A centuries-old cult
The Holy Christ of the Transfiguration, known popularly as the Chumayel Christ, is one of the most revered statues in Yucatan. Although the date and location of its manufacture are unknown, the stylistic features of the black image correspond to the 17th century.
Géner Pech Lara writes that according to oral tradition, back in Colonial times, a Spaniard found the image in a gully by the village. The statue was taken to the chapel which used to be there, and a church was begun, aligned east-west as was usual. However, the building collapsed on three occasions, and the Christ always ended up facing south, towards the place where it had been found. The people interpreted this as the statue’s desire to be looking in that direction, and so the built the church with the main facade facing south.
The historian José Iván Borges Castillo states that veneration of this Christ dates back to 1697, with the establishment of a religious group dedicated to honoring the statue.
On the other hand, research carried out by Leopoldo González Martín indicates that the statue was celebrated annually in Teabo during the 1860s and 1870s. Borges Castillo says that in 1915, during the Mexican Revolution, an order went out to gather and destroy numerous religious images in Teabo and neighboring villages, especially the Black Christ of Chumayel.
However, parishioners of Teabo rescued the sculpture and hid it in a cave. After some years, the faithful of Chumayel found out that their precious image was intact, and in the next village. Believing they were being robbed, they went to bring it home, where it remains to this day, without ever being allowed to visit elsewhere.
This particular invocation is Christ of the Transfiguration, although it is also called Christ of the Blisters, and also the Holy Christ of Chumayel.
The Black Christ of Chumayel has deep religious significance in the village and the surrounding region, expressed by many stories transmitted by oral tradition, and fervent demonstrations of devotion.
The Cross and pedestal of this beloved image are also black; and the figure on the cross, although his hair, beard and moustache are carved, also wears a wig of long black curls. Another peculiar feature is the garment he wears, which is decorated with floral motifs very similar to the traditional regional costume of Yucatan.
The statue is displayed on the high altar in the church of the Immaculate Conception, and can be visited depending on the timetable of church services.
The Chumayel Holy Christ of the Transfiguration is celebrated three times during the year, says Géner Pech Lara. The first and most important is the Feast of the Holy Cross from the 28th of April to the 3rd of May. The second is the Transfiguration, on the 5th of August, and the third is the Exaltation of the Cross on the 14th of September.
Chumayel is located 83 kilometers southeast of Merida. The etymology of its name is uncertain, and there are several interpretations. The Yucatan State Government translates it as “place where the squash plant does not burn”, from chu, squash, ma, no, and yel, a contraction of yelel, to burn.
The Mexican Revolution in Yucatan is one of the major historical events linked to this jewel.
Location