery was first built here.
Colonial documents attest that in the 1580s, this invocation of Mary was already widely venerated, while stylistic chracteristics of the statue suggest it was made in the 17th century, although it is not known where or by whom.
The image holds great religious significance for the locals, who express their devotion year round, but especially during the patronal feast.
One of the interesting features of this sculpture is the almost priestly appearance of the image, simultaneously mitigated by the soft gaze of the Virgin. Her colorful garments also accentuate the beauty of the statue.
The sculpture stands in the central niche on the top level of the main reredos in the parish church, which is dedicated to St. Francis of Assisi, and can be viewed during the times of religious services in the church.
The feast of the Immaculate Conception is celebrated between the 1th and 15th of May, with religious and popular events.
Conkal is located 17 kilometers (10.5 miles) north of Merida. The etymology is a little uncertain: according to Dr. Miguel Güémez Pineda, the name means “place of the short neck, or throat” from kum, short, or hunched between the shoulders, and kal, throat or neck.
Location